Home › Ball State University › General Sales

General Sales at Ball State University

Muncie, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $65,184/yr (19% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (499,600 openings/yr)

ROI 14.1x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #15 of 26 General Sales programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to General Sales graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$618K	$606K	$553K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.4x	14.1x	12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.4x	5.3x	4.8x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	44%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	68	67	64

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,032

Out-of-state: $115,064 (5.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$63,592

-48% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,250

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $65,184 per year, General Sales graduates from Ball State University earn slightly above the $54,790 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI General Sales programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in General Sales's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $24,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #15 of 26 General Sales programs, Ball State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Ball State University

With 72% of applicants admitted, Ball State University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 13,770 students in Muncie, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Ball State University →

Top Career Paths

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products $100,070/yr

Business teachers, postsecondary $97,270/yr

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers $84,130/yr

View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

General Sales at Other Schools

Other Majors at Ball State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for General Sales at Ball State University?

This program scores 67/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of General Sales programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace General Sales careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $553,213 in decade earnings vs $618,144 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →