Ball State Cardinal Battalion
Hosted at Ball State University · Muncie, IN
Army ROTC in Muncie, IN runs out of Ball State University as the Ball State Cardinal Battalion.
Quick facts
About this program
Ball State Cardinal Battalion sits inside Ball State University as the campus's Army ROTC battalion. The mission is straightforward — produce U.S. Army officers — and the cadre run a four-year curriculum to do exactly that.
Anderson University, Taylor University, Ivy Tech Community College, and Indiana Wesleyan University are the cross-town partner schools feeding Ball State Cardinal Battalion. All ROTC-side curriculum runs at the host; partner-school students typically attend twice a week and full PT three to five mornings.
Cadets compete for the AROTC 4-Year National Scholarship as high-school seniors and the 3-Year Advanced board on contract. Minuteman seats route Reserve and National Guard contracts, and Green-to-Gold opens the door for prior-enlisted soldiers transitioning to officer. On the academic side, Ball State University draws cadets into history and the humanities as well as mathematics and applied analytics, and the cadre work directly with academic advising on time-conflict resolution between ROTC and major requirements.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor University Upland, IN | cross-town | 18.1 mi | — |
| Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, IN | cross-town | 25.6 mi | — |
| Earlham College Richmond, IN | cross-town | 37.1 mi | — |
| Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN | cross-town | 48.3 mi | — |
| Anderson University Anderson, SC | cross-town | 421.3 mi | — |
Scholarships available
Scholarship route obligating service in the Army Reserve or National Guard rather than active duty.
Service obligation: 8 years
Active-duty enlisted soldiers transition to officer via ROTC with several scholarship options (2-year, 3-year, 4-year).
Service obligation: 8 years
On-campus scholarship awarded to enrolled cadets at the start of their MS-II year.
Service obligation: 6 years
High-school senior scholarship covering full tuition + books at most public schools or up to a fixed amount at private schools. Requires a competitive board score, fitness test, and SAT/ACT minimums.
Service obligation: 8 years
Academic programs at Ball State University
Cadets at Ball State Cardinal Battalion pursue degrees across Ball State University's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See Ball State University's profile →
Training & summer
Army cadets attend Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox between their MS-III and MS-IV years for Advanced Camp, plus optional CULP overseas, Airborne, and Air Assault schools.
Contact & location
Address: Muncie, IN 47306
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Photos
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Ball State Cardinal Battalion located?
- Ball State Cardinal Battalion is hosted at Ball State University in Muncie, IN 47306.
- Can students at other schools join Ball State Cardinal Battalion?
- Yes — Ball State Cardinal Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 5 other institutions, including Taylor University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Earlham College, Ivy Tech Community College. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Ball State Cardinal Battalion as any major?
- Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Ball State University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
- How do I contact Ball State Cardinal Battalion?
- See the contact section for current cadre information.
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