20 Best Colleges In Indiana

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Best Colleges in Indiana Badge

Don't call them "Indianans." That's the first thing you need to know if you're considering coming to Indiana for college, especially if you're from out-of-state. They're called Hoosiers.

Now that we've got that out of the way, what else do you need to know? Well, the Hoosier State has a long and distinguished history in education, so whether you're a native Hoosier or hoping to become one, you stand to benefit by attending a college or university in Indiana.

Hoosier emphasis on education goes all the way back to 1816, when Indiana first became a state and wrote its state constitution, which included a promise of free public education through the college level, the first state in the Union to do such a thing. While the state constitution was later rewritten, it should be no surprise that that heritage of attention to education has paid off.

What kind of College in Indiana should you attend?

The choice is up to you! And lucky for you, the options are all good ones. Not only is Indiana home to world-renowned research universities, both public and private, along with a great many smaller schools that are no less valuable for their smaller size, but Indiana is also home to Ivy Tech, the largest community college in the entire United States. The Hoosier focus is also evident in the Top Online Colleges in Indiana as well.

How much money can you make with a degree from a College in Indiana?

If one of your goals for earning a higher education degree is increasing your capital, Indiana is a great state to do that. College can be expensive, and tuition rates are definitely a factor to wrestle with. But the long-term payoff for a college education is priceless.

According to Payscale.com, earning a college degree in Indiana sets you ahead in a big way. The average income for a Hoosier is right around $43k. But once you earn a bachelor's degree, you're looking at an average income of $51k to $59k. That's a significant difference! And the figure continues to increase to around $67k per year for Hoosiers who earn a master's degree.

What can you do with a degree from a College in Indiana?

Not only does that state have remarkable access to educational opportunities, but business is booming as well! The state's economy has been growing at the twice the rate of the rest of the country, and cost of living has remained quite manageable. So when it comes time to turn your college education into a job, you'll be well placed to do so. Here's a look at some of the top-paying sectors in Indiana:

Featured Undergraduate Programs

What are the Best Colleges in Indiana?

Ready to start looking at Indiana's best colleges? In case you're interested, here’s how we got our list. We considered two key aspects of each schools, its academic quality and its return on investment. Academic quality covers a range of things, including admission rates, test scores, and percent of tenured faculty. Return on investment just means how much you’ll end up paying for college, and how much you’ll earn afterward as a graduate. From there, we factored in retention rates, graduation rates, and more. So with that, we present the Best Colleges in Indiana!

Rankings

See our rankings methodology page.

  1. University of Notre Dame
    Location

    Notre Dame, IN

    Tuition

    $34509

    Overview

    Indiana is home to one of the most respected institutions in the country. It is here where the University of Notre Dame resides. This is a private, Catholic research university that is located in Notre Dame, Indiana. It is affiliated with the Congregation of the Holy Cross and remains one of the top 20 universities in the world. This school is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC.

    Features

    This school has an unsurpassed reputation when it comes to education; it has been consistently ranked in the top 20 colleges and universities both nationally and internationally. It confers over 200 degrees at all levels of education, including pre-professional and specialist programs. Students can also partake in the school&#xs online certification and endorsement programs. The top three programs at Notre Dame are:

    Science Pre-Professional Program (Pre-Med) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Master of Business Administration

    Notables

    Notre Dame may not be known as a religious school, but over 80 percent of students identify as being Catholic. It will come as no surprise, then, that Mass is celebrated no less than 100 times on campus each week, leading to one of the largest on-campus ministries in the country. For non-religious students, the school provides over 1,000 student organizations, including student-run media, student government, intramural sports, and more.

  2. Purdue University
    Location

    Hammond, IN

    Tuition

    $13710

    Overview

    Purdue University is a public, land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant institution that serves as the flagship university of the Purdue University System. It is a school that is dedicated to STEM and agricultural subjects. This school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and holds regional accreditation from the NCACS THLC.

    Features

    This school confers more than 275 degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. Students can also get a terminal degree in Pharmacy or Veterinary Medicine at Purdue. Online options are also available and continue to expand every academic year. Some of the most popular programs include:

    Bachelor of Science in Nursing Master of Business Administration Doctor of Pharmacy (Professional Program)

    Notables

    Purdue&#xs campus has over 900 registered student organizations, including intramural sports teams, political and activist groups, multicultural organizations, and more. Annual campus events are also widely popular; these include the Boiler Gold Rush, Spring Fest, and the Grand Prix. The majority of the student population is a member of at least one group, making for a positive and friendly campus atmosphere.

  3. Indiana University-Bloomington
    Location

    Bloomington, IN

    Tuition

    $15705

    Overview

    Indiana University at Bloomington, known as IU to students, is a public state institution that also serves at the flagship of the Indiana University System. With over 48,000 students enrolled annually, it is also the system&#xs largest school. IU is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC.

    Features

    This school is one of the most recognized institutions in the country. There are over 550 degree programs conferred at all levels of education here, all of which can be found 17 colleges and schools, including the world-renown Kelley School of Business, the Maurer School of Law, and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Here are a few of the most popular degrees:

    Bachelor of Arts in Middle Grades Education Master of Business Administration Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

    Notables

    This school has over 600 recognized student organizations, clubs, intramural sports teams, and entertainment groups. It is also known for having a large number of media outlets, including two radio stations, two television stations, and a free daily newspaper. Greek life is also supported at this school, as well as annual events sponsored by the school.

  4. Ball State University
    Location

    Muncie, IN

    Tuition

    $14583

    Overview

    Ball State University is a public research university that is headquartered in Muncie, Indiana, with satellite campuses across the state. It is classified as a doctoral research university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. This school holds regional accreditation by the NCACS THLC.

    Features

    This school offers over 300 degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels across eight academic colleges. Specialist degrees are also available. Online pathways to degrees are beginning to expand, and Ball State has made a public commitment to furthering its online education offerings in the next ten years. Three stand-out degrees include:

    Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration Master of Architecture (Professional Degree) Doctor of Education in Special Education

    Notables

    Ball State enrolls over 21,000 students, which makes for a diverse and vibrant student body. Student life is just as diverse, with over 400 registered student organizations and clubs represented on campus, including 34 fraternities and sororities that make up the Greek life aspect of the campus. Student-run media is also available, as are positions on the student government council and volunteer opportunities.

  5. DePauw University
    Location

    Greencastle, IN

    Tuition

    $33319

    Overview

    DePauw University is a private liberal arts institution that is affiliated historically with the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is best known for being the birthplace of the Society of Professional Journalists. This school is located in Greencastle, Indiana, and holds regional accreditation by the NCACS THLC.

    Features

    DePauw is known for offering a top-tier undergraduate education in about 20 different areas of studies. It is also known for requiring a Winter Term from all students, which is used to either participate in internship programs, study abroad, or field studies. In fact, 80 percent of all graduates study abroad by the time they earn their degree. The school also has a fantastic reputation for its faculty, which teaches all courses; no teaching assistants that serve the school. The top degrees at DePauw include:

    Bachelor of Science in Economics Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

    Notables

    Student life is punctuated by more than 100 organizations. These include drama groups, political organizations, Greek life, and student government. There are also festivals, lecture series, and traditions that most of the student body takes part in each year.

  6. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
    Location

    Indianapolis, IN

    Tuition

    $14337

    Overview

    Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) might have a long name, but its creation stems from the 1969 merger of Purdue University&#xs Extension Center in Indianapolis and Indiana University&#xs Indianapolis campus, which means students get access to the resources of both the Purdue and the IU systems. At IUPUI, located just next to downtown Indianapolis, more than 21,000 undergrads and 8,000 graduate students pursue degrees in over 300 degree programs.

    Features

    Since IUPUI is jointly run by Indiana University and Purdue University, students have access to more educational programs than at any other institution in the state. IUPUI hosts 18 separate schools, with more than 255 academic programs run by IU and more than 95 run by Purdue. IUPUI is also home to the primary campus for the Indiana University School of Medicine as well as the only dental school in the state, the Indiana University School of Dentistry. Other strong programs include:

    Bachelor in Education Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Master in Public Health

    Notables

    For students at IUPUI, the vast array of possibilities carries over into extracurricular activities. There are more than 400 student organizations that range from academically and professionally minded, to service or heritage-oriented, to plain old fun like the Fencing Club or the Illustration Club. IUPUI is also a member of the NCAA Division I, so many students are involved in college athletics as well.

  7. Wabash College
    Location

    Crawfordsville, IN

    Tuition

    $31249

    Overview

    Wabash University is a private, men&#xs, liberal arts institutions, one of only three such colleges in the nation. It is located in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and is currently ranked in the top tier of national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. This school is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC.

    Features

    This is one of the best colleges in Indiana for undergraduates. This school offers over 20 fields of study, focusing on STEM and arts subjects. Wabash is also notorious for its comprehensive exams, which each student must pass before he is eligible to earn his degree. It is a difficult task for undergraduates, but it is also one of the best ways to ensure that students understand the material they were taught during the course of their education. Here&#xs a peak at a few popular degrees:

    Bachelor of Science in Accounting Bachelor of Science in Economics Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Dual Degree Program)

    Notables

    Life at Wabash is marked by its student culture and traditions. As this is a men&#xs only campus, the organizations cater to the gender and any related interests they may have. These include the various aspects of Student Government, fraternities, and freshmen orientation traditions.

  8. University of Southern Indiana
    Location

    Evansville, IN

    Tuition

    $9243

    Overview

    The University of Southern Indiana is a public institution that is a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University. It is best known for its nursing programs. This school can be found in Evansville, Indiana, and is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC.

    Features

    USI confers 91 degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels across four colleges and the Division of Outreach and Engagement. The division houses online and continuing education programs for adult learners. Currently, the school is most ranked for its online graduate degree nursing program, including Top 20 spots on the U.S. News and World Report and GetEducated.com rankings. Here are a few top degrees:

    Bachelor of Science in Nursing Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering Master of Science in Nursing

    Notables

    The school is known for its media, including the Southern Indiana Review, the student-run television station, the student-run newspaper, and its award-winning radio station. Students can also partake in intramural sports, interest-specific clubs and organizations, and even community engagement outreach programs, all of which are sponsored by the school.

  9. Hanover College
    Location

    Hanover, IN

    Tuition

    $25819

    Overview

    Hanover College is a private liberal arts college that is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. It was founded in 1827, making it the oldest private institution in the state. This school, which is located in Hanover, Indiana, holds regional accreditation by the NCACS THLC.

    Features

    There are over 60 areas of study for students to choose from, including a variety of programs that are rare in the state. As such, this is one of the best schools in Indiana for undergraduates. Students can even decide to create their own major, allowing them the freedom to choose the subjects that interest them the most, resulting in specialized degrees that can adapt to a changing world. Highlight degree programs include:

    Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (Pre-Law Program) Bachelor of Arts in Business: Accounting Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

    Notables

    Hanover is perfectly situated on 650 acres that overlook the Ohio River, allowing students the rare sight of seeing three bends in the river. Students spend a lot of time climbing and hiking and around the campus, so much so that it has become part of student life at the school. There are also student organizations and fraternities and sororities to participate in, making it a great choice for social students.

  10. Butler University
    Location

    Indianapolis, IN

    Tuition

    $34697

    Overview

    Butler University is a private research university that is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was founded in 1855 and currently occupies 295 acres of wooded campus close to the city&#xs downtown center. This school is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC.

    Features

    Butler offers over 65 major areas of study at the undergraduate level, including eight pre-professional programs, and 19 graduate degrees across the university&#xs six academic colleges. It is one of the best universities in Indiana for student-centered research and has been regionally ranked in the top five in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report. The school also has one of the best business programs in the country. You&#xll find a wide variety of top degrees, including:

    Dual Degree in Engineering from Butler and Purdue Program Master of Business Administration Doctor of Pharmacy

    Notables

    This university offers more than 150 student organizations, clubs, and intramural sports. These organizations are such a part of life that an estimate 94 percent of all students are members of at least one organization. Greek life is also a staple, with over 25 chapters represented on campus. Students can also take part in traditions and annual events, including festivals, lecture series, and dances.

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