Ball State University (BSU)  is a state-run research university located in Indiana, U.S. Ball State's campus spans more than 1,000 acres (4 km²). Founded in 1918, Ball State is a state-assisted residential university in Muncie, Indiana, a midsized Midwestern city one hour northeast of Indianapolis. About 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students enroll each year in diverse academic programs on and off campus.

Ball State is ranked a doctoral/research-intensive institution by the Carnegie Foundation and is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Individual programs are accredited by various regional and national organizations.

As a comprehensive university, Ball State offers a wealth of academic opportunities, including about 180 undergraduate majors and preprofessional programs, and more than 100 master’s and doctoral degrees. And the programs in architecture, telecommunications, landscape architecture, education, entrepreneurship, and online master’s degree in nursing are consistently ranked among the best in the nation. That excellence is due to the quality of BSU's faculty and their commitment to teaching. More than 90 percent of the classes are taught by professors. That’s almost unheard of at an institution of Ball State’s size.

Campus Life

More than 6,300 students live on campus and residence life is great at Ball State. Nearly 35 percent of the student body chooses to live in one of the 29 residence halls. And the campus dining is excellent. First-year students take part in Freshman Connections, a national award-winning program, and just one reason Ball State was named one of 13 “Institutions of Excellence in the First College Year” by the national Policy Center on the First Year of College in 2003 and deemed a “program to look for” by U.S. News & World Report. The program allows freshmen to make friends and a smooth adjustment to college life through common programming. Whether it’s because they have a great study circle or a great circle of friends, students who live on campus get better grades and are more likely to graduate on time. And they get a classic college experience.

With an event calendar full of attractions such as Broadway shows, NCAA Division I athletics, blues legends, Russian National Ballet performances, and professional comedians, Ball State brings excitement to Muncie that most Midwestern cities would envy, without forgoing any of that college charm. The Village, located right on the edge of campus, offers plenty of places to eat and hang out with friends. The Tally on the first floor of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center showcases comedians, bands, and other entertainers. Christy Woods arboretum and the Duck Pond are just a couple of places where you can enjoy nature; there’s also the University Green where you can take in an outdoor concert. And then there’s Late Nite, the best party on campus. Every Saturday night you can take advantage of free entertainment. Activities include everything from bowling and billiards to DJs and dancing and, of course, free food. Just keep your eye on the Flyswatter, the billboard near the Scramble Light, for upcoming events. 

Facilities

No matter what you want to do, Ball State has the resources you need—television studios, computer labs, artist studios, an on-campus arboretum and greenhouse, a state-of-the-art music hall, a Digital Simulation Laboratory—to do it. And BSU's vibrant campus is navigable and convenient. There’s no need to rely on the city bus to get you to class on time or send postcards to friends who live across campus. BSU campus and community are big enough that you can lose yourself in all of the opportunities and activities, but small enough so you won’t get lost on your way to class.

You can join one of many departmental and professional organizations to network in your major and gain experience in real-world career settings. There are more than 300 student organizations to pick from. From improv comedy to worldwide health care missions, there’s likely something to pique your interest. BSU will even help you start your own group. Intramural and club sports offer plenty of opportunities to get fit, be competitive, and even show off that jumpshot. Or maybe you want to push your mind and body with lessons in salsa dancing or tae kwon do. You can do it all. 

• According to the 2006 edition of the same magazine, Ball State has one of the best undergraduate business programs in the nation.
• In 2004 "This Business of Broadcasting" named Ball State as one of the nation's top broadcasting programs in the country.
• The 2005 edition of Almanac of Architecture and Design named Ball State one of the top ten colleges in landscape architecture.
• The BSU School of Music is widely known for its quality at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; the school's Music Technology program houses one of the most elite facilities in the United States. In addition, the music education division has long been recognized as one of the best music teacher training programs in the Midwest.
• Ball State is the administrator to Burris Laboratory School. The school, which opened in 1929, is one of few schools in the nation to be created and maintained by a university for the purpose of giving teachers hands-on experience in the classroom directly.
• The University is also the administrator for the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. The Academy is one of the oldest schools for gifted/talented high school juniors and seniors in the nation and provides University faculty an additional resource in research and hands-on experience.
• The Ball State Department of Chemistry held the record for largest undergraduate summer research program in 2004 and 2005.
• In 2006, Planetizen.com ranked Ball State's Urban Planning & Development program the seventeenth best in the country. It was also ranked in the following areas: number seven in historic preservation, number seven in land-use planning, number six in technology, number five in zoning administration, and number three in the midwest.
• In 2004, Ball State's master's program in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education (SAAHE) ranked 14th among 186 programs in a national study presented to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).