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Register for a live webinar at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2025 to learn about our online bachelor's degrees. Just by registering, you can apply for free.
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No one needs to tell you how important it is to finish your bachelor’s degree. What you need is a do-able degree that considers your work schedule, your devotion to your family, and your social commitments to church or community.
Quick Facts
Next Start Date:
May 12, 2025
- Delivery: 100% Online
- Major Credits: 120
- Consistently nationally ranked by U.S. News
Ball State’s bachelor of general studies (BGS) degree completion program brings the classroom to you online. The asynchronous courses give you the flexibility to work on assignments during your lunch hour, at your children’s practices, after they’re asleep, or any times that are best for you. Just remember to complete your assignments before your deadlines. Meanwhile, you complete a degree that will mean everything for your career goals. There are so many reasons why Ball State is a great option.
- You can customize your degree with two minors and extensive elective opportunities.
- Ball State is not an “online university,” but a brick and mortar institution with nearly a century of history. You can earn the same degree that traditional students earn on campus.
- Ball State is ranked and recognized nationally, including "best of" rankings for online bachelor’s degrees from U.S. News & World Report.
- Professors for your online classes are the same innovative faculty who teach classes on our main Ball State campus.
- Our BGS is offered in an online format that lets you work toward deadlines at your own pace. You log in to class on the particular times or days of the week that work best for your schedule.
- Ball State accepts your transcripts from accredited schools, no matter how old they are—and courses you took may count toward your degree.
- As a Ball State online student, you will have access to many of the same services available to students on campus.
- Ball State University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Although you earn a general studies degree, you can customize your degree to your career interests by taking two of many online minors. Choose from African American studies to criminal justice and criminology to sociology and more, all 100% online. The offerings allow you to focus your studies toward the career path you want.
Credits earned recently—or not so recently—from accredited colleges and universities may transfer to the BGS degree, including the minors. Military experience may also be considered for credit. If you are transferring credits from another school or have attended Ball State previously, you may be able to complete other minors.
What will make your Ball State bachelor's degree stand out from the rest is that it is coming from a competitively priced program from a well-respected, accredited university with many national rankings and recognitions. For instance, we were named one of the best universities in the Midwest for six consecutive years by The Princeton Review and were one of only 15 percent of universities named a Military Friendly School by GI Jobs.
Calculate the Cost of a Bachelor of General Studies
It's important to you to understand the expenses associated with your education. We encourage you to utilize our cost calculator to gauge the anticipated costs of your education to plan for your future. Need assistance? Our student success specialists stand ready to support you.
Calculate Your Costs
Grants for College
Good news for Indiana adult students! The Indiana Commission for Higher Education is offering college grants for adults returning to college, or even beginning their educational journey. The Adult Student Grant awards up to $2,000 to help pay for your college expenses and is renewable. This grant is available to Indiana residents, aged 25 and older, who are enrolled or will be enrolled in an undergraduate program.* Review the requirements below and learn if you qualify for the Adult Student Grant.
Learn More about the Adult Student Grant
*Additional requirements are listed on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education Adult Student Grant website.
Meet Our Students
Jane Miller, 77, Proves It’s Never Too Late to Earn Bachelor’s Degree
"I credit Ball State’s staff with making my online learning experience so successful."
Read Her Story!
Kat Parker Enrolls to Finish What She Started
"I wanted to prove to myself that I could go back to college and be a better student."
Read Her Story!
Sophia Benedict Becomes Digital Media Entrepreneur
"Ball State’s program taught me the principles of design, how to incorporate design to help tell stories."
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Online BGS Course Requirements
Ball State's BGS degree requires you to fulfill at least 120 credits, all of which can be completed online. For a full list of required courses, see the course catalog.
Contact your program advisor to start developing your personal plan of study.
View Catalog
Choose Two Online Minors
As part of the online BGS degree, you will be required to choose two minors.
General Electives
Ball State offers a wide variety of elective courses online that will help you fulfill your 120 credit requirements for a bachelor of general studies degree.
Your academic advisor can help you choose the ones best to fine-tune your course plan with your career needs and personal interests. Contact our academic advisors for this program anytime.
University Core Curriculum
Your core curriculum classes are designed to give you the fundamentals of a well-rounded education needed to meet the broad responsibilities of citizenship in a free society. All Ball State students earning a bachelor's degree take core courses. Learn more about the Ball State core curriculum.
NOTE: The core courses in this section are available for online or main-campus students. However, there are core curriculum courses offered on the main campus that are not available online. Whether you are an online or main-campus student, you should work with your advisor to choose the courses best for you.
Core curriculum courses are divided as following:
Credits Through Exams
You may also gain college credit through exams such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Ball State departmental exams. Or, you may qualify for credits for military service.
More about Online Learning
Ready to Apply?
An application and all required application materials must be received two weeks prior to the start of classes for a given term in order to be considered for admission to Ball State. Our semester start dates can be found in Ball State’s academic calendar.
Please plan for at least 3-4 weeks for staff from your previous schools to send official transcripts to Ball State. We will review as soon as we receive all your application materials.
GET STARTED
Ball State is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to accept online students from all U.S. states. However, if you are considering a program that leads to professional licensure, some states may have additional regulations. Review our state authorization website if you live outside of Indiana and contact us if you have questions.
Want to Learn More
Do you have questions about this program or online learning? We’re here to help! You may request more information using our online form, or feel free to reach out directly to one of our staff.