Indiana University-Northwest
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,361 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $5,130 A
- 70% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 73% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 46.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $46.6 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana.
Every $1 spent returns $46.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $936,336.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 37% — 35% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $46.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Indiana University-Northwest Matters
Indiana University-Northwest is a public university in Gary, IN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,661
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Psychology
Why students choose Indiana University-Northwest
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 73% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 910–1180. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $5,130 a year after grants and scholarships — 70% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,361 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $21,710 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.08 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
More than 40% of students at Indiana University-Northwest receive Pell Grants, highlighting the school's commitment to serving lower-income populations. This financial support can make a significant difference for students seeking affordable education in a practical setting.
Graduates from Indiana University-Northwest earn a median salary of $43,361 ten years after enrollment. While the graduation rate stands at 37%, the school emphasizes career readiness and offers programs in high-demand fields such as Health Professions and Business & Marketing. These outcomes suggest that students can find pathways to economic stability, even if they face challenges in completing their degree.
With an average net price of just $5,130, attending Indiana University-Northwest is financially accessible for many. The median debt for graduates is $21,710, which is manageable compared to potential earnings. Students who thrive here often appreciate a community-focused environment and seek degrees that lead directly to employment in their chosen fields.
Rankings
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana
- #17 Cheapest Online Bachelor's Programs
- #17 Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana
- #17 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's Programs
- #18 Most Affordable Colleges
- #21 Cheapest Online Master's Programs
- #21 Best Computer Science Colleges in Indiana
- #21 Best Data Science Colleges in Indiana
Can I Get In?
How selective Indiana University-Northwest 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-Northwest? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Indiana University-Northwest, located in Gary, Indiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,055. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- SAT Average
- 1055
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- SAT Range
- 910–1180
- ACT Range
- 18–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 48%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,562
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.69
- First-Gen Students
- 45%
- Applicants
- 1,915
- Admitted
- 1,538
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-Northwest? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Indiana University-Northwest is $22,811, 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 $5,130. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,419 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,710 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,424
- Out-of-State
- $22,811
- Avg Net Price
- $5,130
- Median Debt
- $21,710
- Pell Grant Rate
- 43%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 34%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,419
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $331
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,159
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,042
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-Northwest — 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-Northwest Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Indiana University-Northwest report median earnings of $43,361, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,714
- 8 Years
- $41,246
- 10 Years
- $43,361
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.5x
- Earning > $25K
- 57%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (94)
- 15%
- 100% (94)
- 15%
- 100% (94)
- 15%
- 100% (94)
- 15%
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-Northwest Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Indiana University-Northwest delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,130/year ($20,520 total). Graduates earn $43,361 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $956,856 in total earnings — a net gain of $936,336 (46.6× your investment). The median debt is $21,710, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $20,520
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $956,856
- Net Return
- $936,336
- ROI Multiple
- 46.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,130
- Median Debt
- $21,710
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,046,440
- Investment Income
- $-2,627,654
Top Programs
The fields Indiana University-Northwest 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.
- Health Professions 36% $73,093 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $43,497 early-career
- Humanities 12%
- Psychology 9% $26,459 early-career
- Education 4% $46,481 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 3%
- Computer Science & IT 3% $40,390 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3% $31,312 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-Northwest'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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Indiana University-Northwest? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Indiana University-Northwest, located in Gary, Indiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,055. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Indiana University-Northwest? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Indiana University-Northwest is $22,811, 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 $5,130. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,419 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,710 in federal student loans.
Is Indiana University-Northwest Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Indiana University-Northwest report median earnings of $43,361, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Indiana University-Northwest? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Indiana University-Northwest. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Indiana University-Northwest.
- Indiana University-EastRichmond, IN · Close peer42% grad $47,156 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityDurant, OK · Close peer32% grad $45,079 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, AR · Close peer48% grad $42,386 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of South Carolina AikenAiken, SC · Close peer40% grad $45,603 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Indiana University-South BendSouth Bend, IN · Close peer38% grad $44,947 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Indiana University-SoutheastNew Albany, IN · Close peer36% grad $47,596 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Indiana University-Northwest? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Indiana University-Northwest. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note