2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Indiana
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Indiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
For return on investment in liberal arts, no school beat Indiana University Kokomo this year. Located in the city of Kokomo, Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $24,236 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $35,482. Set against $24,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Kokomo admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Ivy Tech Community College one of the best values for liberal arts. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,026. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $24,356. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Northwest one of the best values for liberal arts. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Students borrow a median of $29,517 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $33,295. Set against $29,517 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Southeast one of the best values for liberal arts. Located in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $28,948 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Indiana University Southeast earn a median of $37,440 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Indiana University Northwest one of the best values for liberal arts. Set in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Indiana University Northwest generally make around $37,035. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University landed the #6 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, compared with $22,322 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $28,750. Liberal Arts graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $33,414 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Indiana University South Bend ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of South Bend. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Students borrow a median of $25,319 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Indiana University South Bend generally make around $33,716. Set against $25,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University South Bend admits about 84% of applicants.
Vincennes University placed #8 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $12,079 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $35,239. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University East placed #9 among the best values for liberal arts. Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Students borrow a median of $29,072 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Indiana University East earn a median of $39,936 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University East admits about 67% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #10 for value in liberal arts this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $29,000. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $41,499. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Southern Indiana earned the #11 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $17,707. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $34,573 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,917 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Set against $17,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Indiana University Bloomington placed #13 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $21,671 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,655. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University earned the #14 position for value in liberal arts this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $26,965. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,724. Set against $26,965 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel College Mishawaka landed the #15 spot for liberal arts value this year. Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mishawaka. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,600. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Bethel College Mishawaka generally make around $31,754. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Grace College And Theological Seminary came in at #16 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,645. Students borrow a median of $21,211 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $42,188. Set against $21,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Indianapolis came in at #17 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $43,509. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. University Of Indianapolis admits about 66% of applicants.
Marian University Indiana came in at #18 for value in liberal arts this year. Marian University Indiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $40,664. Students borrow a median of $28,633 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $49,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Notre Dame landed the #19 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,025. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $18,800. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $45,579. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Notre Dame admits about 11% of applicants.
More Liberal Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
