Why This Matters

  • 56 COLLEGES IN INDIANA

    According to College Navigator, there are 56 colleges and universities in Indiana, including 15 public institutions, 36 private nonprofit colleges, and five private for-profit colleges.

  • $9,780 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES

    According to College Board, the average college student in Indiana paid a little under $10K in tuition and fees during the 2020-21 school year.

  • $14,940 FINANCIAL AID PER U.S. STUDENT

    Nationwide, the average full-time college student in the U.S. received this amount in financial aid during the 2020-21 school year.

Our Research

To accommodate the varying needs, educational goals, and budgets of Hoosier students, Indiana has many higher-learning institutions that range in size and costs. Our guide to the best colleges in Indiana outlines the state’s large research universities, midsize colleges, and small liberal arts colleges. We’ve summarized each school’s unique features, including how many credits students need to graduate, how much students pay per semester, and the available learning formats.

Our guide only contains accredited colleges, which are required to meet or exceed minimum quality standards. In Indiana, most colleges are accredited through the Higher Learning Commission. This independent corporation enforces criteria in areas such as civic involvement, academic integrity, course offerings and requirements, and student engagement and retention.

We evaluated each program on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score for each program on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.

  • 60 hours to write this article
  • 168 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 285 education programs we compared

The Top 50 Colleges in Indiana

Best Colleges In Indiana
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What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Indiana

When deciding where to pursue your bachelor’s degree, consider whether your chosen state has career opportunities in your field of study. Choosing a state that offers jobs relevant to your major may make it easier to find a job after graduating. In Indiana, the top five industries include goods-producing services; trade, transportation, and utilities; manufacturing; education and health services; and government.

Indiana has a strong economy with nearly 600 growing occupations. Between 2020 and 2030, the top five occupations in Indiana that require a bachelor’s degree and are projected to experience the most growth include software developers, mental health counselors, and therapists.

Indiana is home to numerous large employers, including Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus, Eli Lilly & Company, Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Rolls-Royce Corporation, and Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Incorporated. A full list of the state’s top 50 employers in Indiana can be found here.

What’s Next?

Most Indiana students receive financial aid to help cover the cost of higher education. We’ve put together a list of federal and state resources that can connect you with grants, scholarships, and loans.

  • Indiana Commission for Higher Education. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education makes college affordable for Hoosiers by providing need-based and non-need-based scholarships and grants. It also offers information on preparing and applying for college, submitting high school transcripts for free, and transferring from one college to another.
  • Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The U.S. Department of Education uses a student’s FAFSA application to determine their eligibility for need-based financial aid. To find out if you’re eligible to submit a FAFSA application, visit the FAFSA4caster.
  • CareerOneStop. CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and provides a comprehensive list of scholarships and grants available in Indiana. You can filter results based on your state and the level of education you’re pursuing and see helpful information regarding application deadlines and qualifications.