# Best Bachelor's Programs in Indiana

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-06-12 | Schools: 42 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-indiana

## Methodology

Bachelor's programs in Indiana ranked by outcomes and mobility

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Choosing the right bachelor's program in Indiana can be a pivotal decision for students and families. With 42 schools to consider, it’s essential to understand which institutions provide solid outcomes that translate into future success. The average earnings for graduates across these programs stand at $55,801, highlighting the financial opportunities available after graduation.

What sets the top schools apart in this list are their outcomes: graduation rates, earnings, and debt levels. For instance, the University of Notre Dame not only boasts a 96% graduation rate but also leads with an impressive average salary of $99,980. In contrast, schools with lower graduation rates, like Purdue University Northwest at 43%, show a different picture, emphasizing the importance of completion rates in maximizing potential earnings.

Take the example of Purdue University-Main Campus and DePauw University. While both schools show promising earnings after graduation, Purdue graduates earn $72,424 compared to DePauw's $70,527. However, DePauw's net price is significantly higher at $22,264 versus Purdue's $14,600, indicating a tradeoff between upfront costs and potential earnings. This contrast is crucial for students weighing their options.

## Key Findings

- University of Notre Dame graduates earn an average of $99,980.
- Purdue University-Main Campus has a graduation rate of 83%.
- Purdue University Northwest has the lowest graduation rate at 43%.
- The average debt for graduates in Indiana is $19,872.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of Notre Dame](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-notre-dame) | Notre Dame, IN | 96% | $99,980 | $26,780 | $19,000 | 0.19x |
| 2 | [DePauw University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/depauw-university) | Greencastle, IN | 77% | $70,527 | $22,264 | $27,000 | 0.38x |
| 3 | [Purdue University-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/purdue-university-main-campus) | West Lafayette, IN | 83% | $72,424 | $14,600 | $19,500 | 0.27x |
| 4 | [Ball State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ball-state-university) | Muncie, IN | 63% | $51,833 | $14,940 | $23,250 | 0.45x |
| 5 | [University of Evansville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-evansville) | Evansville, IN | 68% | $53,770 | $18,499 | $24,606 | 0.46x |
| 6 | [Goshen College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/goshen-college) | Goshen, IN | 63% | $51,943 | $14,493 | $22,974 | 0.44x |
| 7 | [Valparaiso University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/valparaiso-university) | Valparaiso, IN | 69% | $63,191 | $18,578 | $26,942 | 0.43x |
| 8 | [Grace College and Theological Seminary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/grace-college-and-theological-seminary) | Winona Lake, IN | 69% | $45,411 | $19,932 | $19,500 | 0.43x |
| 9 | [Wabash College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wabash-college) | Crawfordsville, IN | 77% | $69,952 | $24,336 | $27,000 | 0.39x |
| 10 | [Huntington University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/huntington-university) | Huntington, IN | 66% | $46,672 | $19,310 | $25,576 | 0.55x |
| 11 | [Butler University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/butler-university) | Indianapolis, IN | 80% | $77,235 | $36,041 | $26,000 | 0.34x |
| 12 | [Oakland City University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/oakland-city-university) | Oakland City, IN | 68% | $43,283 | $15,210 | $16,758 | 0.39x |
| 13 | [Earlham College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/earlham-college) | Richmond, IN | 68% | $50,797 | $24,714 | $23,488 | 0.46x |
| 14 | [Taylor University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/taylor-university) | Upland, IN | 75% | $52,198 | $24,865 | $20,500 | 0.39x |
| 15 | [Indiana University-Bloomington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-bloomington) | Bloomington, IN | 81% | $63,742 | $16,264 | $19,509 | 0.31x |
| 16 | [Hanover College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hanover-college) | Hanover, IN | 65% | $53,957 | $21,829 | $25,250 | 0.47x |
| 17 | [Indiana State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-state-university) | Terre Haute, IN | 42% | $48,387 | $10,873 | $24,000 | 0.5x |
| 18 | [Saint Mary's College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-marys-college) | Notre Dame, IN | 73% | $59,354 | $25,292 | $27,000 | 0.45x |
| 19 | [University of Indianapolis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-indianapolis) | Indianapolis, IN | 56% | $53,610 | $21,602 | $26,864 | 0.5x |
| 20 | [Indiana University-Indianapolis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-indianapolis) | Indianapolis, IN | 54% | $55,198 | $11,668 | $20,000 | 0.36x |
| 21 | [Indiana University-Kokomo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-kokomo) | Kokomo, IN | 45% | $49,917 | $3,968 | $16,961 | 0.34x |
| 22 | [Purdue University Northwest](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/purdue-university-northwest) | Hammond, IN | 43% | $48,318 | $6,079 | $21,229 | 0.44x |
| 23 | [Manchester University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/manchester-university) | North Manchester, IN | 45% | $51,504 | $18,805 | $26,854 | 0.52x |
| 24 | [Trine University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/trine-university) | Angola, IN | 66% | $57,165 | $25,355 | $25,000 | 0.44x |
| 25 | [Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rose-hulman-institute-of-technology) | Terre Haute, IN | 80% | $101,253 | $42,513 | $25,000 | 0.25x |
| 26 | [Indiana University-Southeast](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-southeast) | New Albany, IN | 36% | $47,596 | $7,888 | $19,684 | 0.41x |
| 27 | [Indiana University-East](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-east) | Richmond, IN | 42% | $47,156 | $8,134 | $18,000 | 0.38x |
| 28 | [University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-saint-francis-fort-wayne) | Fort Wayne, IN | 58% | $55,362 | $18,196 | $25,976 | 0.47x |
| 29 | [Indiana University-South Bend](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-south-bend) | South Bend, IN | 38% | $44,947 | $8,653 | $21,355 | 0.48x |
| 30 | [Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-wesleyan-university-marion) | Marion, IN | 67% | $59,986 | $22,866 | $24,250 | 0.4x |
| 31 | [Franklin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/franklin-college) | Franklin, IN | 62% | $55,376 | $22,855 | $27,000 | 0.49x |
| 32 | [Purdue University Fort Wayne](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/purdue-university-fort-wayne) | Fort Wayne, IN | 34% | $45,872 | $13,171 | $21,500 | 0.47x |
| 33 | [Indiana University-Northwest](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-northwest) | Gary, IN | 37% | $43,361 | $5,130 | $21,710 | 0.5x |
| 34 | [Bethel University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bethel-university) | Mishawaka, IN | 55% | $48,860 | $18,610 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 35 | [Indiana Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-institute-of-technology) | Fort Wayne, IN | 38% | $47,327 | $23,206 | $26,391 | 0.56x |
| 36 | [Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-wesleyan-university-national-global) | Marion, IN | 36% | $59,986 | $16,898 | $24,250 | 0.4x |
| 37 | [Holy Cross College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/holy-cross-college) | Notre Dame, IN | 50% | $50,416 | $26,728 | $24,000 | 0.48x |
| 38 | [Marian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/marian-university) | Indianapolis, IN | 64% | $58,759 | $24,018 | $27,000 | 0.46x |
| 39 | [Anderson University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/anderson-university) | Anderson, IN | 52% | $48,899 | $25,021 | $27,000 | 0.55x |
| 40 | [Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-mary-of-the-woods-college) | Saint Mary of the Woods, IN | 49% | $43,845 | $31,872 | $19,512 | 0.45x |
| 41 | [Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-institute-of-technology-college-of-professional-studies) | Fort Wayne, IN | 28% | $47,327 | $20,473 | $26,391 | 0.56x |
| 42 | [Calumet College of Saint Joseph](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/calumet-college-of-saint-joseph) | Whiting, IN | 26% | $46,945 | $22,451 | $21,534 | 0.46x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Bachelor's Programs in Indiana." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-06-12. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-indiana

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.