Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Indiana provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.
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.
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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.
Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.
Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.
This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 15 public universities in Indiana. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Indiana, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
83%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1295/29
Purdue University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
81%
Student body
41K
Median SAT/ACT
1235/27
Indiana University Bloomington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
68%
Student body
19K
Ball State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
41%
Student body
9K
Indiana State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Graduation
29%
Student body
49K
Purdue University Global’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
57%
Student body
23K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/22
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
38%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1035/20
Indiana University South Bend’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
30%
Student body
8K
Vincennes University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
43%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1020/21
Indiana University East’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
50%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/22
University of Southern Indiana’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
40%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1055/22
Purdue University Northwest’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
39%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1060/20
Indiana University Southeast’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
38%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
990/20
Indiana University Northwest’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
43%
Student body
3K
Indiana University Kokomo’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
38%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/22
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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 public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.