List of Ball State University alumni
This is a list of notable alumni of Ball State University.
Arts, literature, and entertainment
- Christine Barger, actress
- Bridget Bobel, Miss Indiana USA 2006
- Ellen Bryan, television personality and Miss Ohio 2011
- Claire Buffie, photographer and Miss New York 2010
- Angelin Chang, educator and lawyer
- Brian Collins, reporter at KXXV-TV in Waco, Texas; best known for "Boom goes the dynamite" viral video
- Frances Currey, artist
- India Cruse-Griffin, artist and educator
- Jim Davis, cartoonist, screenwriter, and producer; best known as the creator of Garfield
- Philip F. Deaver, writer and poet who graduated from St. Joseph's College in 1968; O. Henry and Flannery O'Connor awards winner
- Andy Devine, actor
- Joyce DeWitt, actress
- Ashley C. Ford, writer, podcaster, and educator
- Danny Gaither, gospel singer; best known for his work with the Bill Gaither Trio
- Stedman Graham, publicist and author; long-time companion of Oprah Winfrey
- Scott Halberstadt, retired actor
- Malina Simone Jeffers, community organizer and co-founder of Ganggang
- Doug Jones, actor
- David Letterman, television host, comedian, writer, and producer; The Letterman Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming has been a repeated contributor to the university
- Mike Lopresti, national sportswriter for Gannett News Service
- Cheryl Anne Lorance, artist
- David Loughery, screenwriter and film producer
- Ess McKee, artist
- Larry Monroe, radio personality
- Anthony Montgomery, actor and graphic novelist
- Sister Edith Pfau, painter, sculptor, and art educator
- Sam Smith, sportswriter
- Israel Solomon, artist
- Kim Sun-a, South Korean actress
- Tiara Thomas, R&B singer
- Kevin James Thornton, comedian; best known for Comedy Special “Be Yourself”
- Nelly Vuksic, Argentine conductor and musician
- Bill Wallace, martial artist, former professional kickboxer, and actor
- Cynda Williams, actress
- Ryan Woodle, actor
Business
- Angela Ahrendts, British-American businesswoman
- Brian Gallagher, nonprofit executive
- Craig W. Hartman, honorary doctorate, architect and design partner at SOM
- Peter Jubeck, businessman
- Kent C. Nelson, businessman
- John Schnatter, founder and former chairman of Papa John's
Politics and government
- Amanda Carpenter, author, political advisor, and speechwriter
- Christopher M. Goff, Justice, Indiana Supreme Court
- Jeffrey D. Feltman, diplomat
- Suzette Kimball, 16th Director of the United States Geological Survey, a bureau of the United States Department of the Interior
- Brent McMillan, former national political director for the Green Party
- Rodney C. Moen, former Wisconsin State Senator
- Richard Mourdock, 53rd Indiana State Treasurer
- Frank J. Mrvan, U.S. Representative for Indiana's 1st congressional district
- John Rarick, U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 6th congressional district
Sports
National Football League
- Blaine Bishop, former NFL player, Tennessee Titans
- Robert Brewster, former NFL player, Dallas Cowboys
- Rush Brown, NFL player, St. Louis Cardinals
- Corey Croom, former NFL player, New England Patriots
- Jerome Davis, former NFL player, Detroit Lions
- Reggie Hodges, former NFL player
- Ed Konopasek, former NFL player, Green Bay Packers
- Brad Maynard, former NFL player
- Keith McKenzie, former NFL player
- Bernie Parmalee, former NFL player and current running backs coach for the Carolina Panthers
- Danny Pinter, NFL player, Indianapolis Colts
- Dante Ridgeway, former NFL player
- Terry Schmidt, dentist and former NFL player
- Willie Snead, NFL player
- Shafer Suggs, former NFL player
National Basketball Association
- Theron Smith, former NBA player
- Bonzi Wells, college basketball coach and former NBA player
Major League Baseball
- Larry Bigbie, former MLB player
- Bryan Bullington, former MLB player
- Alex Call, MLB player
- Jeremy Hazelbaker, former MLB player
- Thomas Howard, former MLB player
- Drey Jameson MLB player
- Zach Cole MLB Player
- Chayce McDermott, MLB player
- Kyle Nicolas, MLB player
- Zach Plesac, MLB player
- Merv Rettenmund, NFL draft pick, 13-year MLB player
- Brad Snyder, former MLB player
Other athletes
- Jarrod Jones, American-Hungarian basketball player, Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Marcus Norris, former basketball player, 2003-04 Israeli Basketball Premier League Defensive Player of the Year
- John Paul Sr., former racing driver and fugitive
- Sunungura Rusununguko, former football player, Arena Football League
- Apsara Sakbun, swimmer who represented Cambodia in the 2024 Summer Olympics
- Jamill Smith, former football player
- Terrence Watson, American-Israeli former basketball player, Israeli Basketball Premier League
Other
- Arnie Ball, former men's volleyball coach at Purdue-Fort Wayne
- Bill Doba, football coach at Washington State University
- Ty Eberhart, Super chill guy
- David Haugh, sports columnist for Chicago Tribune
- Brady Hoke, former head football coach, University of Michigan, San Diego State University and Ball State University
- Jon Hoke, assistant football coach with the Chicago Bears
- Ray McCallum, basketball coach at University of Detroit Mercy, Ball State, and University of Houston
- Mark Patrick, sports radio personality
- Kelly Sheffield, volleyball coach at Wisconsin, also coached at Albany 2001–2007 and Dayton 2008–2012
- Dave Shondell, women's volleyball coach at Purdue
- Don Shondell, ESPN and ABC collegiate volleyball commentator
- Craig Skinner, women's volleyball coach at Kentucky
- Jason Whitlock, commentator for Fox Sports One, former sports columnist for The Kansas City Star, AOL Sports, and ESPN.com