Head-to-head comparison
Ball State University vs Earlham College: 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 Richmond, IN
Earlham College
- Net price / year
- $24,714
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,797
- Payback
- 40.6 yrs
Ball State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $59,760 in 17.2 years versus 40.6 years at Earlham College, on median earnings of $51,833 vs $50,797 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ball State University | Earlham College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,940 | $24,714 |
| Total net cost | $59,760 | $98,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,833 | $50,797 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $23,488 |
| Payback | 17.2 yrs | 40.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $9,700 | -$50,116 |
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 Earlham College?
Ball State University, at $14,940 a year after aid versus $24,714 — a gap of $9,774 a year, or $39,096 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 Earlham College graduates earn more?
Ball State University graduates report a median $51,833 ten years after entry, $1,036 more than the $50,797 at Earlham College. 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 Earlham College?
Ball State University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $23,488 at Earlham College, a difference of $238. 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?
69% of students finish at Earlham College, against 62% at Ball State 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.