Best Small Colleges in Indiana 2023

Best Small Colleges in Indiana 2023
By James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Small colleges in Indiana are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.

10 Best Small Colleges in Indiana 2022

  1. DePauw University
  2. Valparaiso University
  3. Earlham College
  4. University of Evansville
  5. Wabash College
  6. Manchester University
  7. Indiana Wesleyan University
  8. Goshen College
  9. Saint Mary's College
  10. Taylor University

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

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The following list of the best small colleges and universities in Indiana is composed mainly of four-year undergraduate schools (though a handful also offer graduate programs). We’ve identified 29 small colleges in Indiana. The list below of the best small colleges in Indiana. To be included schools must fully accredited, and must have student body populations below 5,000 students.

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Best Small Colleges in Indiana 2022

  13. #11

    Indiana University South Bend

    South Bend , IN
    #7 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana 2023 #7 Best Public Colleges in Indiana 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    89%

    Graduation

    38%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1035/20

    What is Indiana University South Bend known for?

    Indiana University South Bend’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  15. #13

    Indiana University East

    Richmond , IN
    #9 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana 2023 #9 Best Public Colleges in Indiana 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    81%

    Graduation

    43%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1020/21

    What is Indiana University East known for?

    Indiana University East’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  16. #14

    Anderson College, Indiana

    Anderson , IN
    #7 Best Grad Schools in Indiana 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $33K

    Acceptance

    62%

    Graduation

    63%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1055/21

    What is Anderson College, Indiana known for?

    Anderson College, Indiana’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  17. #15

    Marian University

    Indianapolis , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $37K

    Acceptance

    73%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    4K

    What is Marian University known for?

    Marian University ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  19. #16

    Trine University

    Angola , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $34K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1110/23

    What is Trine University known for?

    Trine University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  20. #17

    Indiana Institute of Technology

    Fort Wayne , IN
    #9 Best Grad Schools in Indiana 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $29K

    Acceptance

    65%

    Graduation

    39%

    Student body

    2K

    What is Indiana Institute of Technology known for?

    Indiana Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  21. #18

    Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

    Saint Mary of the Woods , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $31K

    Acceptance

    70%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1025/19

    What is Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College known for?

    Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  22. #19

    Franklin College

    Franklin , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $35K

    Acceptance

    95%

    Graduation

    61%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1060/22

    What is Franklin College known for?

    Franklin College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  23. #20

    Huntington University

    Huntington , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $28K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1085/21

    What is Huntington University known for?

    Huntington University ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  25. #21

    Indiana University Southeast

    New Albany , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    90%

    Graduation

    39%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1060/20

    What is Indiana University Southeast known for?

    Indiana University Southeast’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  26. #22

    Martin University

    Indianapolis , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Graduation

    25%

    Student body

    <1K

    What is Martin University known for?

    Martin University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  27. #23

    Indiana University Northwest

    Gary , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    85%

    Graduation

    38%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    990/20

    What is Indiana University Northwest known for?

    Indiana University Northwest’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  28. #24

    Indiana University Kokomo

    Kokomo , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    90%

    Graduation

    43%

    Student body

    3K

    What is Indiana University Kokomo known for?

    Indiana University Kokomo’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  29. #25

    Holy Cross College

    Notre Dame , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $34K

    Acceptance

    86%

    Graduation

    68%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1225/30

    What is Holy Cross College known for?

    Holy Cross College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  31. #26

    Grace College & Seminary

    Winona Lake , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $28K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    71%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1125/23

    What is Grace College & Seminary known for?

    Grace College & Seminary’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  32. #27

    Oakland City University

    Oakland City , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $26K

    Acceptance

    73%

    Graduation

    63%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1024/18

    What is Oakland City University known for?

    Oakland City University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  33. #28

    University of Saint Francis

    Fort Wayne , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $33K

    Acceptance

    99%

    Graduation

    56%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1060/22

    What is University of Saint Francis known for?

    University of Saint Francis ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  34. #29

    Calumet College of St. Joseph

    Whiting , IN

    Tuition + fees

    $20K

    Graduation

    24%

    Student body

    <1K

    What is Calumet College of St. Joseph known for?

    Calumet College of St. Joseph’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

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Indiana’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest

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2021 Ranking Archive

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.

  1. DePauw University
  2. Earlham College
  3. Hanover College
  4. Goshen College
  5. Wabash College
  6. Valparaiso University
  7. University of Evansville
  8. Butler University
  9. Indiana Wesleyan University
  10. Saint Mary's College
  11. Taylor University
  12. Manchester University
  13. Franklin College
  14. Grace College & Seminary
  15. Huntington University
  16. Trine University
  17. Marian University
  18. University of Saint Francis
  19. Anderson College, Indiana
  20. Purdue University Global
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