Best Value Economics Colleges in Indiana

Notre Dame stands alone among Indiana economics programs with post-graduation earnings of $69,338, nearly $17,000 above the next highest earner despite charging a net price of $27,823. This earnings premium reflects the university's strong alumni network in finance and consulting. At the other extreme, Indiana University-Indianapolis offers economics training for just $11,408 net cost while maintaining solid earning potential at $46,087. The state's economic foundation in manufacturing giants like Cummins and pharmaceutical leaders such as Eli Lilly creates steady demand for economics graduates who understand supply chain management and market analysis. Public universities dominate the value equation here, with Purdue and IU-Bloomington delivering graduation rates above 80% at net costs under $16,000. The 21st Century Scholars program further reduces barriers for qualifying Indiana residents. Private colleges like Wabash and DePauw command higher prices but struggle to match the return on investment offered by flagship public institutions.

Programs

$5,970 – $40,665

Net Price Range

$49,916

Avg. Program Earnings

63.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

28 Economics Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$11,408	$46,087	$10,449	53.9%	82.9%
2	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$50,563	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
3	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$15,342	$52,941	$11,790	81.2%	82.4%
4	University of Southern Indiana Evansville, Indiana	$12,621	$40,485	$10,136	52.0%	94.4%
5	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$27,823	$69,338	$62,693	96.8%	12.9%
6	Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana	$21,906	$52,107	$49,125	77.1%	61.5%
7	DePauw University Greencastle, Indiana	$24,546	$57,860	$57,070	80.0%	65.8%
8	Hanover College Hanover, Indiana	$21,826	$48,823	$42,894	63.6%	74.1%
9	Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana	$21,583	$40,467	$46,588	67.0%	94.2%
10	Butler University Indianapolis, Indiana	$38,472	$40,485	$45,980	80.2%	82.1%
11	Manchester University North Manchester, Indiana	$19,268		$37,090	44.8%	66.4%
12	Indiana University-South Bend South Bend, Indiana	$8,364		$8,179	35.7%	86.9%
13	Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana	$23,594		$39,100	60.9%	93.8%
14	Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Marion, Indiana	$23,069		$31,168	66.3%	86.7%
15	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, Indiana	$40,665		$56,674	81.7%	73.0%
16	Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, Indiana	$28,552		$51,430	76.5%	83.9%
17	Taylor University Upland, Indiana	$24,327		$39,104	76.6%	74.6%
18	Indiana University-Southeast New Albany, Indiana	$8,257		$8,179	33.4%	85.2%
19	Indiana University-Northwest Gary, Indiana	$5,970		$8,179	36.9%	80.3%
20	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$15,898		$10,758	63.3%	69.0%
21	Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana	$12,188		$9,992	41.1%	92.3%
22	University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$18,748		$36,136	55.8%	76.1%
23	Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$11,513		$9,254	32.5%	80.7%
24	Huntington University Huntington, Indiana	$13,710		$29,982	68.2%	77.5%
25	Franklin College Franklin, Indiana	$22,762		$37,350	63.4%	92.9%
26	University of Evansville Evansville, Indiana	$20,230		$42,676	71.3%	76.3%
27	Earlham College Richmond, Indiana	$24,516		$51,840	67.9%	73.2%
28	Bethel University Mishawaka, Indiana	$19,726		$33,320	57.2%	99.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Notre Dame worth its $27,823 net cost for economics students?

Notre Dame economics graduates earn $69,338 annually, the highest in Indiana and $17,000 more than the next best program. The university maintains a 96.8% graduation rate with only 12.9% acceptance rate, creating an exclusive alumni network. Notre Dame's career services connect students directly to Wall Street firms and major consulting companies.

How do public universities compare to private colleges for economics value?

Indiana's public universities offer the strongest value proposition with net costs under $16,000 at top-tier schools. Purdue charges $13,945 but delivers $50,563 in graduate earnings with an 83.1% graduation rate. IU-Bloomington costs $15,342 and produces $52,941 earners, both significantly outperforming most private alternatives.

Is the debt load manageable at Indiana economics programs?

Most Indiana economics programs keep debt reasonable, with figures ranging from $16,250 to $27,000 for top schools. IU-Indianapolis graduates carry just $16,250 in debt while earning $46,087, creating a favorable debt-to-income ratio. Even Notre Dame limits debt to $19,000 despite its premium pricing.

Does location within Indiana affect economics career prospects?

Indianapolis programs like IU-Indianapolis and Butler benefit from proximity to corporate headquarters including Eli Lilly and Indiana University Health. West Lafayette's Purdue connects students to manufacturing economics roles at companies like Cummins. Both locations offer internship access that smaller college towns cannot match.

What graduation rates should economics students expect in Indiana?

Top-tier programs achieve graduation rates above 80%, with Notre Dame leading at 96.8% and IU-Bloomington at 81.2%. Mid-tier schools like Hanover College graduate 63.6% of students while regional campuses struggle with rates below 40%. Higher graduation rates correlate strongly with better career outcomes and networking opportunities.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.