Head-to-head comparison
Ball State University vs Franklin 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 Franklin, IN
Franklin College
- Net price / year
- $22,855
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,376
- Payback
- 13 yrs
Franklin College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $91,420 in 13 years versus 17.2 years at Ball State University, on median earnings of $55,376 vs $51,833 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ball State University | Franklin College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,940 | $22,855 |
| Total net cost | $59,760 | $91,420 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,833 | $55,376 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 17.2 yrs | 13 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $9,700 | $48,900 |
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 Franklin College?
Ball State University, at $14,940 a year after aid versus $22,855 — a gap of $7,915 a year, or $31,660 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 Franklin College graduates earn more?
Franklin College graduates report a median $55,376 ten years after entry, $3,543 more than the $51,833 at Ball State 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 Franklin College?
Ball State University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Franklin College, a difference of $3,750. 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 60% at Franklin College. 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.