Number of new transfer students
Ball State: 721
Indiana University: 912
Purdue University: 1,119
Percent of incoming students who were transfers
Ball State: 16 percent
Indiana University: 8.5 percent
Purdue University: 17.5 percent
Source: bsu.edu, iu.edu, purdue.edu
Ball State had a higher percentage of transfer students than Indiana University this year.
Joan Todd, spokesperson for the university, said Ball State had 721 new, undergraduate transfer students on campus this year. Nearly 16 percent of undergraduates new to Ball State this fall were transfer students.
Todd said the numbers remain pretty consistent each year. Transfer students make up 17 percent of current undergraduate students.
At Indiana University, 912 students students transferred to the school this semester making up about 8.5 percent of the new undergraduate students. At Purdue University 1,119 students transferred or about 17.5 percent of new undergraduates.
Mark Ferguson, student adviser, said students transfer for a variety of reasons.
“A common reason is for specific academic programs,” Ferguson said. “BSU is very strong in TCOMM, journalism, teaching. Another [reason] is they’ve had a friend who’s spoken highly of BSU, or it’s closer to home.”
Sydney Harris, a junior psychology major, found herself a freshman at the wrong university.
“I liked Olivet [Nazarene University], I met some great people there, but it was so small, and it was super strict,” Harris said. “Because it was a religious school, there were way more rules. We weren’t allowed to wear shorts or tank tops to class.”
Proximity was also important to Harris.
“I’m from Fort Wayne. I’d been to Ball State before and I was familiar with the campus,” she said. “Being far from home wasn’t easy for me.”
Harris was given scholarship opportunities because she was a swimmer, but not all transfer students receive money. According to Ball State's website, three types of scholarships are awarded to transfer students. For incoming freshmen, there are 16.
“Incoming freshmen and transfers are two different cohorts,” Todd said. “Both have scholarships available to them, need-based and merit, but because of their different statuses, freshmen and transfers are eligible for different scholarships. Most Ball State students receive some kind of financial aid.”
Transfer students are not counted in Ball State’s graduation rate, another difference from incoming freshmen.
“Most graduation rates focus on first-time, full-time freshmen. Transfers enter institutions at a variety of points along their academic careers,” Todd said. “Freshmen are, in a sense, starting at the beginning.”
Most transfer students have to count on a late graduation date, Ferguson said.
“I don’t think a lot of students are able to pack in an entire major in three years,” Ferguson said. “It depends entirely on the major. If they’re coming for a major that’s more selective, like art or architecture, it may be even more difficult because there is no guarantee they’ll be accepted into that particular program.”
Even with the delayed graduation rate, Ferguson said most transfers are happy with their decision to change schools.
“My guess is that it’s much more of a challenge for transfer students,” Ferguson said. “But most of my advisees seem excited about coming, getting personal attention and growing academically.”
Harris agrees.
“Transferring was a really smooth process for me. I’ve made a great decision,” she said. “I love Ball State. I love the size. I love the campus. I’m really happy here.”
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