An inter-disciplinary look at a mid-sized public institution of higher learning, this paper combines the history and theory of higher education finance and the politics of economic decision making into a comprehensive case study of Ball State University. By examining Ball State University income and expense data from 1950-2000, as well as changes to the university structure, this paper compares and contrasts Ball State University to regional and national trends, as well as offers explanations for tuition increases of the past and present. This paper provides those interested in higher education finance a document to further fuel the debate over rising tuition costs, as well as brings together fifty years of information about Ball State University from multiple offices into one location.