Home › Ball State University › Teacher Education

Teacher Education at Ball State University

Muncie, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,347/yr (11% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)

ROI 12.3x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #58 of 348 Teacher Education programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Teacher Education graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$533K	$529K	$500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.4x	12.3x	11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.6x	4.6x	4.3x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	66	65	67

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 (4.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$63,592

-48% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,875

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,195

15% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,347 at Ball State University come in 11% above the national median of $41,690 for Teacher Education programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Teacher Education programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Teacher Education's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $46,347 far exceeding the $22,875 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #58 of 348 nationally, this is a top-5% Teacher Education program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $53,195 are relatively flat compared to the $46,347 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Ball State University

Ball State University accepts 72% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 13,770 in Muncie, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Ball State University →

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr

Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary $101,390/yr

Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr

View all 30 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Teacher Education 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 Teacher Education at Ball State University?

A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Teacher Education field.

Will AI replace Teacher Education careers?

With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $500,436 in decade earnings vs $532,584 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Ball State University's Teacher Education program stand out?

Ranked #58 of 348 programs nationally, Ball State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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