by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Indiana, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **39** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 39 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.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
University Of Notre Dame tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Indiana. Set in Notre Dame, IN, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Students from in state pay about $65,025 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $69,494. Typical student debt is $19,891.
You'll be in good company at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. Located in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,111. Graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top colleges in Indiana. Based in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Median early-career earnings reach $52,123. Indiana University Bloomington students take on a median of $20,542 in debt.
Out of the 39 colleges in Indiana in this year's ranking, Butler University landed the #4 spot. Based in Indianapolis, IN, Butler University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $47,560. Butler University graduates report median early-career earnings of $68,222. Students borrow a median of $25,351 to complete a degree here.
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Indiana. Set in Terre Haute, IN, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 78%. In-state tuition and fees average $56,046. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,140. The median student debt is $25,148.
Depauw University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Greencastle, IN, Depauw University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees run about $59,070. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,127. The median student debt is $26,174.
Ball State University placed #7 among the best colleges in Indiana. Ball State University is a public school based in Muncie, IN. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
Taylor University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Upland, IN, Taylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,490. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,090 early in their careers. Taylor University students take on a median of $21,832 in debt.
Saint Marys College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Notre Dame, IN, Saint Marys College is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Marys College graduates 69% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,230. Median early-career earnings reach $48,274. The median student debt is $26,938.
Wabash College did well this year, earning the #10 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Crawfordsville, IN. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $50,800. Wabash College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,138. The median student debt is $27,000.
Valparaiso University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Valparaiso, IN, Valparaiso University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,450. Valparaiso University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,987. Students borrow a median of $26,724 to complete a degree here.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Indianapolis, IN, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,930. Typical student debt is $23,146.
University Of Evansville landed the #13 spot in Indiana this year. Set in Evansville, IN, University Of Evansville is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Evansville graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,172. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,618. The median student debt is $25,234.
University Of Southern Indiana came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Evansville, IN, University Of Southern Indiana is a public institution. University Of Southern Indiana graduates 48% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,216. Graduates carry a median of $21,999 in student loans.
University Of Indianapolis did well this year, earning the #15 position. Set in Indianapolis, IN, University Of Indianapolis is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Indianapolis graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $37,200. University Of Indianapolis graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,298. Students borrow a median of $26,699 to complete a degree here.
Hanover College landed the #16 spot in Indiana this year. Based in Hanover, IN, Hanover College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,698. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,659. Hanover College students take on a median of $26,980 in debt.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Marion, IN, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,648. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,752. Typical student debt is $32,807.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus did well this year, earning the #18 position. Located in Angola, IN, Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,176. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,735 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,787.
Marian University Indiana placed #19 among the best colleges in Indiana. Marian University Indiana is a private not-for-profit school based in Indianapolis, IN. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,664. Marian University Indiana graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,784. Students borrow a median of $28,633 to complete a degree here.
Indiana Wesleyan University placed #20 among the best colleges in Indiana. Located in Marion, IN, Indiana Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,352. Indiana Wesleyan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,449. Graduates carry a median of $31,454 in student loans.
Goshen College landed the #21 spot in Indiana this year. Goshen College is a private not-for-profit school based in Goshen, IN. About 65% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $38,890 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,791 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Grace College And Theological Seminary ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Grace College And Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Winona Lake, IN. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,645. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,188 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,211 to complete a degree here.
Trine University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Angola, IN, Trine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Trine University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Students from in state pay about $36,560 in tuition and fees. Trine University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,881. Graduates carry a median of $25,765 in student loans.
Franklin College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in Franklin, IN, Franklin College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $38,710 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,389. Typical student debt is $27,000.
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Wayne, IN. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $36,460. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,192 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,520 to complete a degree here.
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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.