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Ball State scholarships and merit aid

Two prices: the posted one, and yours.

Posted price$27,658per year · 2026-2027 · cost of attendance
Yours?depends on the rules below

The short answer

We did not find a simple published award list to show for Ball State. Read our full reasoning before spending more time here.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jun 2026
3 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

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Checking merit aid at Ball State

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Explore the aid policy

Start with the financial aid office

This research does not list a merit award. Explore the recorded policies below and ask Ball State's financial aid office about current options.

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What makes Ball State different

Ball State rewards driven students with honors-focused aid for international study, research, and creative work.

Merit tiers0See who qualifies
Research checkedJun 2026By our research team

Start with the aid policy

Find the right kind of aid.

This research does not list a merit award. Check the school's financial aid options and application requirements; an empty award list is not proof that no aid is available.

  1. Read the selection rules

    Look for the school's stated criteria and whether an additional application is needed.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take Ball State's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

High-achieving students interested in the Honors College, study abroad, or hands-on research and creative projects will find the most opportunities here.

Published yearly cost: Approximately $27,658 for 2026-2027. Source

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Ball State, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Ball State, academic year 2021-22 — in-state, Title-IV aid recipients only
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$7,834
$30,001–$48,000$9,848
$48,001–$75,000$14,333
$75,001–$110,000$19,567
$110,001+$23,479
All income levels (average)$14,940

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees (in-state), AY 2022-23
$11,082
Published tuition & fees (out-of-state), AY 2022-23
$29,630
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$14,940

That works out to roughly a 43% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $26,146 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).

Ball State is a public school; Scorecard's net price figure covers in-state, Title-IV-aid-recipient payers only — there is no comparable federal figure for out-of-state students.

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
62%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
78%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$23,250 (~$246/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$51,833
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
42%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
52%
See other scholarships and cost examples

Other Ball State scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityThe Walters Scholarship supports a new Honors College student who demonstrates strong academic potential.

Source

AmountFull tuitionEligibilityThe Strong Scholarship provides in-state tuition for a new Honors College student from Indiana pursuing a major in nursing, business, architecture, or music.

Source

Amount$1,080EligibilityHonors Undergraduate Fellowships pay Honors College students for 150 hours of work for each semester of their fellowship, currently $1,080 per semester.

Source

Amount$2,800EligibilityThe Trimmer Scholarship provides $2,800 per year to an Honors College student entering the sophomore year and pursuing a major in the arts or humanities, and is renewable with conditions for a total of three years.

Source

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityThe Ho Scholarship supports an outstanding new freshman or transfer Honors College student.

Source

Amount$2,000EligibilityThe Rinker Scholarship provides a $2,000 award for new Honors College students who participate in a study abroad program.

Source

AmountFull tuitionEligibilityThe Wehman Scholarship supplements Ball State’s Presidential Scholarship to provide full in-state tuition for a new Honors College student.

Source

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilitySeveral Ruebel Fellowships are awarded annually to Honors College students who are poised to make an impact in an international setting, a local community, or both.

Source

AmountFull tuitionEligibilityThe Whitinger Scholarship provides full tuition and required fees plus on-campus room and board for eight new Honors College students of exceptional potential each year.

Source

Amount$3,000EligibilityThe Edmonds Scholarship provides $3,000 in financial assistance each biennium for an Honors College student preparing to study abroad.

Source

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityTroyer Scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding undergraduate anthropology majors entering their senior year who complete required coursework and maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.

Source

Amount$3,000EligibilityThe Lawhead Award provides an Honors College student pursuing a career in education with $3,000 during the third year of study toward an enhanced learning experience.

Source

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityThe Saxman Grants support and assist Honors College students with opportunities for meaningful research and scholarly activities as undergraduates.

Source

Amount$1,000+EligibilityTwo Joe and Carol Trimmer awards of at least $1,000 each are presented each May to the most outstanding Honors College theses of the academic year.

Source

Amount$1,000EligibilityThe Dr. Stephen Johnson and Joseph Tamney Scholarship is a $1,000 departmental scholarship for junior or senior sociology majors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Source

AmountUp to $500EligibilityThe Troyer Grant provides up to $500 per semester to qualifying anthropology students for professional development expenses related to research and presentations at conferences.

Source

Amount$1,000EligibilityThe Gordon Scholarship is a $1,000 departmental scholarship for sophomores, juniors, or seniors graduating the following fall or later; grades are not an eligibility or consideration criterion, and community service work or interest in disadvantaged populations is weighed favorably.

Source

AmountPercentage of tuition (see source)EligibilityThe Anderson Scholarship provides approximately half in-state tuition and required fees for a new Honors College student pursuing a major in history or a teaching major with a primary concentration in U.S. history.

Source

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityThe Honors College supports conference expenses for about 10 accepted and participating students for each MEHA or NCHC conference each year.

Source

See sources and other schools

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Ball State’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

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