# Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 29 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-nursing-indiana

## Methodology

Nursing programs in Indiana ranked by outcomes and program concentration

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

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.

## Key Findings

- Purdue University-Main Campus graduates earn an average of $72,424, the highest in this ranking.
- Indiana University-Northwest has a graduation rate of just 37%, significantly lower than the average of 55%.
- Indiana University-Indianapolis students face an average debt of $20,000, while Indiana University-Kokomo graduates incur only $16,961.
- The average earnings for nursing graduates in Indiana is $53,542, reflecting the potential return on investment for these programs.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Valparaiso University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/valparaiso-university) | Valparaiso, IN | 69% | $63,191 | $18,578 | $26,942 | 0.43x |
| 2 | [Saint Mary's College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-marys-college) | Notre Dame, IN | 73% | $59,354 | $25,292 | $27,000 | 0.45x |
| 3 | [University of Evansville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-evansville) | Evansville, IN | 68% | $53,770 | $18,499 | $24,606 | 0.46x |
| 4 | [University of Indianapolis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-indianapolis) | Indianapolis, IN | 56% | $53,610 | $21,602 | $26,864 | 0.5x |
| 5 | [Indiana University-Indianapolis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-indianapolis) | Indianapolis, IN | 54% | $55,198 | $11,668 | $20,000 | 0.36x |
| 6 | [Goshen College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/goshen-college) | Goshen, IN | 63% | $51,943 | $14,493 | $22,974 | 0.44x |
| 7 | [Indiana State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-state-university) | Terre Haute, IN | 42% | $48,387 | $10,873 | $24,000 | 0.5x |
| 8 | [Indiana University-Kokomo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-kokomo) | Kokomo, IN | 45% | $49,917 | $3,968 | $16,961 | 0.34x |
| 9 | [Huntington University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/huntington-university) | Huntington, IN | 66% | $46,672 | $19,310 | $25,576 | 0.55x |
| 10 | [Butler University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/butler-university) | Indianapolis, IN | 80% | $77,235 | $36,041 | $26,000 | 0.34x |
| 11 | [Ball State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ball-state-university) | Muncie, IN | 63% | $51,833 | $14,940 | $23,250 | 0.45x |
| 12 | [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 |
| 13 | [Purdue University Northwest](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/purdue-university-northwest) | Hammond, IN | 43% | $48,318 | $6,079 | $21,229 | 0.44x |
| 14 | [DePauw University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/depauw-university) | Greencastle, IN | 77% | $70,527 | $22,264 | $27,000 | 0.38x |
| 15 | [Manchester University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/manchester-university) | North Manchester, IN | 45% | $51,504 | $18,805 | $26,854 | 0.52x |
| 16 | [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 |
| 17 | [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 |
| 18 | [Indiana University-Northwest](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-northwest) | Gary, IN | 37% | $43,361 | $5,130 | $21,710 | 0.5x |
| 19 | [Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-wesleyan-university-marion) | Marion, IN | 67% | $59,986 | $22,866 | $24,250 | 0.4x |
| 20 | [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 |
| 21 | [Indiana University-East](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-east) | Richmond, IN | 42% | $47,156 | $8,134 | $18,000 | 0.38x |
| 22 | [Marian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/marian-university) | Indianapolis, IN | 64% | $58,759 | $24,018 | $27,000 | 0.46x |
| 23 | [Bethel University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bethel-university) | Mishawaka, IN | 55% | $48,860 | $18,610 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 24 | [Indiana University-Southeast](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-southeast) | New Albany, IN | 36% | $47,596 | $7,888 | $19,684 | 0.41x |
| 25 | [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 |
| 26 | [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 |
| 27 | [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 |
| 28 | [Anderson University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/anderson-university) | Anderson, IN | 52% | $48,899 | $25,021 | $27,000 | 0.55x |
| 29 | [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 |

## 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 Nursing Colleges in Indiana." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-nursing-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/.