Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana 2024

Badge for MOST AFFORDABLE COLLEGES IN INDIANA

Published: Mar 23, 2021
Updated: Jan 5, 2024

Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in Indiana. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana 2024

Purdue University
Indiana University Bloomington
Ball State University
Indiana State University
Purdue University Global
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Indiana University South Bend
Vincennes University
Indiana University East
University of Southern Indiana

Indiana University Bloomington
Purdue University
Indiana State University
Ball State University
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Vincennes University
Indiana University East
Purdue University Global
Indiana University South Bend
University of Southern Indiana

University of Southern Indiana 94%
Indiana State University 92%
Indiana University South Bend 87%
Indiana University Kokomo 86%
Indiana University Southeast 85%
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis 83%
Indiana University Bloomington 82%
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne 81%
Indiana University Northwest 80%
Indiana University East 78%

Purdue University Global 26 to 1
Vincennes University 23 to 1
Indiana University Bloomington 17 to 1
University of Southern Indiana 16 to 1
Indiana State University 16 to 1
Purdue University Northwest 15 to 1
Ball State University 15 to 1
Indiana University Kokomo 14 to 1
Purdue University 14 to 1
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis 13 to 1

Martin University $13,200
Purdue University Global $10,080
Indiana University Bloomington $10,012
Purdue University $9,718
Indiana State University $9,452
University of Southern Indiana $9,095
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis $8,972
Ball State University $8,434
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne $7,815
Indiana University Southeast $7,274

Martin University $11,700
University of Southern Indiana $10,117
Indiana University Bloomington $10,033
Purdue University $9,718
Ball State University $9,636
Purdue University Global $9,472
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis $9,366
Indiana State University $7,884
Indiana University Southeast $7,746
Indiana University Kokomo $7,746

Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne
Indiana University Kokomo
Indiana University Northwest
Martin University
Indiana University Southeast
Purdue University Northwest
University of Southern Indiana
Indiana University East
Vincennes University
Indiana University South Bend

Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne
Indiana University Kokomo
Purdue University Northwest
Indiana University Southeast
Martin University
Indiana University Northwest
University of Southern Indiana
Indiana University South Bend
Purdue University Global
Indiana University East

Purdue University 53%
Ball State University 69%
Purdue University Northwest 73%
Indiana University East 78%
Indiana University Northwest 80%
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne 81%
Indiana University Bloomington 82%
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis 83%
Indiana University Southeast 85%
Indiana University Kokomo 86%

Martin University 6 to 1
Indiana University Southeast 12 to 1
Indiana University South Bend 12 to 1
Indiana University Northwest 12 to 1
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis 13 to 1
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne 13 to 1
Indiana University East 13 to 1
Indiana University Kokomo 14 to 1
Purdue University 14 to 1
Purdue University Northwest 15 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
Ball State University $8,434
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis $8,972

Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne $5,945
Purdue University Northwest $6,021
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
Indiana State University $7,884
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis $9,366
Purdue University Global $9,472

Key Takeaways

The most affordable colleges in Indiana provide a high caliber of education at reasonable costs.
The most affordable institutions in Indiana have an average tuition and fee cost of $9K. Indiana colleges and universities offer several financial aid packages.
Indiana has many programs, including graduate degree options, online degrees, and undergraduate majors in numerous academic disciplines. Local and international students are welcome to apply.

Table of Contents

Indiana’s Inexpensive College Options

Indiana has a lot to offer prospective college students, from well-known universities like Ball State University Muncie and Purdue University to small private colleges known for specialized study. Indiana is home to a large number of well-regarded universities that provide students with a wide range of engaging programs.

Indiana has it all: small campuses, engineering specialist schools, and religious colleges!

College Cost in Indiana

According to recent data, the average yearly cost of tuition for in-state students attending public colleges in Indiana was $9,268; for out-of-state students attending public colleges, it was $29,533; and for students attending private educational institutions, it was $34,263.

The average annual cost of public education for in-state students in Indiana is $19,985, considering costs like room and board. At a private university, a bachelor’s degree costs $46,504 a year, including room and board.

You can get the lowest tuition by going to school in your home state and winning scholarships, and attending school online can help you save on costs such as housing and transportation.

Financial Aid in Indiana

College affordability is the responsibility of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, which manages finances for students attending public and private institutions in the state. You can apply for scholarships, check application deadlines, and appeal financial assistance decisions via the organization’s website.

The state funds organizations and secondary schools that assist low-income kids in obtaining inexpensive college preparation grants. These monies can be used by groups and schools for a variety of activities, including FAFSA support, SAT preparation, and college visits.

10 of the cheapest colleges with the some of the largest financial aid packages include:

Indiana University Bloomington
Purdue University Main Campus
Indiana University Purdue University - Indianapolis
Ball State University
Indiana University Northwest
Indiana University East
Purdue University Northwest
Indiana University Southeast
Indiana University South Bend
Indiana University Kokomo

Indiana Government Aid

The state of Indiana has reduced the cost of attending college for many students, particularly teachers, veterans, and their dependents.

Some of the best programs provided by the state include:

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration manages federal and state assistance programs.
The Child Care Development Fund reduces the expense of childcare and preschool so that parents can attend school.
The Healthy Indiana Plan provides low-income adults with healthcare payments.
SNAP is the biggest federal program for nutrition assistance. Through an EBT card, SNAP offers benefits to eligible low-income people and families.
Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority is a program for housing-related services.
The Energy Assistance Program helps families with energy bills and helps maintain the safety and health of families, especially during the winter.
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers help low-income families pay the rent.
Indiana State Department of Health offers an initiative that provides wholesome food to expectant or new mothers.

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 affordable 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.

There are 16 colleges and universities in Indiana with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Indiana is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges. To check out the full list of Indiana’s best colleges, check out our ranking.

Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana 2023

These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.

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Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana 2024

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana 2024

Key Takeaways

Indiana’s Inexpensive College Options

College Cost in Indiana

Financial Aid in Indiana

Indiana Government Aid

Colleges and Universities in Indiana

What are Indiana’s Colleges & Universities?

Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana 2023

Career Outlook for degree at Purdue University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University Bloomington

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Ball State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana State University

Most Influential Alumni

Purdue Global’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University South Bend

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 University of Southern Indiana

Most Influential Alumni

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 Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne

Most Influential Alumni

Indiana’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest