Head-to-head comparison
Ball State University vs Hanover 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 Hanover, IN
Hanover College
- Net price / year
- $21,829
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,957
- Payback
- 15.6 yrs
Hanover College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,316 in 15.6 years versus 17.2 years at Ball State University, on median earnings of $53,957 vs $51,833 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ball State University | Hanover College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,940 | $21,829 |
| Total net cost | $59,760 | $87,316 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,833 | $53,957 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $25,250 |
| Payback | 17.2 yrs | 15.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $9,700 | $24,624 |
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 Hanover College?
Ball State University, at $14,940 a year after aid versus $21,829 — a gap of $6,889 a year, or $27,556 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 Hanover College graduates earn more?
Hanover College graduates report a median $53,957 ten years after entry, $2,124 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 Hanover College?
Ball State University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $25,250 at Hanover College, a difference of $2,000. 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?
67% of students finish at Hanover 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.