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Sales & Marketing at Ball State University

Muncie, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $65,184/yr (19% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (499,600 openings/yr)

ROI 14.1x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #15 of 26 General Sales programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Sales & Marketing graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$618K	$606K	$553K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.4x	14.1x	12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.4x	5.3x	4.8x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	44%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	68	67	64

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 (5.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$63,592

-48% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,250

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $65,184 per year, Sales & Marketing graduates from Ball State University earn slightly above the $54,790 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Sales & Marketing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Sales & Marketing's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $24,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #15 of 26 Sales & Marketing programs, Ball State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Ball State University

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

See all programs and financial aid at Ball State University →

Top Career Paths

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products $100,070/yr

Business teachers, postsecondary $97,270/yr

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers $84,130/yr

View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Sales & Marketing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Ball State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sales & Marketing at Ball State University?

This program scores 67/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Sales & Marketing programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Sales & Marketing careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $553,213 in decade earnings vs $618,144 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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