Ball State University has been named an “Opportunity College and University” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, recognizing the University as a national model for advancing student success and long-term economic outcomes.
This recognition comes through the new Student Access and Earnings Classification, developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education. The classification evaluates institutions based on their ability to serve students from the communities they represent and on how alumni earnings compare to peers in their regional job markets.
In 2025, just 479 institutions—approximately 16 percent of U.S. colleges and universities—earned this classification. Ball State is the only public institution in Indiana to receive this recognition, and one of just three Mid-American Conference institutions to be honored.
“We are grateful to be recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education,” said Dr. Anand R. Marri, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Ball State. “This designation is a meaningful affirmation of our commitment to student success and the real-world impact of a Ball State education. It also reinforces our mission of empowering our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives enriched by lifelong learning and service.”
Ball State’s classification within the Higher Access, Higher Earnings category places the University among the nation’s leading institutions when it comes to enrolling a student population reflective of its service region and producing graduates whose earnings exceed expectations, adjusted for location and demographic factors.
Institutions were evaluated on two key measures:
- The share of Pell Grant recipients and other enrollment indicators benchmarked against the communities the institution serves
- The median earnings of graduates eight years after entering college, compared to peer institutions in similar markets
The methodology uses a sophisticated location-based adjustment to ensure equitable comparisons and accounts for student migration patterns, demographic context, and job market variances.
More information about the 2025 Student Access and Earnings Classification, including detailed methodology, can be found on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education website.