by our College Data Analytics TeamPurdue University Main Campus ranks #1 of 33 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Indiana ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 50% six-year graduation rate and $60,238 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Indiana, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **33** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 33 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Purdue University Main Campus leads the 33 ranked colleges in Indiana, followed by Marian University Ancilla (#2) and Marian University Indiana (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
No school ranked higher than Purdue University Main Campus this year in Indiana. Set in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Median early-career earnings reach $63,111. Purdue University Main Campus students take on a median of $19,844 in debt.
Marian University Ancilla came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Indiana. Located in Plymouth, IN, Marian University Ancilla is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,100. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,044. Graduates carry a median of $32,222 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Marian University Indiana, which ranked #3 this year. Marian University Indiana is a private not-for-profit school based in Indianapolis, IN. Marian University Indiana posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,664. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,784 early in their careers. The median student debt is $28,633.
A rank of #4 makes Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global one of the top colleges in Indiana. Located in Marion, IN, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $9,648 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,372. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global students take on a median of $33,307 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the top colleges in Indiana. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public school based in Indianapolis, IN. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Median early-career earnings reach $56,930. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete a degree here.
Ball State University placed #6 among the best colleges in Indiana. This public school is set in Muncie, IN. About 62% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Median early-career earnings reach $47,863. Students borrow a median of $24,518 to complete a degree here.
University Of Indianapolis did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Indianapolis, IN, University Of Indianapolis is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Indianapolis posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. In-state tuition and fees average $37,200. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,298. Graduates carry a median of $26,699 in student loans.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus landed the #8 spot in Indiana this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Angola, IN. In-state tuition and fees average $7,176. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,735 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,787 in student loans.
University Of Southern Indiana placed #9 among the best colleges in Indiana. Located in Evansville, IN, University Of Southern Indiana is a public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,216 early in their careers. University Of Southern Indiana students take on a median of $21,999 in debt.
Trine University landed the #10 spot in Indiana this year. Set in Angola, IN, Trine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $36,560 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,881. The median student debt is $25,765.
Grace College And Theological Seminary came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winona Lake, IN. Grace College And Theological Seminary graduates 69% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,645. Median early-career earnings reach $42,188. Students borrow a median of $21,211 to complete a degree here.
Indiana Wesleyan University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Marion, IN, Indiana Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,352. Median early-career earnings reach $52,449. Typical student debt is $31,454.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Fort Wayne, IN. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne posts a six-year graduation rate of 36%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,532, while out-of-state students pay about $22,887. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,424 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,119 to complete a degree here.
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne placed #14 among the best colleges in Indiana. Based in Fort Wayne, IN, University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,460. Median early-career earnings reach $57,192. The median student debt is $27,520.
Vincennes University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Vincennes, IN. Vincennes University graduates 3% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Vincennes University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,976. Students borrow a median of $14,506 to complete a degree here.
Bethel College Mishawaka ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Mishawaka, IN, Bethel College Mishawaka is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,600. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,496. Students borrow a median of $31,824 to complete a degree here.
Oakland City University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Oakland City, IN, Oakland City University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $27,900 in tuition and fees. Oakland City University graduates report median early-career earnings of $62,655. Students borrow a median of $25,266 to complete a degree here.
Purdue University Global came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Global is a public institution. Purdue University Global graduates 33% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, with out-of-state students paying around $14,412. Purdue University Global graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,278. Purdue University Global students take on a median of $36,778 in debt.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Set in Indianapolis, IN, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,734. Ivy Tech Community College students take on a median of $11,889 in debt.
Indiana University Kokomo landed the #20 spot in Indiana this year. This public school is set in Kokomo, IN. Indiana University Kokomo posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Indiana University Kokomo graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,902. Graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans.
Indiana University Northwest came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Gary, IN. Indiana University Northwest graduates 37% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,925 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,434.
Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies is a private not-for-profit school based in Fort Wayne, IN. Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies graduates 26% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,896. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,947. Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies students take on a median of $36,380 in debt.
Indiana University South Bend ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in South Bend, IN, Indiana University South Bend is a public institution. Indiana University South Bend graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,733 early in their careers. Indiana University South Bend students take on a median of $24,640 in debt.
Radiological Technologies University Vt came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Radiological Technologies University Vt is a private for-profit school based in South Bend, IN. In-state tuition and fees average $20,605. Graduates go on to earn a median of $109,553 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $30,118.
Mycomputercareeredu Indianapolis came in at #25 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Indianapolis, IN. Mycomputercareeredu Indianapolis graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,700. Typical student debt is $9,500.
These 8 colleges rank #26 through #33 of 33 in Indiana. These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.