As an online student you have more options than you might realize for paying for your education.
Financial Aid

Contact our Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and tell them you are an online student looking at aid or loan possibilities. They will help you navigate.

Estimate Your Federal Financial Aid

If you would like to start now to estimate what kind of federal financial aid you might be eligible to receive, we recommend the U.S. government’s FAFSA4caster.

You might be interested in some key financial aid benefits available to some Ball State Online students.

Will your employer help pay for you to get a degree? Have you looked into this possibility?

Two-thirds of prospective online learners who work fulltime are not taking advantage of workplace tuition reimbursement programs available to them, According to a survey by Aslanian Market Research. Don't let yourself be one of them! Check with your human resources office or your supervisor about these benefits.

Here are some important reasons you shouldn't overlook this potential source:

  • You may receive up to $5,250 in tax-free education benefits from your employer each year. The payments do not have to be for work-related courses. Learn more about this tax savings from the IRS.
  • Federal or personal loans—or even your own savings—sometimes only partially cover tuition.
  • Workplace tuition assistance programs usually do not have to be repaid, so not using this benefit is like automatically forfeiting a portion of your paycheck each month.
  • You can demonstrate to your employer your willingness to invest in professional development, which in turn will make you a more valuable employee for future advancement.

If you live within one of the following western Ohio counties and are pursuing a bachelor’s or graduate degree, you may qualify for in-state tuition, which is substantially less than out-of-state tuition:

  • Allen
  • Auglaize
  • Butler
  • Darke
  • Defiance
  • Fulton
  • Henry
  • Mercer
  • Paulding
  • Preble
  • Putnam
  • Shelby
  • Van Wert
  • Williams
Ohio residents of these counties may be eligible for this tuition reduction if they are pursuing a bachelor's or graduate degree.

Learn more.

If you are an Indiana resident age 60 or older, you may qualify for a 50 percent reduction in the cost of your Ball State tuition.

Ball State employees and their dependents may be eligible for significant tuition reductions for academic programs and courses.

If you are seeking a graduate-level certificate or educator license, rather than a degree, financial aid may or may not be available to you. Please check with the Financial Aid Office if you have questions. Let the representative know what specific program you are considering.

Ball State uses an online payment system known as eBill. You can even allow family members to view or pay your bills by adding authorized payers at MyBSU.

If you are paying your bill right away, Ball State offers several methods of payment.

Due Dates and Late Fees

Your tuition is due when billed by the bursar's office. Ball State does not send paper bills. An email notification is sent to your Ball State email account when your bill is ready to be viewed.

Learn about Ball State's late payment fee policies.

Many online students choose to pay their tuition via installment payments, which Ball State refers to as the deferment option.

View the Bursar’s frequently asked questions about the deferment option.

Tax credits or deductions may be available to you while you are attending Ball State.

Below are some common ones, but we emphasize that you should check with the IRS or a tax expert for the latest information that applies to your situation.

Tax Credits

Two tax credits that you should be aware of are the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. They allow you to subtract, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the amount of the credit from your total federal income tax bill. Tax credits are different than tax deductions and usually allow for greater total savings than tax deductions, which are subtracted from your income before your taxes are calculated. Tax credits usually allow for greater total savings than tax deductions.

Tax Deductions

After you complete your studies at Ball State, you may be eligible for a tax deduction on the interest of some federal student loans.

To learn more about income tax credits and deductions, read IRS Publication 970 (PDF).

Sometimes plans change. Make sure you are aware of our refund policies:

Military Friendly SchoolsBall State Online has earned G.I. Job's “Military Friendly” distinction every year since 2009. Fewer than 15 percent of schools nationwide have earned this honor.

In addition, we hold four national rankings from U.S. News & World Report for “Best Online Programs for Veterans.”

Start with Financial Aid

One of the key reasons Ball State is so friendly to active military, veterans, and their families is the excellent service provided by Office of Veteran Affairs and Veteran Benefits, which is housed within our Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

After you have picked out a Ball State program you are interested in, we encourage you to start the rest of your admission process by reviewing all the financial aid options for military-related prospective students.

If you have specific questions, contact Michael Black, assistant director of Veterans Affairs.