Ball State University will modify 51 academic programs in response to new state budget legislation requiring Indiana’s public colleges and universities to reduce low-enrollment degree offerings.
According to Indiana Capital Chronicle, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) asked institutions to evaluate programs falling below newly established thresholds: 15 graduates for bachelor’s degrees and seven for master’s programs.
Under the new rules, Indiana institutions must now seek ICHE approval not only to create new degree programs but also to continue any program that fails to meet enrollment or completion thresholds. Institutions must provide data on job placement rates, career opportunities, graduate retention, and workforce relevance.
Altogether, Indiana’s public colleges and universities reported plans to change more than 400 degree programs, about 19% of the state’s offerings. These include 75 eliminations, 101 suspensions, and more than 230 mergers. Sixty-eight programs had no students enrolled.
At Ball State, 36 of the 51 programs on the list will be merged or consolidated with existing offerings. Nine programs will be eliminated or suspended to “teach-out to eliminate,” meaning currently enrolled students will be supported through degree completion, but no new students will be admitted. Programs affected include a Master of Arts in Political Science, an associate degree in Chemical Technology, and multiple degrees in German and Visual Arts.
Greg Fallon, associate vice president for university communications and digital strategy, said in a statement to the Ball State Daily News that the program eliminations, suspensions, and consolidations are not just a response to state requirements, they also reflect Ball State’s ongoing efforts to align its academic offerings with student interests and workforce demands.
Fallon said the majority of the programs identified were already being reviewed or phased out prior to the new legislation.
“For more than a decade—regardless of changes in state legislation—Ball State has conducted an annual review and adjustment of its academic programs,” Fallon said in a statement. “The University remains steadfast in aligning its offerings with both student interests and evolving workforce demands in our state and beyond.”
Fallon added that none of the eight programs marked for elimination currently have any students enrolled, and they had already been suspended or were moving toward suspension through Ball State’s internal review process. Four programs designated for suspension before the 2026–2027 academic year were also previously flagged due to low enrollment, he said.
“Any Ball State student currently enrolled in academic programs identified by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education as undergoing elimination, suspension, merger, or consolidation will receive full support and all necessary resources to complete their degree at Ball State. Our commitment to their success remains absolute,” Fallon said.
For programs identified for merger or consolidation, Ball State is committed to preserving and enhancing educational, research, and creative experiences that empower our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives. Our University’s academic portfolio adjustments, as they always have, will meet the high standard our students expect and deserve.”
The legislative language requiring the cuts was added to the state’s biennial budget bill at the end of the session, without public debate or testimony. Governor Mike Braun defended the changes as necessary to ensure degrees offered in Indiana lead to real job opportunities in growing industries.
“Just in the past month, our state institutions have taken bold, proactive steps to increase the value of higher education for both students and families,” Braun said in a press release. “... This will help students make more informed decisions about the degree they want to pursue and ensure there is a direct connection between the skills students are gaining through higher education and the skills they need most.”
Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu.edu or on X @thetrinityrea.
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