Ball State Board of Trustees Freezes Tuition and Mandatory Fees Through 2026–27, Adopts Strategic Plan for 2025–30

Topics: Board of Trustees, Enrollment, President

June 13, 2025

During its annual budget meeting today, the Ball State University Board of Trustees approved no increase in student tuition and mandatory fees for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years. The Board also formally adopted the University's Strategic Plan for 2025-30, which will guide institutional priorities and resource allocation over the next five years.

The two-year tuition and fee freeze continues the University's commitment to responsible financial stewardship and efficient operations while prioritizing strategic investments that support Ball State's educational mission.

"Ball State has a long-standing tradition of responsible financial stewardship," said Rick Hall, chair of the Ball State Board of Trustees. "By freezing tuition and fees for the next two years, we are reinforcing our commitment to maintaining a high-value education and making smart, long-term investments guided by our new strategic plan."

The Strategic Plan 2025-30 establishes five institutional goals, each supported by a set of strategic imperatives:

• Undergraduate Excellence and Innovation: providing a premier on-campus experience, expanding high-impact learning practices, and ensuring every student completes a culminating project such as a capstone, internship, or thesis.
• Graduate Education and Lifetime Learning: launching new in-demand graduate programs and credentials that meet workforce needs, while growing online and community-based offerings.
• Community Engagement and Impact: expanding partnerships that enhance talent development, population health, educational access, and regional quality of place.
• Scholarship and Societal Impact: supporting research, scholarship, and creative activity that improves teaching, attracts external support, and addresses real-world challenges.
• Institutional Effectiveness: leveraging data, analytics, and emerging technologies to improve operations, enhance decision-making, and support sustainable growth.

"I am grateful for the thoughtful and collaborative work that so many members of our campus community contributed to this plan," said Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns. "It reflects our shared commitment to preparing students for fulfilling careers and meaningful lives-and to serving the needs of our state. I am confident that this plan will produce meaningful and measurable outcomes because of the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students."

To read more about Ball State's 2025-30 Strategic Plan, visit bsu.edu/about/strategic-plan.