by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Indiana, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **14** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 14 colleges on more than 20 objective measures 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.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Indiana. Located in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Purdue University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,111. Typical student debt is $19,844.
A rank of #2 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the top colleges in Indiana. This public school is set in Indianapolis, IN. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,930. The median student debt is $23,146.
A rank of #3 makes Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global one of the top colleges in Indiana. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit school based in Marion, IN. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,648. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,752. The median student debt is $32,807.
Out of the 14 colleges in Indiana in this year's ranking, Marian University Ancilla landed the #4 spot. Marian University Ancilla is a private not-for-profit school based in Plymouth, IN. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,100.
You'll be in good company at Marian University Indiana, which ranked #5 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Indianapolis, IN. About 67% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,664. Marian University Indiana graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,784. Typical student debt is $28,633.
Ball State University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Muncie, IN, Ball State University is a public institution. Ball State University graduates 62% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Ball State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,863. Students borrow a median of $24,518 to complete a degree here.
University Of Indianapolis ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Indianapolis, IN, University Of Indianapolis is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,200. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,298. Students borrow a median of $26,699 to complete a degree here.
University Of Southern Indiana ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Evansville, IN, University Of Southern Indiana is a public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. University Of Southern Indiana graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,216. University Of Southern Indiana students take on a median of $21,999 in debt.
Trine University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Angola, IN. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $36,560. Trine University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,881. The median student debt is $25,765.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Angola, IN. In-state tuition and fees average $7,176. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,735. Graduates carry a median of $24,787 in student loans.
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Fort Wayne, IN, University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne graduates 54% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,460. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,192. The median student debt is $27,520.
Vincennes University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Vincennes, IN, Vincennes University is a public institution. Vincennes University graduates 3% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,126 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Median early-career earnings reach $45,976. Typical student debt is $14,506.
Bethel College Mishawaka placed #13 among the best colleges in Indiana. Set in Mishawaka, IN, Bethel College Mishawaka is a private not-for-profit institution. Bethel College Mishawaka graduates 52% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $34,600 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,496. Students borrow a median of $31,824 to complete a degree here.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #14 spot in Indiana this year. Based in Fort Wayne, IN, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,532, compared with $22,887 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,424. The median student debt is $24,119.
Grace College And Theological Seminary landed the #15 spot in Indiana this year. Based in Winona Lake, IN, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,645. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,188. Typical student debt is $21,211.
Oakland City University did well this year, earning the #16 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Oakland City, IN. About 65% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,900. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $62,655. Graduates carry a median of $25,266 in student loans.
Holy Cross College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Notre Dame, IN, Holy Cross College is a private not-for-profit institution. Holy Cross College posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,600. Holy Cross College graduates report median early-career earnings of $33,043. Typical student debt is $23,586.
Purdue University Global came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Global is a public institution. Purdue University Global posts a six-year graduation rate of 33%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Purdue University Global graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,278. Typical student debt is $36,778.
Ivy Tech Community College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Indianapolis, IN, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,734. Typical student debt is $11,889.
Indiana University South Bend placed #20 among the best colleges in Indiana. Located in South Bend, IN, Indiana University South Bend is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Indiana University South Bend graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,733. The median student debt is $24,640.
Indiana University Kokomo landed the #21 spot in Indiana this year. Based in Kokomo, IN, Indiana University Kokomo is a public institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Indiana University Kokomo graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,902. Indiana University Kokomo students take on a median of $24,619 in debt.
Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Fort Wayne, IN, Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies posts a six-year graduation rate of 26%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,896. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,947. Graduates carry a median of $36,380 in student loans.
Indiana University Northwest came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Gary, IN. About 37% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,925. Typical student debt is $26,434.
Radiological Technologies University Vt placed #24 among the best colleges in Indiana. Based in South Bend, IN, Radiological Technologies University Vt is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,605. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $109,553. Students borrow a median of $30,118 to complete a degree here.
Mycomputercareeredu Indianapolis placed #25 among the best colleges in Indiana. Located in Indianapolis, IN, Mycomputercareeredu Indianapolis is a private for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,700. Typical student debt is $9,500.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on 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.