We're driven by enduring values...

It's easy to create a mission statement, but much more difficult to live it out. The Ball State community seeks to exemplify excellence, innovation, courage, integrity, inclusiveness, social responsibility,  gratitude every day. It makes a difference—we've been named one of the best universities in the Midwest by The Princeton Review for 16 years.

Read our Strategic Plan

...and we constantly pursue inclusive excellence.

We value the intrinsic worth of all community members. We recruit and support diverse students, faculty, and staff, and we promote a work environment that encourages and rewards diversity of thought, innovation, and creativity. Inclusive excellence must be infused in every step we take. In fact, Ball State received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award for five years running.

Learn more about Inclusive Excellence

#1 in Indiana for enrolling Economically disadvantaged students

by U.S. News and World Report

Top 20 online programs for veterans

by College Magazine

#1 in the country for providing an accessible campus

by U.S. News and World Report

4th Best Midsized Employer In Indiana

by Forbes

We've Made Muncie our Home

Discover what current Ball State faculty and staff enjoy about living near their work.

Tuition Remission

We remove barriers to help employees reach their lifetime learning goals. For eligible employees, we offer a generous tuition remission that extends to spouses and dependent children. Learn more about tuition remission.

In Muncie, you can live the life you want...

Have you always wanted to live in a historic home, a downtown loft, or on 10 acres of land? All of these options are available in the most affordable college town in the nation (Realtor.com). With dozens of neighborhoods to choose from, you are destined to find the just-right-fit for you.

For full-time faculty, staff and professional personnel, Ball State does have some short-term housing options available to make relocating to Muncie easier and affordable. Depending on availability, new employees may be able to take advantage of campus resources such as our Student Center Hotel and Scheidler Apartments. For more information including relocation assistance, please contact the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. Learn more about Muncie and East Central Indiana.

...and so can your kids.

Muncie and Delaware County are rich in excellent educational offerings from early childhood through post-secondary studies. Our student/teacher ratios are favorable at every stage, ensuring that our youngest community members receive the care and quality instruction they need.

Early Childhood

Delaware County has more than 24 childcare providers ranked as Paths to QUALITY Level 3 or Level 4 care centers. Many offer daycare, preschool, and before and after-school care options.

The Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center provides high-quality childcare through a unique partnership between the YMCA of Muncie and Ball State’s Department of Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies.


Muncie Community Schools and Ball State University have a unique partnership, the first of its kind in the nation, to implement innovative, community-based public education that supports all types of learners from cradle to career.

Burris Laboratory School, a public K-12 school on Ball State’s campus, provides a model clinical setting for preparing future teachers through Ball State University’s Teachers College.

The Indiana Academy is a residential high school on campus for gifted and talented juniors and seniors from across Indiana.  

Ball State University offers 150 undergraduate, 80 masters, 20 doctoral and 14 specialist degree programs, including on-campus and online options.

Ivy Tech Community College - Muncie has seven schools of study with nearly 60 degree programs, including onsite and online options.

IU School of Medicine – Muncie is the school’s only statewide campus that is located on hospital property. Ball State undergraduates in the B/MD Pathway program have a provisional seat into the program.


Have you seen our campus?

Our beautiful campus is our canvas, made up by historic buildings, modern facilities, green spaces, and hundreds of species of trees. It's just the right size for walking and biking, and our Campus Master Plan includes even more pedestrian and bike paths, outdoor art and performance spaces and updated facilities for all to enjoy.

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Commute? What commute?

It's said that everything you need is within 15 minutes in Muncie, which means more time in the day for family, recreation, and relaxing. If you want a dose of big city (or just need to get to the airport), Indianapolis and Cincinnati are just an hour or two away.

Find entertainment at every corner...

Ball State hosts hundreds of world-class live performances, productions, exhibits, and athletic events each year. many at minimal cost or completely free, And Muncie boasts a symphony, civic theatre, children's museum, cultural center and a vibrant downtown

...including plenty of outdoor spaces and activities

There are many ways to enjoy the great outdoors in Muncie, including more than two dozen parks, nature preserves and 65 miles of paved walking and biking trails. The White River and the Prairie Creek Reservoir also offer on-the-water recreation. For those who want to run, bike, and swim, Muncie hosts an annual IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon!

Rich history. Bright future.

From out historic neighborhoods and downtown storefronts to t he city's very name, Muncie remains connected to its roots. "Munsee" was a language spoken by the Lenape Indians who lived here in the 1790's. A century later, the Ball Brothers and their glass business moved to Muncie and established many of our community's existing anchors.

As it has been for hundreds of years, Muncie is a fertile place for creative makers, builders, and innovators.

 

We embrace partnerships and collaboration

Ball State, community businesses, non-profit organizations, and community leaders — we all believe in being "better together." We all benefit when sharing knowledge, resources, or tackling challenges. Our campus- and community-wide partnerships earned our University the Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

University Driven Involvement

University-driven Involvement

As an anchor institution in East Central Indiana, Ball State is proud to partner with individuals, agencies, and organizations to tackle our region’s greatest needs. The University has made strategic community commitments in K-12 education, talent attraction and retention, neighborhood development, population health and wellbeing, arts and culture, and lifetime learning.

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Community Engagement

At Ball State, we define community engagement as the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity with our friends and neighbors in Muncie and East Central Indiana.

Learn more.

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Ball State and Muncie Schools

In July 2018, Ball State University and Muncie Community Schools embarked on a historic partnership to continue and accentuate MCS's long history of innovative and inclusive education. For more information on the partnership and the amazing opportunities available at MCS,
Learn more.

Students

Immersive Learning

The Immersive Learning Office supports immersive activities across campus. Ball State defines Immersive learning projects as high-impact learning experiences that involve collaborative student-driven teams, guided by faculty mentors.

Learn more.

Community-driven Involvement

Engagement and generosity are hallmarks of the Muncie community. In fact, Muncie was ranked first among Indiana’s largest cities in charitable giving and second in civic involvement (Sagamore Institute Public Good Index 2017).

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Muncie Action Plan

This strategic guide expresses the values and aspirations of the Muncie community to work together to provide an attractive, desirable, and diverse place for individuals, families, and businesses.

Learn More.

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Heart of Indiana United Way

Serving five counties, the United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.

Learn More.

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Muncie Arts Council

Our arts alliance builds community and opportunity among artists and arts organizations and integrates arts and culture across the city for economic development and quality of place.

Learn More.

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It's easy to pursue your passions here

In 2020, Muncie was recognized as an "All-American City" by the National Civic League for leveraging civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness, and innovation to successfully address local issues.
Both personally and professionally, Ball State faculty and staff have many opportunities to connect and make a difference.