Campus Housing
All students must live in university housing for two semesters unless they will be twenty-one years of age prior to the beginning of the term for which they are enrolling, have 24 or more Ball State accepted credits achieved after graduation from high school, are married or are a custodial parent of a dependent child, or are living with their parents in the parents’ primary residence which is no more than sixty miles from the Ball State University campus.
When applying for admission, please indicate housing plans for the semester or term for which application is made. Admission to the university guarantees housing to entering freshmen.
Students with Previous College Experience (Transfer Students)
Applicants who have previously attended post-secondary institutions, and not already earned a postsecondary degree after high school graduation, should follow the same application procedures and observe the same deadlines as students with no college experience. If you have earned a postsecondary degree after high school then the high school transcript requirement may be waived.
Admission of International Students to Ball State University
Students who are not citizens, permanent residents, asylees, refugees, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) of the United States must enroll at Ball State University through the International Admissions. Prospective students must meet all of the university’s international student admission requirements. Prospective students are encouraged to inquire at least one year before proposed enrollment at Ball State by contacting International Admissions or by visiting bsu.edu/admissions/international. Requirements for international applicants:
- An application for admission. Applicants submit a completed application for admission by 15 June for priority consideration for fall semester, by 15 November for spring semester, and by 15 March for summer semester. Applications may be submitted up to one year in advance. Students seeking admission to academic programs in, dance, music, theatre, interior design, or the first-year program in the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) will be required to provide additional information within the online application to be considered for admission to those programs. Students will also be required to provide additional information within the admission application to be considered for admission to the Honors College. For information about the supplemental application process, students should contact International Admissions.
- A $60 nonrefundable application fee. Applicants must pay a $60 application fee before they will be considered for admission. The fee can be paid by a credit card or electronic check process included in the online application for admission. In cases of financial difficulties or other approved reasons, a request can be made to have the application fee waived. Supporting documentation must be sent to Ball State University Office of Admissions documenting the reason for the fee waiver request on behalf of the applicant.
- Secondary school record (official transcript) or equivalency certificate, translated into English. Students should ask their high schools to send official copies of the secondary transcripts to the Office of Admissions, including lists of courses in progress. Students who have been home schooled or who have attended unaccredited high schools will be required to submit an official General Education Development (GED) and/or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) and/or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) certificate. Transcripts or GED/TASC/HiSET certificates must show that applicants meet the standards for certification as secondary school graduates. If schools send partial transcripts, students must make certain that complete official transcripts showing the specific date of graduation are submitted as soon as possible after graduation. Failure to do so will result in a registration barrier and university hold placed on the student’s record. If admitted, the quality of students’ academic achievement must remain the same or improve, or the admission classification may be changed or admission rescinded.
- Standardized test scores: Ball State is a test optional institution. Applicants may elect to provide the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or American College Testing Assessment (ACT) score. The test scores should be sent directly to the university.
- Proof of English language proficiency: Regardless of citizenship, students who completed the majority of their education in a language other than English must submit proof of language proficiency. The most common method to prove language proficiency is by submitting a standardized language test: TOEFL (79), IELTS (6.5), PTE (53), Duoling (110), etc. Please visit https://www.bsu.edu/admissions/international/undergraduate/conditional-admission for up-to-date information about proof of English language proficiency. Any exceptions to these English proficiency admission requirements must be approved by the International Admissions. Students who are eligible for conditional admission are admitted to the Intensive English Institute program at Ball State and must meet English proficiency requirements before being offered degree-seeking admission to the university. Please note, beginning Spring 2024, a language test score will be required for conditional admission and/or admission to the Intensive English Institute. The Intensive English Institute offers Academic English courses for students who have the following minimum language test scores:
-IELTS 4.5
-TOEFL iBT 42
-Duolingo 65
-Pearson PTE 40
Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Intensive English Institute.
Any international student may take a course in the Intensive English Institute for noncredit, regardless of whether such a course is required. Any student who is required to take a course in the Intensive English Institute and whose progress is unsatisfactory will be required to repeat the course if the Intensive English Institute, Rinker Center for Global Affairs, and the chairperson of the relevant department deem it advisable.
- Dual credit/college credit. Students taking college-level courses at an accredited institution while enrolled in high school must submit official college transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions in order to receive credit for completed courses. For advanced standing information, please see Advanced Standing section.
- Additional information for international applicants:
- In addition to submitting an admission application and all supporting academic credentials, international students must provide evidence of adequate financial support for expenses for one academic year–including tuition, fees, books, supplies, maintenance (lodging and food), health insurance, taxes, and miscellaneous expenditures (clothing, local travel, recreation, toiletries, telephone, etc.) before Ball State may issue visa-enabling documents, if applicable. Successful applicants will be sent documentation allowing them to apply for a student visa through United States consular representatives in their home countries.
- Any student offered admission to non-degree study in the Intensive English Institute only must apply as a degree-seeking student and be offered admission before enrolling in credit-bearing academic classes.
- International students are assessed nonresident tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate courses offered by the university. The university currently has a limited number of scholarships authorized by the University Board of Trustees that may be awarded to outstanding and deserving students from other countries. These scholarships are equivalent in value to a partial waiver of university tuition fees. No scholarships are available for room, board, or transportation costs.
- All international students are required to participate in a health insurance plan designed for Ball State University students unless approved for a waiver. The premium must be paid along with nonresident tuition and fees and must be maintained throughout the student’s period of enrollment at the university.
- Upon arrival at Ball State, students are required to attend international student orientation during which registration information and other relevant student issues are discussed. An English language examination will be administered to those students who require the test at this time to determine language competency.
- Students who have a break in continuous semester attendance or who have attended other institutions since last attending Ball State and who were in good standing with Ball State at the time of stop out will be considered reenrolling students. Please refer to the information above.
First-time, Domestic College Students
Students who have had no previous college experience, after high school graduation, will be considered for admission to Ball State University after the Office of Admissions has received the following:
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An application for admission. Applicants submit a completed application for admission before March 1 for priority consideration for fall semester, before December 1 for spring semester, and before April 1 for summer semester. Applications submitted later than the priority deadlines will be considered as space is available. Applications may be submitted up to one year in advance.
Students seeking admission to academic programs in dance, interior design, music, theatre, or the first-year program in the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) will be required to provide additional information within the online application to be considered for admission to those programs. Students will also be required to provide additional information within the admission application to be considered for admission to the Honors College. For information about the supplemental application process, students should contact the Office of Admissions. Students are strongly encouraged to apply early, as a limited number of students are admitted to these programs.
- A $60 nonrefundable application fee. Applicants must pay a $60 application fee before they will be considered for admission. The fee can be paid by a credit card or electronic check process included in the online application for admission. In cases of financial difficulties or other approved reasons, a request can be made to have the application fee waived. Supporting documentation must be sent to Ball State University Office of Admissions documenting the reason for the fee waiver request on behalf of the applicant.
- Secondary school record (official transcript) or GED/TASC/HiSET certificate. Students should ask their high schools to send official copies of the secondary transcripts to the Office of Admissions, including lists of courses in progress. Students who have been home schooled or who have attended unaccredited high schools may be required to submit an official General Education Development (GED) and/or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) and/or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) certificate. Transcripts or GED/TASC/HiSET certificates must show that applicants meet the standards for certification as secondary school graduates. If schools send partial transcripts, students must make certain that complete official transcripts showing the specific date of graduation are submitted as soon as possible after graduation. Failure to do so will result in a registration barrier and university hold placed on the student’s record. Students who have not produced certification of high school graduation are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. If admitted, the quality of students’ academic achievement must remain the same or improve, or the admission classification may be changed or admission rescinded.
- Standardized test scores. Ball State is a test optional institution. Applicants may elect to provide the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or American College Testing Assessment (ACT) score. The test scores should be sent directly to the university. Some students 21 years old or older may also be required to take the SAT or ACT. For additional information, visit bsu.edu/admissions.
- Dual credit/college credit. Students taking college-level courses at an accredited institution while enrolled in high school must submit official college transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions in order to receive credit for completed courses. For advanced standing information, please see Advanced Standing section.
- Advanced Standing Credit. Official score reports must be sent to Ball State University to earn credit for these courses. Additional information on how these scores transfer into Ball State can be found in the Advanced Standing section or here.
- College Credits post High School graduation. Ball State follows the IPEDS definition. First-time students are those who have not attended college, with the exception of summer courses taken after they graduate (less than 12 hours), or dual credit courses taken before they graduate. Transfer students have attended college after high school graduation (not including the summer immediately after graduation). Learn more in the Advanced Standing section or here.
Former Ball State University Undergraduate Students
Former Ball State students who stop out, for a year or longer time period, and wish to re-enter the university must submit a reenrollment application to the Office of Admissions. This application can be found at bsu.edu/apply. The deadline for reenrollment consideration is seven days before the official start of each term.
Students who have a break in continuous semester attendance or who have attended other institutions since last attending Ball State University and who were in good standing with Ball State University at the time of stop out will be considered reenrolling students.
Former Ball State students not in good academic standing with Ball State University as determined by the Registrar (academic disqualification) must apply for reinstatement. This process requires an application, found at bsu.edu/apply. All documentation must be submitted to the Office of Admissions no later than 7 days before the official start of each term. Applicants should submit documents early in order to complete the requirements for application and to allow time for the committee to consider all documentation.
Admission Requirements for Transfer Applicants
Admission decisions will be based upon applicants’ academic records at all educational institutions attended. Applicants must be in good academic standing and eligible to return immediately to the institution last attended.
To be considered for admission, applicants must have cumulative grade-point averages of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for all transferable course work attempted. Remedial, vocational, and courses from institutions that do not have USDE institutional accreditation are not transferable. Although credit earned from unaccredited colleges and universities is not accepted at Ball State University as transfer credit, transcripts from all such institutions attended are still required.
Students who apply for admission to Ball State University while currently enrolled at other colleges and universities may be admitted with condition to Ball State on incomplete transcripts based on their current college or university cumulative grade-point averages. Admission granted under such circumstances will be withdrawn if the cumulative grade-point average falls below 2.0.
Students who were not admissible to Ball State out of high school and not offered another pathway into Ball State will be asked to complete a minimum of 24 credits of college-level course work (remedial or skill building classes do not count) and earn a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) at an accredited two- or four-year college or university before being considered for admission to Ball State as a transfer student.
Acceptance of Transfer Credit. Generally, all nonremedial, nonvocational courses in which a student earns a 2.0 or better at colleges and universities with USDE institutional accreditation are accepted by Ball State University. Students may petition the appropriate academic department for the acceptance of vocational courses. Only course credit transfers to Ball State University; no grades transfer.
Information about how credits will transfer to Ball State may be obtained through the Transfer Equivalency Self-Service (TESS) audit tool, transferin.net, through DegreeWorks audit upon admission to the University or contact the Transfer Center at 765-285-5604 or transfer@bsu.edu. Courses at Ball State University are offered on a semester and term basis, and credits earned are in semester hours. To convert quarter hours to semester hours, multiply the number of quarter hours by 2/3. Two semester hours are generally equivalent to three quarter hours. Ball State University has procedures in place to accommodate conversions.
Application of Transfer Credit. For admitted students, the application of transfer credit toward a degree at Ball State University will be articulated based on rules defined by University Academic Affairs. Official Ball State University course equivalents are established by University Academic Affairs in consultation with the appropriate academic department.
Transfer of Credit Earned in Vocational Degree Programs. Vocational degree programs are designed to prepare students for immediate employment rather than for further study at other colleges or universities; therefore, such credits are not directly transferable. For example, degree programs in automotive repair, cosmetology, commercial driving, etc., are considered to be vocational studies. Exceptions to this rule are made when the providers of occupational programs and Ball State University have agreements for transferring credits.
IVY Tech Community College of Indiana credits. Ball State will accept the Ivy Tech credits articulated with Indiana’s public universities if they were taken in the fall of 1993 or later. All other credits earned in the fall of 1995 or later will be accepted in transfer except those courses that are primarily vocational in nature.
Transfer Student Housing Policy. All transfer students who have 24 or fewer credits must live in university housing unless they are 21 years of age, married, living with their parents in the parents’ primary residence which is no more than 60 miles from the Ball State campus, or have completed two semesters at Ball State. Admission to the university guarantees housing to transfer students in this category.