Ball State University: Who and What is it good for?

Ball State as an institution is growing in its prominence. Its athletic programs have reached national attention since its 2008 perfect football season, and its academics have garners great praise. As an advisor to individuals on the benefits of Ball State I would be remise if I tried to claim that Ball State was for everyone. Muncie is not the place for someone seeking an engineering degree. In addition, I would never claim that Ball State could offer the national prominence that a degree from a Notre Dame or Indiana University could. However, Ball State provides an educational environment and educational resources that those larger schools cannot or do not. Campus wide recognition of Ball State is quite telling. The Princeton Review has ranked the school as "Best in the Midwest" four years in a row as well as one of the best values for the cost.
Below I will describe what Ball State has to offer for a broad group of people seeking certain academic interests, campus resources, and who have certain learning styles:
I. Academic Interests
A. Architecture
1. Students seeking a degree in Landscape architecture need look no further than Ball State. It has been ranked 4th for its undergraduate program and 5th for its graduate program. It also stands as the best program in the Midwest. Much of this is due to an excellent staff and partnerships with institutions like Minnitrista Cultural Center. Its urban planning program is also seventeenth and its historic preservation program is ranked seventh natiaonlly.
B. Entrepreneurship
1. For those seeking a business degree in Indiana many automatically turn to IU's Kelly School of Business, Ball States Entrepreneurship is a diamond in the rough. It is ranked 11th in the country by the Princeton Review and 10th in the nation the US News and World report. The Senior Sweat program is part of the reason. This program forces students to put business plans forward to real business leaders for a pass/fail grade.
C. Education
1. Ball States Educational Leadership program is ranked 11th nationally. In addition its Elementary education program received Distinguished Program in Teacher Education by the Association of Teacher Educators. The Ball State Teachers college has be a leader in teacher education since its creation in 1929 and is moving into the future.
D. Telecommunications
1. Ball State students have won the gold medal in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' annual Student Academy Awards competition for the second year in a row. This award combined over 70 regional emmy nominations make Ball States program the place to be for those pursuing a telecommunications education.
II. Campus Resources
A. Wifi
1. Many campus' have been touting there wireless networks, but only Ball State can claim to have the best in the nation according to a study done by Intel and published in US News and World Report

B. Diversity
1. Minority Access Inc. has awarded Ball State the commitment to diversity award for a two consecutive years. This award comes as a result of many actions taken on the part of the University. Diversity is a cornerstone of the schools strategic plan. Also they have offered several undergraduate and graduate programs exploring the topic. In addition, the schools Multicultural Center and Diversity Policy Institute make a strong statement about the schools commitment. Lastly, Ball State ranked ninth out of over hundred schools ranked on the Gender equity scorecard.
C. Environmental
1. In this age of environmental awareness many students are looking for a University environment which has the same values they do. If that is a concern for you Ball State has what you need. They recently transferred campus shuttles over to low emission models and engaged in reforestation of its campus. In addition, they have been rewarded by National Wildlife Federation and KIWI magazine as a top eco friendly campus
III. Learning Styles
1. Ball States small class sizes, innovative teaching methods, and broad technological innovation make Ball State a great place for varying learning styles

IV. This great schools academics are complimented by a recently beautified campus because of the McKinley project, and a close nit and safe campus community led by newly strong athletics and great leadership from Ball State Student Senate.