I don't teach at Ball State, but you could probably replace it with my campus (name witheld because I'm untenured) and no-one would notice. Party schools and fool farms pretty much follow the same template nationwide.
I will say one thing: At my university, and at most others, a student with the capacity to perform above the crowd and the initiative to use that capacity will learn a lot more than Joe or Jill Drunkbynine. I'm always looking for bright students to work on research projects, and I encourage them to go to graduate school or otherwise maximize their potential. Most of my colleagues do likewise. I have no doubt that there are good students at IUPUI, and that they are maximizing their opportunities.
Still, if you want the best instruction, go to the places with the best students. In academia, as elsewhere, the "convoy effect" is very much apparent.
True. I went to a public school because it was what my father said to do, and there was a good public school available. He went to USC and said the extra money for private school at undergrad was not worth it. Just pick a good graduate school and pay the money there. I could have gotten in just about anywhere. It's weird, because I have several friends who went to MIT and other prestigious schools, but they were taught by TAs almost the whole way through. I received individual attention from profs in my major and had only two (terrible) general ed classes taught by TAs. Upon comparison, I didn't have the competition but I felt like I got a better undergrad education.
Of course, when it came time for law school, I chose IU because I have a day job and a husband with a day job in the area, and there was no way I was moving. Oh well. At least the law school here is ok.