by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Indiana, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **41** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 41 colleges using more than 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.
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Want to compare schools head to head? We built a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
No school ranked higher than University Of Notre Dame this year in Indiana. University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school based in Notre Dame, IN. About 95% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $65,025 in tuition and fees. University Of Notre Dame graduates report median early-career earnings of $69,494. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #2 place in Indiana. This public school is set in West Lafayette, IN. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Purdue University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,111. Purdue University Main Campus students take on a median of $19,844 in debt.
Out of the 41 colleges in Indiana in this year's ranking, Indiana University Bloomington landed the #3 spot. Set in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Indiana University Bloomington posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,123. Graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans.
Butler University came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Indiana. Butler University is a private not-for-profit school based in Indianapolis, IN. Butler University graduates 79% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,560. Median early-career earnings reach $68,222. The median student debt is $25,351.
The strong outcomes at Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earned it the #5 place in Indiana. This private not-for-profit school is set in Terre Haute, IN. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 78%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,046. Median early-career earnings reach $83,140. Students borrow a median of $25,148 to complete a degree here.
Depauw University landed the #6 spot in Indiana this year. Located in Greencastle, IN, Depauw University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $59,070. Median early-career earnings reach $46,127. Depauw University students take on a median of $26,174 in debt.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus placed #7 among the best colleges in Indiana. Based in Angola, IN, Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $7,176 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,735 early in their careers. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus students take on a median of $24,787 in debt.
Valparaiso University placed #8 among the best colleges in Indiana. Set in Valparaiso, IN, Valparaiso University is a private not-for-profit institution. Valparaiso University posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,450. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,987. Valparaiso University students take on a median of $26,724 in debt.
Ball State University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Muncie, IN, Ball State University is a public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,863. Typical student debt is $24,518.
Taylor University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Upland, IN, Taylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $40,490 in tuition and fees. Taylor University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,090. The median student debt is $21,832.
Wabash College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,138 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis did well this year, earning the #12 position. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public school based in Indianapolis, IN. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,930. Typical student debt is $23,146.
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #13 spot in Indiana this year. Based in Evansville, IN, University Of Southern Indiana is a public institution. University Of Southern Indiana graduates 48% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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.
Saint Marys College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Saint Marys College is a private not-for-profit school based in Notre Dame, IN. Saint Marys College posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. In-state tuition and fees average $53,230. Median early-career earnings reach $48,274. The median student debt is $26,938.
Marian University Ancilla landed the #15 spot in Indiana this year. Located in Plymouth, IN, Marian University Ancilla is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,100.
University Of Evansville placed #16 among the best colleges in Indiana. Based in Evansville, IN, University Of Evansville is a private not-for-profit institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $44,172. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,618 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global landed the #17 spot in Indiana this year. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit school based in Marion, IN. In-state tuition and fees average $9,648. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,752. Graduates carry a median of $32,807 in student loans.
Hanover College placed #18 among the best colleges in Indiana. Based in Hanover, IN, Hanover College is a private not-for-profit institution. Hanover College posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Students from in state pay about $42,698 in tuition and fees. Hanover College graduates report median early-career earnings of $35,659. Typical student debt is $26,980.
Marian University Indiana ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Indianapolis, IN, Marian University Indiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Marian University Indiana graduates 67% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,664. Median early-career earnings reach $49,784. Typical student debt is $28,633.
University Of Indianapolis came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Indianapolis, IN, University Of Indianapolis is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,200. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,298. University Of Indianapolis students take on a median of $26,699 in debt.
Goshen College placed #21 among the best colleges in Indiana. This private not-for-profit school is set in Goshen, IN. Goshen College graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,890. Goshen College graduates report median early-career earnings of $71,791. Goshen College students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
Trine University placed #22 among the best colleges in Indiana. Trine University is a private not-for-profit school based in Angola, IN. Trine University graduates 64% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,560. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,881. Trine University students take on a median of $25,765 in debt.
Indiana Wesleyan University placed #23 among the best colleges in Indiana. This private not-for-profit school is set in Marion, IN. About 66% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $32,352 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,449. Indiana Wesleyan University students take on a median of $31,454 in debt.
Grace College And Theological Seminary placed #24 among the best colleges in Indiana. Set in Winona Lake, IN, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,645. Grace College And Theological Seminary graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,188. Typical student debt is $21,211.
Franklin College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Franklin, IN, Franklin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,710. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,389. Franklin College students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
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), 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.