2026 Best Value Educational Administration Schools in Indiana

[Educational Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for educational administration students.
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2026 Best Value Educational Administration Schools in Indiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in educational administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Educational Administration Schools
Leading the list is Indiana University East, our #1 best value for educational administration in Indiana. Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $24,098. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Indiana University East generally make around $49,598. That is a strong return on a $24,098 median debt. Indiana University East admits about 67% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Indiana University South Bend one of the best values for educational administration. Located in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $24,640. Educational Administration graduates of Indiana University South Bend earn a median of $47,733 early in their careers. Set against $24,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in educational administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete the educational administration program here. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $56,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
A rank of #4 makes Indiana State University one of the best values for educational administration. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $25,582 in student loans. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $85,366. Set against $25,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Students looking for strong value in educational administration will find it at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,532, compared with $22,887 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $24,119. Educational Administration graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $59,508 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,119 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Indiana ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value educational administration schools. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $21,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $47,216. Set against $21,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #7 for value in educational administration this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete the educational administration program here. Educational Administration graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $75,257 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Global earned the #8 position for value in educational administration this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $44,436. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $41,433. Set against $44,436 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ball State University earned the #9 position for value in educational administration this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,518 to complete the educational administration program here. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $63,782. Set against $24,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland City University landed the #10 spot for educational administration value this year. Located in the rural area of Oakland City, Oakland City University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,900. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $25,266 in student loans. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $83,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value educational administration schools. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,648. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $32,807. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global generally make around $65,337. Set against $32,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Evansville placed #12 among the best values for educational administration. Set in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,172. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $59,618. That is a strong return on a $25,234 median debt. University Of Evansville admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Notre Dame earned the #13 position for value in educational administration this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,025. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete the educational administration program here. Educational Administration graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $78,187 early in their careers. Set against $19,891 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Notre Dame admits about 11% of applicants.
Butler University placed #14 among the best values for educational administration. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,560 in tuition and fees. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $25,351 in student loans. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $68,222. That is a strong return on a $25,351 median debt. Butler University admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.