Wide range of majors, programs, and experiences.
At Ball State, you don’t have to choose between having options and feeling supported you get both. With hundreds of majors and degree programs, you’ll have the flexibility to explore what interests you and find the right path. At the same time, classes stay personal. Professors know you by name, keep their doors open, and take the time to help you succeed. You’ll also work closely with an academic advisor who helps you plan your coursework around your goals and adjust along the way if those goals change. Our campus offers big-university resources, from an art museum to TV and radio studios to a major athletic stadium and arena, but it’s still small enough to walk across in about 15 minutes.
Beyond the classroom learning
Learning at Ball State doesn’t stop when class ends. Students gain experience in real settings, on campus, across the state, throughout the country, and around the world. You’ll study in a place that values its history while offering modern technology and hands-on opportunities. Journalism students run their own full-service newsroom. Media students work in award-winning facilities. Research takes place in spaces like the Human Performance Lab, where students and faculty study exercise and work performance together. No matter your major, you can also take part in study abroad programs and unique experiences like ECAP Italia, expanding your perspective far beyond campus.
Experiential learning for real-world work
At Ball State, learning is built around doing. You’ll work alongside professors and classmates on real projects that connect what you’re studying to the world beyond campus. Students take part in initiatives like Middletown Media Studies, where they’ve helped uncover long-term trends in American media by analyzing historical records. Others learn by serving their communities, education majors for example, work in more than 30 Ball State sponsored charter schools, supporting students who need a different approach to learning. Experiences like these help you build confidence, problem-solving skills, and professional experience long before graduation.
The Programs
What are Ball State’s academic programs like?
At Ball State, your degree is about more than the name on your diploma, it’s about graduating with confidence. Courses are designed to challenge you and give you experiences that apply across majors. No matter what you study, the focus is on helping you feel prepared for what comes next. A range of academic programs and learning opportunities supports students throughout their time on campus.
How do students choose a major at Ball State?
Ball State offers about 120 majors, including pre professional programs, giving students many options to explore. You don’t have to decide on a major right away, and many students take time to discover what fits them best. Academic advisors and career resources help students explore interests and make informed decisions without delaying graduation.
What is the Honors College at Ball State?
The Honors College offers a more challenging academic experience for high-ability students. Honors students work closely with faculty in smaller, seminar-style classes and have access to research, independent study, and study abroad opportunities. Students complete a senior thesis or creative project and may qualify for priority registration and competitive scholarships and grants
How can I earn a degree in 3 years?
Some students may be able to earn their bachelor’s degree in three years by following a focused academic plan and using summer terms. This option can reduce overall costs and allow students to start their careers or graduate studies sooner. Degree in 3 is designed for motivated students who are ready to plan ahead.
Do you have to choose a major right away?
The University Core Curriculum gives students a strong foundation in areas such as writing, mathematics, sciences, history, and the arts. These courses help students develop broad skills and explore different fields of study. The curriculum is structured so students can discover new interests without falling behind on graduation.
What academic support is available to students?
Ball State provides ongoing academic support through resources like the Learning Center. Students can get help with writing, math, study strategies, and specific courses through coaching and workshops. These services are designed to help students become more confident and effective learners.
The People
Who will teach you at Ball State?
At Ball State, you learn directly from professors whose main focus is teaching. Students often work closely with faculty on real projects and research, from chemistry labs to collaborative projects in computer science, journalism, and media. These hands-on experiences help students build skills, confidence, and strong mentoring relationships throughout their time on campus.
What are professors like at Ball State?
Ball State professors set high expectations and encourage students to think creatively, try new ideas, and push themselves academically. They bring real-world experience into the classroom and are actively engaged in their fields, from developing new teaching tools to earning national recognition. No matter the discipline, faculty are hands-on, approachable, and focused on helping students grow.
The Facilities
What technology resources are available to students?
Ball State offers a high-speed, campuswide wireless network that keeps students connected in classrooms and residence halls. With hundreds of computer labs and a nearly one-to-one student-to-computer ratio, access to technology is easy across campus. Students can also use the Global Media Network to connect and collaborate with students and faculty at universities around the world.
What facilities and learning spaces are available to students?
Beyond technology, Ball State provides a wide range of hands-on learning spaces. Students use state-of-the-art music, media, and auditorium facilities, research labs, an arboretum and greenhouse, an observatory and planetarium, and the David Owsley Museum of Art. These spaces support academic work, creative projects, research, and personal exploration across disciplines.
The Experience
What is it like to be a student at Ball State?
Ball State offers the opportunities of a larger university with the support and familiarity of a smaller one. The campus feels welcoming and easy to navigate, where you start to recognize faces while still meeting new people. Everyday moments like grabbing food between classes, walking past art and green spaces, or heading across campus, become part of a comfortable routine. It’s a place where students feel connected without feeling lost.
What does a typical day look like at Ball State?
Classes at Ball State feel personal from day one. You’ll learn in technology equipped classrooms with professors who teach and engage directly with students, not teaching assistants. Outside of class, students balance academics with downtime, relaxing in residence halls or heading to The Village just off campus to eat, shop, or meet up with friends. It’s an environment where students work hard, connect easily, and feel at home.
How does the Ball State experience help students grow and build confidence?
Ball State is about more than choosing a major or earning a degree, it’s about personal growth. With the support of friends, faculty, and hands-on experiences, students gain confidence by taking on real challenges, from working with businesses to serving communities around the world. Along the way, students develop skills that go beyond grades or test scores. They graduate not only with a degree, but with the confidence to take on what comes next.
What makes the Ball State experience unique?
Ball State has its own traditions and everyday moments that quickly start to feel like home. Students get used to seeing familiar faces and campus favorites, from running into Happy Friday Guy to leaving notes for friends at Naked Lady. Weekends bring their own routines, like heading to Late Nite for free events on campus. These small traditions are part of what make the Ball State experience feel personal and memorable.