Best Indiana Colleges & Universities for 2017-2018

Indiana is home to some of the country’s most well-known and respected colleges and universities. From groundbreaking research to major college athletics, there is something for every student. This guide provides comprehensive research on colleges in Indiana, including school rankings, tuition and living costs, financial aid, and student planning resources. Read on to learn more about choosing a program and attending college in the state.

The Short List: Indiana’s Top Colleges of 2017-2018

College rankings are an excellent place to begin researching school options. Using an intricate scoring system and data collection process, our education experts rated Indiana colleges using key factors such as tuition cost, financial aid availability, student-to-teacher ratio, graduation rate and alumni earnings data. Browse the list below to see which Indiana colleges and universities are best-in-class for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Methodology +

• 2-Year Colleges
• 4-Year Colleges

Rank	School Name	Score	Tuition Fees	Alumni Earnings	Student/Teacher Ratio	Gift Financial Aid	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate	# Online Programs	# Total Programs	Placement Services	Credit for Experience
1	Ivy Tech Community College	99.84	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $28,400	19:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 9%	9%	N/A	12	186	Yes	Yes
2	Ancilla College	86.00	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $29,200	12:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 78%	10%	N/A	1	17	No	Yes

Rank	School Name	Score	Tuition Fees	Alumni Earnings	Student/Teacher Ratio	Gift Financial Aid	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate	# Online Programs	# Total Programs	Placement Services	Credit for Experience
1	University of Notre Dame	99.80	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $69,400	10:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 57%	95%	21%	0	120	Yes	No
2	Purdue University-Main Campus	99.49	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $52,600	12:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 47%	70%	59%	13	234	Yes	No
3	DePauw University	99.45	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $47,800	10:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 99%	78%	57%	0	48	Yes	No
4	Valparaiso University	98.66	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $48,100	12:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 96%	74%	82%	6	120	Yes	No
5	Butler University	98.12	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $52,400	11:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 91%	73%	68%	0	77	Yes	No
6	Wabash College	98.03	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $49,900	10:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 98%	73%	70%	0	22	Yes	No
7	University of Indianapolis	97.36	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $41,600	11:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 97%	54%	66%	3	83	Yes	No
8	Indiana Wesleyan University	97.35	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $46,000	16:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 50%	70%	95%	37	126	Yes	Yes
9	Indiana University-Bloomington	97.28	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $45,300	17:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 46%	75%	76%	9	175	Yes	Yes
10	Saint Mary’s College	97.24	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $45,600	10:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 96%	78%	83%	0	32	No	No
11	Saint Joseph’s College	96.74	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $39,800	11:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 100%	50%	66%	0	45	Yes	Yes
12	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	96.62	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $78,900	13:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 99%	76%	59%	0	29	Yes	No
13	Trine University	96.53	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $42,600	11:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 99%	53%	76%	0	39	Yes	Yes
14	Taylor University	96.41	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $38,600	13:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 100%	77%	88%	3	71	Yes	No
15	Franklin College	96.30	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $41,000	12:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 100%	60%	69%	0	47	Yes	No
16	Hanover College	96.22	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $44,400	12:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 100%	65%	64%	0	31	Yes	No
17	Goshen College	96.19	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $36,300	10:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 100%	71%	54%	0	41	Yes	Yes
18	Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College	95.93	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $30,200	8:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 98%	62%	100%	22	46	Yes	Yes
19	University of Evansville	95.87	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $40,000	14:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 97%	68%	83%	0	82	Yes	Yes
20	University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne	95.80	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $40,000	12:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 100%	50%	97%	7	59	Yes	Yes
21	Bethel College-Indiana	95.12	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $36,500	12:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 98%	61%	71%	2	55	Yes	Yes
22	Marian University	94.96	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $40,400	13:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 99%	59%	56%	1	37	Yes	Yes
23	Ball State University	94.82	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $39,000	15:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 47%	57%	60%	16	158	Yes	No
24	Huntington University	94.62	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $35,500	12:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 97%	59%	97%	5	62	Yes	No
25	Anderson University	94.14	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $35,900	12:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 97%	57%	55%	2	84	Yes	No
26	Earlham College	94.11	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $32,300	9:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 97%	72%	65%	0	40	Yes	No
27	Manchester University	93.88	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $38,000	15:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 100%	57%	74%	1	48	Yes	No
28	Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis	93.48	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $39,100	19:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 41%	38%	70%	13	149	Yes	No
29	Oakland City University	93.29	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $33,700	12:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 94%	57%	55%	3	42	Yes	Yes
30	Calumet College of Saint Joseph	93.18	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $37,200	11:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 82%	29%	34%	1	21	Yes	Yes
31	Indiana State University	93.11	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $36,000	20:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 75%	43%	83%	32	114	Yes	Yes
32	Purdue University-Calumet Campus (Purdue University-Northwest)	92.55	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $38,100	19:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 24%	27%	60%	4	58	Yes	No
33	Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses	92.51	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $42,600	10:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. N/A	N/A	67%	13	13	Yes	Yes
34	Indiana Tech	91.56	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $41,100	36:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 63%	31%	71%	9	30	No	Yes
35	Indiana University-Southeast	91.48	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $34,000	14:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 66%	27%	80%	1	37	Yes	No
36	Indiana University-South Bend	91.24	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $33,800	13:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 40%	23%	73%	2	56	Yes	No
37	University of Southern Indiana	91.22	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $35,500	17:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 41%	36%	71%	5	65	Yes	Yes
38	Grace College and Theological Seminary	91.01	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $33,200	26:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 90%	58%	80%	6	68	Yes	Yes
39	Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne	90.91	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $35,900	17:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 16%	22%	91%	5	76	Yes	No
40	Indiana University-Northwest	90.30	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $35,900	15:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 18%	22%	77%	2	39	Yes	No
41	Purdue University – North Central Campus (Purdue University-Northwest)	89.52	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $35,200	15:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 8%	18%	73%	0	22	Yes	Yes
42	Indiana University-East	88.99	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $29,100	15:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 47%	25%	64%	10	26	No	No
43	Indiana University-Kokomo	88.84	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $33,600	16:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 25%	22%	67%	1	28	Yes	No
44	Martin University	86.00	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $$$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $22,300	15:1	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. N/A	11%	N/A	0	16	Yes	Yes

Find & Explore Indiana Colleges

With considerations like size of the university, program availability, price, and more, there’s a lot to research about Indiana colleges and universities. The search tool below is engineered to help aspiring students quickly learn about and compare universities based on the attributes that matter most to them.

Financial Factors: Paying for College in Indiana

College is a sizeable financial investment, but there are ways to minimize one’s long-term student debt. Indiana colleges often offer considerable financial aid to in-state residents. The charts below give prospective students a breakdown of the cost of college in Indiana and the average financial aid amounts given to students.

The Most Budget-Friendly Colleges and Universities in Indiana

While it’s helpful to know the general financial landscape of colleges in Indiana, it’s even more useful to know which are the most affordable. The six-school ranking below was determined by the net costs – tuition and fees minus financial aid – of various Indiana colleges.

• 1
  
  Mid-America College of Funeral Service$7,585
• 2
  
  Indiana University-East$9,011
• 3
  
  Purdue University-North Central Campus$9,850

• 4
  
  Vincennes University$10,694
• 5
  
  Indiana University-Kokomo$10,921
• 6
  
  Calumet College of Saint Joseph$11,517

Average
Annual Net
Price

Cost for students awarded federal financial aid, after school and government aid is deducted. At public colleges, only applies to in-state students.

Indiana College Net Price vs. National Average

$17,744

Average Annual Net Price

$18,073

Source: College Scorecard
Note: Rankings/data represent 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.

Indiana Colleges With the Top-Paid Grads

While a college education enlightens and educates, it also serves the aim to create a financially stable future for graduates. One way to measure this effectively is by analyzing which schools have the highest paid alumni 10 years down the line. The ranking below spotlights which Indiana colleges produce the highest-paid alumni and compares them against the national average.

• 1
  
  Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology$78,900
• 2
  
  University of Notre Dame$69,400
• 3
  
  Purdue University-Main Campus$52,600

• 4
  
  Butler University$52,400
• 5
  
  Wabash College$49,900
• 6
  
  Valparaiso University$48,100

Annual
Median Earnings
10 Years
After Entering
College

Only includes former students who received federal financial aid.

Indiana Alumni Salaries vs. National Average

$39,914

Annual Median Earnings 10 Years After Entering College

$42,759

Source: College Scorecard
Note: Rankings/data represent 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.

Indiana Colleges Leaving the Least Student Debt

With increasing student loans becoming a point of national concern, another important measure of financial viability is the debt that alumni face after they graduate. The following ranking was determined by analyzing the schools that produced alumni with the lowest student debt and comparing them to the national average to create a reliable list of cost-effective universities in the state.

• 1
  
  Vincennes University$15,599
• 2
  
  Mid-America College of Funeral Service$17,000
• 3
  
  Oakland City University$17,000

• 4
  
  Indiana University-Kokomo$19,500
• 5
  
  Goshen College$20,857
• 6
  
  University of Notre Dame$21,000

Median
Federal Student
Loan Debt After
Graduation

Only for undergraduates who completed college; does not include Parent-PLUS loans.

Indiana College Grad Debt Vs. National Average

$25,144

Median Federal Student Loan Debt After Graduation

$23,145

Source: College Scorecard
Note: Rankings/data represent 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.

More Financial Factors: Living Costs in Indiana

When it comes to financial responsibilities as a college student, very little matters more than the cost of tuition and the cost-of-living. Those who choose to attend college in Indiana are lucky in that the state’s cost-of-living is less than the national average, but it doesn’t hurt to have a breakdown of average living expenses in its largest metropolitan areas. Continue to the table below to learn more.

Source: The Council for Community and Economic Research

Indiana Colleges: Why Accreditation Matters

Making sure that universities are accredited before you send in an application is an important step in securing a quality college education. Accreditation ensures that the college and program of your choice meet regional, and sometimes national, standards. Colleges in Indiana are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Accreditation can also be programmatic, meaning an agency specializing in a field has vetted the related programs within colleges. When a program and/or institution is vetted by an accreditation agency, students can be sure that their education is valued by employers and other universities. Two examples are provided below:

• The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools approves the allied health program at Brightwood College in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredits Purdue University’s undergraduate accounting program.

Popular College Cities in Indiana

Evansville

Evansville, Indiana is the third largest city in the state and was named one of the 100 best communities for young people in 2005. There are at least five colleges in Evansville, which for a city of around 300,000 is quite a lot. Though there are plenty of universities, they tend to have fewer than 10,000 enrollments, making the overall learning environment more personal.

College Name	School Type	Annual Net Price	Annual Median Earnings 10 Years After College Only includes former students who received federal financial aid.
University of Southern Indiana	Public	$14,098	$35,500
The University of Southern Indiana is a public institution located just outside Evansville in Vanderburgh County. The university's primary focus is on credit program delivery with 70 undergraduate programs, 10 master's programs and one doctoral program. The university services both the metropolitan area and the surrounding rural areas.
University of Evansville	Private not-for-profit	$20,396	$40,000
The University of Evansville is a private institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church. UE is centrally located just three hours from St. Louis, three hours from Indianapolis and two hours away from Nashville. It is a small university enrolling about 2,500 students, the average class size being 18 students. The university offers over 80 different majors and courses of study.

Indianapolis

As the 12th largest city in the United States, Indianapolis has a higher education landscape all its own. There are over 50 universities and colleges in the greater Indianapolis area, and with that comes a thriving postsecondary community. There are large universities, public and private, in addition to high-quality community colleges that prospective students can attend, depending on their education and career goals. Continue reading to learn more about three universities representative of the college community in Indianapolis.

College Name	School Type	Annual Net Price	Annual Median Earnings 10 Years After College Only includes former students who received federal financial aid.
Butler University	Private not-for-profit	$29,103	$52,400
Located in the historic Butler-Tarkington neighborhood, Butler University is a small school with approximately 5,000 students. The university is not religiously affiliated and has a very high rate of student engagement. There are over 150 student organizations in which 94 percent of the student population is involved. Greek life is also prominent at the university with 35 percent of students participating. Butler competes in Division I sports and has an impressive string of league championships.
University of Indianapolis	Private not-for-profit	$22,293	$41,600
The University of Indianapolis is small, private institution located near downtown Indianapolis. There are just over 5,400 students enrolled in the college, which is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university is recognized nationally for its health sciences, teacher education and communications undergraduate programs.
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis	Public	$14,666	$39,100
The Indiana University Purdue - University Indianapolis is a public research institution located near the state capitol. It serves more than 30,000 students from all over the nation and globe. IUPUI prides itself on its research as it was formed as a 1969 merger between Indiana University and Purdue University. It holds 17 schools and offers over 350 academic programs between Indiana and Purdue University.

Source: College Scorecard

More on Going to College in Indiana