Indiana University-South Bend
#6 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,947 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,653 B+
- 50% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 84% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 28.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.5 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana.
Every $1 spent returns $28.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $950,776.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 38% — 34% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $28.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Indiana University-South Bend Matters
Indiana University-South Bend is a public university in South Bend, IN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by 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 University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 3,933
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Education
Why students choose Indiana University-South Bend
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
Accessible — admits about 84% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 950–1190. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,653 a year after grants and scholarships — 50% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,947 ten years after enrolling — 10% above the typical college, against $21,355 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.32 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Indiana University-South Bend has an acceptance rate of 84%, making it accessible for a wide range of students. With an enrollment of 3,933, it strikes a balance between a larger university experience and a more intimate campus environment. This open-door policy allows many students to pursue their educational goals without the pressure of highly competitive admissions.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data highlights the economic mobility of graduates. While specific mobility metrics for IU-South Bend are not available, students often come from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Approximately 43% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a significant portion of the student body comes from low-income families. This suggests a commitment to serving those who need it most and improving their long-term outcomes.
From a practical perspective, the net price for attending is $8,653, which is relatively affordable. Graduates can expect to earn around $44,947 ten years after enrollment, which may help offset the median debt of $21,355. Students who thrive here typically pursue programs in health professions, business, education, humanities, and psychology, aligning with regional job markets and community needs.
Rankings
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana
- #8 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Indiana
- #18 Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana
- #19 Best Computer Science Colleges in Indiana
- #19 Best Data Science Colleges in Indiana
- #24 Best Biology Colleges in Indiana
- #25 Best Online Colleges in Indiana
- #25 Best Education Colleges in Indiana
Can I Get In?
How selective Indiana University-South Bend 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-South Bend? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in South Bend, Indiana, Indiana University-South Bend admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,081. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Retention Rate
- 65%
- SAT Average
- 1081
- ACT Midpoint
- 21
- SAT Range
- 950–1190
- ACT Range
- 21–23
- Full-Time Faculty
- 60%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,053
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
- Applicants
- 2,348
- Admitted
- 2,040
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-South Bend? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Indiana University-South Bend 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 $8,653. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,637 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,355 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,424
- Out-of-State
- $22,811
- Avg Net Price
- $8,653
- Median Debt
- $21,355
- Pell Grant Rate
- 43%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 35%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,637
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,926
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,195
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,825
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-South Bend — 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-South Bend Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Indiana University-South Bend report median earnings of $44,947, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,388
- 8 Years
- $42,843
- 10 Years
- $44,947
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.48x
- Earning > $25K
- 58%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (120)
- 15%
- 100% (120)
- 15%
- 100% (120)
- 15%
- 100% (120)
- 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-South Bend Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Indiana University-South Bend delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,653/year ($34,612 total). Graduates earn $44,947 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $985,388 in total earnings — a net gain of $950,776 (28.5× your investment). The median debt is $21,355, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $34,612
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $985,388
- Net Return
- $950,776
- ROI Multiple
- 28.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,653
- Median Debt
- $21,355
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $927,167
- Investment Income
- $-3,330,804
Top Programs
The fields Indiana University-South Bend 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 27% $64,369 early-career
- Business & Marketing 19% $49,561 early-career
- Humanities 7% $26,097 early-career
- Education 7% $44,980 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $39,967 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $26,368 early-career
- Psychology 5% $38,169 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4% $35,615 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-South Bend'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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Indiana University-South Bend? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in South Bend, Indiana, Indiana University-South Bend admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,081. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Indiana University-South Bend? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Indiana University-South Bend 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 $8,653. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,637 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,355 in federal student loans.
Is Indiana University-South Bend Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Indiana University-South Bend report median earnings of $44,947, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Indiana University-South Bend? 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-South Bend. Its economic connectedness score is 1.32, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Indiana University-South Bend.
- Indiana University-SoutheastNew Albany, IN · Close peer36% grad $47,596 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Arkansas-Fort SmithFort Smith, AR · Close peer37% grad $41,102 earn 80% 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
- Clayton State UniversityMorrow, GA · Close peer38% grad $49,179 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Purdue University Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN · Close peer34% grad $45,872 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Morehead State UniversityMorehead, KY · Close peer50% grad $43,197 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Indiana University-South Bend? 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-South Bend. Its economic connectedness score is 1.32, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note