Head-to-head comparison
Ball State University vs Bethel University: which has better ROI?
Option A Muncie, IN
Ball State University
- Net price / year
- $14,940
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,833
- Payback
- 17.2 yrs
Option B Mishawaka, IN
Bethel University
- Net price / year
- $18,610
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,860
- Payback
- 148.9 yrs
Ball State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $59,760 in 17.2 years versus 148.9 years at Bethel University, on median earnings of $51,833 vs $48,860 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ball State University | Bethel University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,940 | $18,610 |
| Total net cost | $59,760 | $74,440 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,833 | $48,860 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 17.2 yrs | 148.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $9,700 | -$64,440 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ball State University or Bethel University?
Ball State University, at $14,940 a year after aid versus $18,610 — a gap of $3,670 a year, or $14,680 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Ball State University or Bethel University graduates earn more?
Ball State University graduates report a median $51,833 ten years after entry, $2,973 more than the $48,860 at Bethel University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Ball State University or Bethel University?
Ball State University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Bethel University, a difference of $1,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
62% of students finish at Ball State University, against 53% at Bethel University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.