Home › Ball State University › Business/Commerce, General

Business/Commerce, General at Ball State University

Muncie, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,550/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk High (46% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

ROI 13.1x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #73 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business/Commerce, General graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$572K	$565K	$517K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.3x	13.1x	12.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.0x	4.9x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	69	68	63

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,032

Out-of-state: $115,064 (4.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$63,592

-48% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,025

6.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,775

33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $46,550/yr, Business/Commerce, General graduates from Ball State University land near the $48,211 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business/Commerce, General programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Business/Commerce, General's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,025 represents roughly 6 months of the $46,550 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #73 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs, Ball State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $46,550 to $61,775 over five years — a 33% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Ball State University

With 72% of applicants admitted, Ball State University prioritizes broad access, serving 13,770 students in Muncie, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Ball State University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr

Sales managers $138,060/yr

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

View all 16 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business/Commerce, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Ball State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business/Commerce, General at Ball State University?

A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Business/Commerce, General field.

Will AI replace Business/Commerce, General careers?

With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $517,058 in decade earnings vs $572,005 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →