2024 Best Colleges in Indiana
42
Colleges
$51,502
Avg Salary*
54%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its Top Indiana Colleges ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
We analyzed 42 colleges and universities across Indiana to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. To come up with this ranking, we look at more than 20 factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include freshman retention, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and post graduate earnings, among other things.
Find out more about our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
We've developed a number of other tools and rankings to help you make your college decision. Start by filtering this list by location or field of study and then explore our other rankings that feature schools great for different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
We've created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you're torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another!
Top Colleges in Indiana
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Notre Dame to be the best school for overall quality in Indiana in this year’s ranking. Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,431 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 91%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $88,962 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on University of Notre Dame
Out of the 42 schools in Indiana that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, the large public school awarded 12,568 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $65,257 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Purdue University - Main Campus
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Indiana University - Bloomington helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Indiana.Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 11,649 students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $58,814 during the early years of their career..
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Butler University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 1,561 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Butler make an average of $66,540 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Butler University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend DePauw University. The school came in at #5 in Indiana on this year’s overall quality ranking.Greencastle, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 583 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from DePauw go into careers with an average salary of $62,462 during the early years of their career.
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With a ranking of #6, Ball State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana list. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6,756 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Ball State make an average of $45,934 a year.
Full Ball State University Report
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana ranking. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8,406 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from IUPUI go into careers with an average salary of $47,542 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Indiana ranking. IWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marion, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,771 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from IWU make an average of $54,411 a year.
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Wabash College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana ranking. Located in Crawfordsville, Indiana, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 200 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Wabash go into careers with an average salary of $63,425 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Wabash College
With a ranking of #10, Saint Mary’s College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana list. St. Mary’s College is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 414 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
With a student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College go into careers with an average salary of $56,655 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Saint Mary’s College
Purdue University Global came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Indiana ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University Global make an average of $31,462 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Purdue University Global
Indiana Wesleyan University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges in Indiana list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Marion, Indiana, and it awarded 866 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from IWU make an average of $54,411 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Indiana Wesleyan University Report
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Indiana ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 30,789 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Ivy Tech Community College make an average of $33,344 a year.
Full Ivy Tech Community College Report
Vincennes University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana ranking. Vincennes University is a fairly large public school situated in Vincennes, Indiana. It awarded 2,714 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $38,874 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Vincennes University
University of Evansville ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in Indiana list. UE is located in Evansville, Indiana and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 559 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,415 during the early years of their career..
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With a ranking of #16, Valparaiso University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana list. Valparaiso University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Valparaiso, Indiana that handed out 1,102 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Valpo make an average of $55,837 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Valparaiso University Report
Hanover College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges in Indiana list. Located in Hanover, Indiana, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 257 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Hanover make an average of $49,535 a year.
Full Hanover College Report
University of Indianapolis came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Indiana ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,502 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UIndy make an average of $47,629 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of Indianapolis
With a ranking of #19, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana list. This medium-sized public school is located in Evansville, Indiana, and it awarded 2,506 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from USI is $41,923 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Southern Indiana Report
With a ranking of #20, University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana list. University of St. Francis Fort Wayne is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It awarded 738 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from University of St. Francis Fort Wayne make an average of $45,610 a year.
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Taylor University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Indiana ranking. Taylor U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Upland, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 456 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,550 during the early years of their career..
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Manchester University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana ranking. Manchester University is a private not-for-profit institution located in North Manchester, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 339 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Manchester University is $46,704 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Manchester University
With a ranking of #23, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana list. Indiana State is located in Terre Haute, Indiana and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,599 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State make an average of $42,877 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Indiana State University Report
Trine University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Colleges in Indiana list. Trine is a private not-for-profit institution located in Angola, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 551 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Trine make an average of $52,957 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Trine University Report
Grace College and Theological Seminary landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana ranking. Grace College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winona Lake, Indiana. It awarded 598 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,427 during the early years of their career..
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