Become a Cardinal!
To officially become a Ball State student, you must accept our admission offer by confirming your enrollment and submitting a $100 nonrefundable deposit (we'll apply this to your tuition and fees). If you have questions or concerns about confirming your enrollment, please reach out to our admissions team.
Join our spirited, supportive Cardinal community and prepare to be inspired, engaged, and immersed from day one. Chirp! Chirp!
International Students
Beginning Fall 2026, all on-campus, degree seeking students must confirm their enrollment by replying to the International Decision Reply Form and submitting a $100 nonrefundable enrollment deposit in their Cardinal Landing portal. Please review our 5 Steps to Admission for detailed information on enrollment and arrival planning.
Confirmation Deadlines
The deadline to confirm your enrollment is based on when you plan to start at Ball State:
- Fall semester — May 1
- Spring semester — December 1
- Summer semester — April 1
How to Confirm
If you haven't already, you'll need to set up your Ball State username and password in order to access your Cardinal Landing portal. Once logged in, you'll be able to respond to our admission offer and submit your enrollment deposit.
Setting up your Ball State username and password will allow you to access your Cardinal Landing portal. To set up these credentials, follow the instructions that were emailed to you by the Technology HelpDesk upon admission. If you cannot locate this email or if you have any problems with your username and password, contact the Technology HelpDesk.
What is my Cardinal Landing Portal?
Your Cardinal Landing portal gives you access to important online resources at Ball State so you can do the following:
- Confirm your enrollment. See the previous step on this page for instructions.
- Use your Ball State Outlook email account. This is your official Ball State email, so it's critical to check your inbox each week to find next steps related to financial aid, housing, and other important topics. See "Explore Your MyBallState Account" below to learn more.
- View financial aid award information through Self-Service Banner (when it becomes available).
- Update and change personal and contact information through Self-Service Banner such as your name, address, phone number, and email.
Once you’ve set up your Ball State login, you can officially confirm your plans to attend Ball State.
- Log in to your Cardinal Landing portal.
- Fill out the Decision Reply Form under the "Forms" section of your portal.
You will also need to pay a $100 nonrefundable enrollment deposit, which will be applied to your first-semester fees.
Log In
What's Next?
Once you've decided to enroll at Ball State, you’ll need to start thinking about financial aid, campus housing, Orientation, and more.
Apply for Financial Aid
To be considered for financial aid at Ball State, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) when available.
Learn More