Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Indiana 2024

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST IN INDIANA LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

By Dr. James Barham

Published: Mar 23, 2021
Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Liberal arts colleges are a great option for students seeking a well-rounded education in an intimate campus setting. The best liberal arts colleges in Indiana offer a diverse selection of degree programs with opportunities for a highly individualized educational experience.

DePauw University
Wabash College
Earlham College
Butler University
University of Evansville
Manchester University
Hanover College
Goshen College
Saint Mary's College
Vincennes University

University of Saint Francis 98%
University of Southern Indiana 94%
Marian University 94%
Goshen College 94%
Franklin College 93%
Trine University 92%
Indiana Wesleyan University 87%
Indiana University South Bend 87%
Indiana University Kokomo 86%
Grace College & Seminary 85%

Purdue University Global 26 to 1
Vincennes University 23 to 1
Grace College & Seminary 18 to 1
Trine University 16 to 1
University of Southern Indiana 16 to 1
Purdue University Northwest 15 to 1
Indiana Institute of Technology 15 to 1
Indiana University Kokomo 14 to 1
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne 13 to 1
Indiana Wesleyan University 13 to 1

DePauw University $55,410
Earlham College $50,058
Saint Mary's College $49,930
Wabash College $47,475
Butler University $44,460
Hanover College $41,559
University of Evansville $41,336
Marian University $37,600
Taylor University $37,476
Goshen College $36,660

Trine University $45,350
Franklin College $39,114
Goshen College $29,678
University of Evansville $29,501
Saint Mary's College $29,231
Manchester University $23,435
Calumet College of St. Joseph $21,240
Marian University $20,138
Earlham College $17,863
Butler University $14,750

Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne
Calumet College of St. Joseph
University of Saint Francis
Oakland City University
Grace College & Seminary
Holy Cross College
Indiana University Kokomo
Indiana University Northwest
Martin University
Indiana University Southeast

Calumet College of St. Joseph
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne
Holy Cross College
University of Saint Francis
Oakland City University
Huntington University
Indiana University Kokomo
Purdue University Northwest
Indiana University Southeast
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Anderson University 52%
Oakland City University 56%
Wabash College 61%
Indiana Institute of Technology 65%
Manchester University 66%
DePauw University 66%
Earlham College 73%
Purdue University Northwest 73%
Hanover College 74%
Taylor University 75%

Earlham College 6 to 1
Martin University 6 to 1
DePauw University 9 to 1
Wabash College 9 to 1
Goshen College 9 to 1
Saint Mary's College 9 to 1
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College 9 to 1
Anderson University 9 to 1
Holy Cross College 10 to 1
University of Evansville 10 to 1

Vincennes University $6,116
Purdue University Northwest $7,038
Indiana University Southeast $7,274
Indiana University Kokomo $7,274
Indiana University South Bend $7,274
Indiana University Northwest $7,274
Indiana University East $7,274
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne $7,815
University of Southern Indiana $9,095
Purdue University Global $10,080

Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne $5,945
Purdue University Northwest $6,021
Grace College & Seminary $7,288
Indiana University Southeast $7,746
Indiana University Kokomo $7,746
Indiana University South Bend $7,746
Indiana University Northwest $7,746
Indiana University East $7,746
University of Saint Francis $8,626
Oakland City University $9,000

Table of Contents

Colleges and Universities in Indiana

Prospective students searching for both brick-and-mortar and online colleges in Indiana have many excellent options, including notable institutions like University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, and Butler University. Each boasts a high graduate rate, a wide variety of traditional and online degree programs, and numerous excellent undergraduate and graduate programs. The tuition and student population vary widely between these schools.

Indiana University Bloomington is the largest public university in Indiana. The state university is also noted for its high graduation rate, its large student population of roughly 40,000 students, and an in-state tuition rate just above the national average at $11,000.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Additionally, students hoping to attend a school with a religious affiliation have nearly 30 options to choose from. Both traditional and online students at these schools can study areas like engineering, business, philosophy, religious studies, and law.

The state of Indiana offers loan forgiveness-based financial aid programs for health care workers who work in areas with labor shortages as well as for lawyers providing public legal aid. Additionally, graduates of Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law pursuing public interest law can apply for a special grant program that will help cover the cost of preparing and sitting for the bar exam.

With town names like Popcorn and Santa Claus, Indiana clearly has a quirky personality. Along with these unique towns, Indiana also hosts the famous Indianapolis 500 auto race; boasts a thriving art scene; and has been home to iconic celebrities, including Larry Bird, James Dean, and David Letterman.

Students wanting to experience all Indiana has to offer while studying have the option of attending one of Indiana’s more than 50 higher education institutes. Most offer both traditional and online degrees, as well as a full array of undergraduate programs and advanced degrees.

Explore Indiana’s more than 50 colleges and universities to find a program and future career path that’s right for you.

What are Indiana’s Colleges & Universities?

Indiana’s Best Overall

How do we determine Indiana's best colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 34 liberal arts colleges in Indiana. To be ranked among the 30 best liberal arts colleges in Indiana, schools must fully accredited institutions.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Indiana 2023

Indiana’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

Check out our directory of liberal arts colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top liberal arts schools in every state.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Indiana 2024

10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Indiana

Colleges and Universities in Indiana

What are Indiana’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Indiana 2023

Career Outlook for degree at DePauw University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Earlham College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Butler University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Evansville

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Wabash College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Manchester University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana Wesleyan University

Most Influential Alumni

Purdue Global’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Goshen College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Saint Mary's College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Taylor University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University South Bend

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Hanover College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Vincennes University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University East

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Anderson College, Indiana

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Marian University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Trine University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern Indiana

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana Institute of Technology

Career Outlook for degree at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Franklin College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Huntington University

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University Southeast

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Martin University

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University Northwest

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University Kokomo

Career Outlook for degree at Holy Cross College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Grace College & Seminary

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Oakland City University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Saint Francis

Career Outlook for degree at Calumet College of St. Joseph

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne

Most Influential Alumni

Indiana’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Your Area of Interest