Category: Research

Does pre-college credit help students succeed in the first year?

August 12, 2026 by Drew Miller

As discussed in the previous post, nearly two-thirds of incoming first-year students arrived at Ball State with at least some pre-college credit. The next question is whether these students performed better academically during their first year and were more likely to return for a second year. Students who entered Ball State with pre-college credit generally had stronger first-year outcomes than those […]

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How much pre-college credit do incoming first-year students bring to Ball State, and which students are most likely to enter with it?

August 11, 2026 by Drew Miller

For many first-year students, college begins before their first semester on campus. As discussed in the introduction to this blog series, students may earn college credit in high school through dual credit courses, Advanced Placement examinations, International Baccalaureate courses, or other opportunities. Our analysis of incoming first-year students at Ball State from Fall 2015 through Fall 2024 explored […]

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Introduction to Pre-College Credit Blog Post Series

August 11, 2026 by Drew Miller

Many first-year students arrive to campus having already completed college-level coursework. While still in high school they may earn credit through dual credit courses, Advanced Placement examinations, and International Baccalaureate courses. For students and their families, these pre-college opportunities expose students to college-level material and represent a head start on a degree. However, there are also questions about the extent pre-college credit affects students’ transition to college, their progress toward graduation, the time required to complete a […]

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Now Available: IRDS Magazine, Volume 2

April 1, 2026 by Faidat Bello

We’re proud to share that IRDS Magazine, Volume 2 is now live. Produced by the Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support, the magazine continues our commitment to highlighting the data-informed work shaping decisions across Ball State University. At its heart, IRDS Magazine showcases the analysis and analytics that supports thoughtful planning, strengthens institutional effectiveness, […]

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More Than Transfer Credits: Predictors of Time- to- Degree at Ball State

December 16, 2025 by Faidat Bello

Reducing the time it takes to earn a degree is a priority for students and universities alike, impacting retention, cost, and student success. Many Ball State students arrive with transfer credit, whether from high school dual-enrollment or another college, hoping those credits will reduce their time of graduation. Does transferring more credits ultimately help students […]

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IRDS Research Reports and Briefs

August 25, 2025 by Faidat Bello

The Institutional Research Office at BSU produces research reports on topics of interest to the BSU community and other stakeholders. Most of our research reports are driven by collaboration with BSU staff who have attended the Data Literacy Institute, offered by the Association for Institutional Research in partnership with IRDS (details available here). On this […]

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Supporting Sophomore Success: A Closer Look at Retention Beyond the First Year

July 22, 2025 by Faidat Bello

Although often overshadowed by first-year retention, sophomore retention is a meaningful indicator of student progress. This blog post presents an analysis of second-to-third-year enrollment patterns at Ball State, highlighting factors that support continued enrollment. The analysis includes 7,649 Fall 2020–2022 first-time students who returned for a second year. The project builds on a project initiated by […]

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Data Literacy at Ball State University

January 10, 2025 by IRDS

In the world of Institutional Research, there are many cases where technical skills must be merged with linguistic, organizational, and social skills. Data literacy is one such area that calls for expertise across all four of these dimensions. At Ball State University (BSU), we are committed to growing our collective capacity to make data-informed decisions […]

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Introducing the IRDS E-Magazine

January 9, 2025 by Faidat Bello

Welcome to the first edition of Ball State University Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support (IRDS) E-Magazine! This publication serves as a platform to showcase how we are fulfilling our mission for Ball State. The IRDS E-Magazine provides readers a glimpse into the work that supports planning, decision-making and student success across the university. […]

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Understanding the Relationship Between DFW Grades and First-Year Retention

November 19, 2024 by IRDS

Retention and DFW grades (Ds, Fs or withdrawals) are common topics when it comes to student success, but not all DFW grades have the same impact on whether a student will stay enrolled. In our recent analysis of first-year students at Ball State, we found that the type of DFW grade—whether a D, F, or […]

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