Indiana University-Bloomington
- Graduation Rate
- 81% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $63,742 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $16,264 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 78% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 24.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $24.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,518,198.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 56% more than the national college median.
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A 81% graduation rate — 41% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $24.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Indiana University-Bloomington Matters
Indiana University-Bloomington is a public research university in Bloomington, IN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 37,806
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Communications
Why students choose Indiana University-Bloomington
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 78% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1170–1400. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $16,264 a year after grants and scholarships — 5% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $63,742 ten years after enrolling — 56% above the typical college, against $19,509 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.63 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Indiana University-Bloomington enrolls 37,806 students, making it a vibrant hub of academic life. With an acceptance rate of 78%, it welcomes a diverse range of applicants. This accessibility allows many students to find their fit in various programs, particularly in humanities, business, and the sciences.
In terms of outcomes, graduates from IU Bloomington earn a median salary of $63,742 a decade after starting their careers. While specific mobility rates are not available, the university's commitment to student success is evident in its 81% graduation rate. This suggests that many students are able to complete their degrees and transition into the workforce successfully.
The net price for attending IU Bloomington is $16,264, with a median debt of $19,509, making it a manageable option for many families. Students who thrive here tend to be those who engage actively in campus life and take advantage of the extensive resources available. The combination of affordability and a strong alumni network sets the stage for a fruitful college experience.
Rankings
- #11 Best Online MBA Programs by ROI
- #14 Best Communications Colleges in Indiana
- #15 Best Bachelor's Programs in Indiana
- #15 Best Online Colleges in Indiana
- #16 Best Master's Programs in Indiana
- #17 Most Affordable Online MBA Programs
- #17 Best Online Public University MBA Programs
- #18 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana
Can I Get In?
How selective Indiana University-Bloomington is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Indiana University-Bloomington? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Bloomington, Indiana, Indiana University-Bloomington admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,313. The graduation rate is roughly 81%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Retention Rate
- 91%
- SAT Average
- 1313
- ACT Midpoint
- 29
- SAT Range
- 1170–1400
- ACT Range
- 27–33
- Full-Time Faculty
- 83%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,043
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.55
- First-Gen Students
- 22%
- Applicants
- 50,080
- Admitted
- 41,272
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2023-24
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Indiana University-Bloomington is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds.
- Submitted SAT
- 2%
- of enrolled freshmen
There is an early lane. Indiana offers Early Action, so you can apply ahead of the regular deadline and hear back sooner without committing to enroll.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 2% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Indiana University-Bloomington? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Indiana University-Bloomington is $41,891, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,264. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,324 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,509 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $12,144
- Out-of-State
- $41,891
- Avg Net Price
- $16,264
- Median Debt
- $19,509
- Pell Grant Rate
- 17%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 27%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,324
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,610
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,154
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,128
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Indiana University-Bloomington — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Indiana University-Bloomington Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Indiana University-Bloomington earn a median of $63,742, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $53,417
- 8 Years
- $59,525
- 10 Years
- $63,742
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.31x
- Earning > $25K
- 74%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (5,278)
- 69%
- 100% (5,278)
- 69%
- 100% (5,278)
- 69%
- 100% (5,278)
- 69%
How Indiana Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Indiana University-Bloomington Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Indiana University-Bloomington delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,264/year ($65,056 total). Graduates earn $63,742 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,583,254 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,518,198 (24.3× your investment). The median debt is $19,509, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 81% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $65,056
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,583,254
- Net Return
- $1,518,198
- ROI Multiple
- 24.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $16,264
- Median Debt
- $19,509
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 81%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-88,845,571
Top Programs
The fields Indiana University-Bloomington awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 51% $35,917 early-career
- Business & Marketing 17% $78,221 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $35,271 early-career
- Communications 4% $46,499 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $83,882 early-career
- Psychology 2% $37,085 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 2% $43,355 early-career
- Social Sciences 2% $62,904 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Indiana University-Bloomington's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Indiana University-Bloomington? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Bloomington, Indiana, Indiana University-Bloomington admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,313. The graduation rate is roughly 81%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Indiana University-Bloomington? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Indiana University-Bloomington is $41,891, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,264. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,324 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,509 in federal student loans.
Is Indiana University-Bloomington Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Indiana University-Bloomington earn a median of $63,742, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Indiana University-Bloomington? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Indiana University-Bloomington. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Indiana University-Bloomington offer Early Decision?
No. Indiana University-Bloomington does not report a binding Early Decision plan, though it does offer a non-binding Early Action option (2023-24 Common Data Set).
Is Indiana University-Bloomington really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 2% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Indiana University-Bloomington (2023-24 Common Data Set).
Compare Indiana University-Bloomington
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Indiana University-Bloomington.
- University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN · Close peer85% grad $69,020 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI · Close peer81% grad $67,253 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of HoustonHouston, TX · Close peer65% grad $62,377 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR · Close peer70% grad $64,010 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · Close peer67% grad $59,979 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA · Close peer70% grad $61,251 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Indiana University-Bloomington? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Indiana University-Bloomington. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note