Rankings / By State
Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana
- 29
- Schools
- $53,542
- Avg. Earnings
- 55%
- Avg. Graduation
- $17,514
- Avg. Net Price
- $23,613
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 29 schools run from $43,361 to $77,235, a 1.8× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Indiana University-Kokomo delivers the most for the money: roughly $49,917 in median earnings against $3,968 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, Indiana University-Kokomo ($3,968 net price), still posts $49,917 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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Purdue University-Main Campus graduates 83% of its students, versus a 55% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Purdue University-Main Campus carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.27× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Valparaiso University ($63,191 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Butler University ($77,235), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Indiana University-Kokomo costs $3,968 a year and Butler University costs $36,041. Yet their graduates earn $49,917 and $77,235, nowhere near the $32,073 price gap.
- On value, Indiana University-Kokomo beats Butler University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Indiana University-Kokomo and Purdue University-Main Campus. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
Healthcare is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $52K within a decade, and registered nurse roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Valparaiso University #1 overall | $63,191 ▲ +18% vs avg | $18,578 | 69% | 82 |
| 2 Huntington University #2 overall | $46,672 ▼ -13% vs avg | $19,310 | 66% | 77 |
| 3 Indiana University-Indianapolis #3 overall | $55,198 ▲ +3% vs avg | $11,668 | 54% | 76 |
| $59,354 ▲ +11% vs avg | $25,292 | 73% | 75 | |
| $53,610 ▲ +0% vs avg | $21,602 | 56% | 75 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana
This analysis ranks 29 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $53,542 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 55% and an average net price of $17,514.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Indiana University-Kokomo — Net Price: $3,968 | Graduation Rate: 45%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Purdue University-Main Campus — 83% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Butler University — Median alumni earnings: $77,235
Research Note
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Healthcare Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the U.S. healthcare workforce?
$51,504
Median earnings (10yr)
55%
Median graduation rate
$18,578
Median net price
0.9%
Avg. mobility rate
Health-professions programs sit at the center of one of the country’s most acute labor stories. An aging population and chronic shortages in nursing and allied health mean these programs are, in effect, staffing the health system. The schools that rise here pair classroom training with real clinical placements and strong licensure pass rates. That pairing is the difference between holding a credential and holding a job.
Across the 29 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $51,504 ten years after they first enrolled, about $3,504 more than the roughly $48,000 a typical American worker takes home. The median graduation rate is 55%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $18,578 a year, with about $24,250 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 34% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 0.9%.
What we’re seeing: demographic pressure keeps demand high, and programs with embedded clinical networks convert that demand into employment fastest. Valparaiso University leads the list, and graduates across these programs earn a median of $51,504 ten years after enrollment. The constraint is not jobs. It is clinical capacity and licensure throughput, and that is where the strongest programs pull away.
The podium
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Valparaiso University lands at #1 with a 82/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $63,191 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,578 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Huntington University lands at #2 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $46,672 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,310 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Indiana University-Indianapolis lands at #3 with a 76/100 composite, led by value per dollar (72/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $55,198 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,668 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Saint Mary's College lands at #4 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $59,354 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,292 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
University of Indianapolis lands at #5 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $53,610 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,602 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Manchester University lands at #6 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $51,504 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,805 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Butler University lands at #7 with a 74/100 composite, led by academic quality (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (37/100). Graduates earn a median $77,235 a decade after enrolling, 44% above this list's average, and net price runs $36,041 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Purdue University Northwest lands at #8 with a 74/100 composite, led by value per dollar (80/100) and pulled down by social mobility (52/100). Graduates earn a median $48,318 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,079 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Indiana University-Kokomo lands at #9 with a 73/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $49,917 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,968 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
DePauw University lands at #10 with a 73/100 composite, led by academic quality (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $70,527 a decade after enrolling, 32% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,264 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
University of Evansville lands at #11 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $53,770 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,499 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Goshen College lands at #12 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $51,943 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,493 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Indiana State University lands at #13 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $48,387 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,873 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Ball State University lands at #14 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (64/100). Graduates earn a median $51,833 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,940 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Fort Wayne, IN · 96% accepted · $18,196 net
Why it ranks #15
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne lands at #15 with a 71/100 composite, led by academic quality (71/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $55,362 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,196 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Winona Lake, IN · 82% accepted · $19,932 net
Why it ranks #16
Grace College and Theological Seminary lands at #16 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $45,411 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,932 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Indiana University-Northwest lands at #17 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by social mobility (48/100). Graduates earn a median $43,361 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,130 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Indiana University-South Bend lands at #18 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (74/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $44,947 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,653 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion lands at #19 with a 67/100 composite, led by academic quality (75/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $59,986 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,866 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Purdue University-Main Campus lands at #20 with a 66/100 composite, led by academic quality (89/100) and pulled down by social mobility (54/100). Graduates earn a median $72,424 a decade after enrolling, 35% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,600 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
Marian University lands at #21 with a 65/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (66/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $58,759 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,018 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Saint Mary of the Woods, IN · 72% accepted · $31,872 net
Why it ranks #22
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College lands at #22 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (69/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (37/100). Graduates earn a median $43,845 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $31,872 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Indiana University-East lands at #23 with a 63/100 composite, led by value per dollar (75/100) and pulled down by academic quality (50/100). Graduates earn a median $47,156 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,134 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Indiana Institute of Technology lands at #24 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (75/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $47,327 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,206 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Indiana University-Southeast lands at #25 with a 63/100 composite, led by value per dollar (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $47,596 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,888 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Bethel University lands at #26 with a 60/100 composite, led by academic quality (71/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $48,860 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,610 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global lands at #27 with a 60/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (69/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $59,986 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,898 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Anderson University lands at #28 with a 57/100 composite, led by academic quality (65/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $48,899 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,021 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Fort Wayne, IN · $20,473 net
Why it ranks #29
Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies lands at #29 with a 54/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (61/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $47,327 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,473 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 29 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Registered Nurses and related roles — a field with $86,070 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the Registered Nurse career guide →Nursing programs in Indiana attract students seeking rewarding careers in healthcare. With a growing demand for qualified nurses, prospective students often find themselves comparing schools to find the best fit for their education and future job prospects.
What distinguishes the top nursing colleges in this list are their outcomes, specifically graduation rates, average earnings, and debt levels. The metrics here reflect the reality of nursing education — not only do we want to know how many students graduate, but also what they earn after completing their programs and how much debt they incur along the way.
For instance, Purdue University-Main Campus stands out with an impressive $72,424 average earning potential and an 83% graduation rate. In contrast, Indiana University-Northwest reports a much lower earning potential of $43,361 and a graduation rate of only 37%. These differences highlight the trade-offs students must consider as they evaluate their options.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 13 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 0.9%. Grace College and Theological Seminary leads the group at 1.6%, with Indiana Institute of Technology (1.3%) and University of Evansville (1.1%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 4.6% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Indiana Institute of Technology leads at 10.4%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 23.6% across this list. Butler University posts the highest success rate at 47.7%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.59 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Butler University reaches 1.76, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Across the board, there is a noticeable gap in outcomes between the top performers and the rest. For example, Purdue University-Main Campus not only leads in average earnings but also boasts a graduation rate nearly 50% higher than Indiana University-Northwest. This indicates that strong programs not only help students graduate but also prepare them for successful careers.
As you weigh your options after reviewing these rankings, think about your own priorities. Consider factors like location, program fit, campus environment, and financial circumstances when assessing these schools. For instance, if you value low tuition, Indiana University-Kokomo's net price of $3,968 may be appealing, but weigh this against potential earnings and graduation rates.
The stakes are high when it comes to choosing a nursing program. A solid education can lead to stable employment and a sustainable income. For families, the decision to invest in nursing education is significant. Understanding these metrics can help guide you toward a choice that supports a successful future.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana ranking? +
Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, IN ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $63,191 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 69% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Butler University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $77,235 ten years after enrollment, well above the $53,542 average across the 29 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Indiana University-Kokomo leads: graduates earn a median $49,917 against net price of about $3,968 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Purdue University-Main Campus has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 83%, compared with a 55% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $17,514 a year across the 29 ranked schools with cost data. Indiana University-Kokomo is among the most affordable at roughly $3,968. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 29 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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