Best Value Registered Nursing Colleges in Indiana

Indiana University-Northwest delivers the state's most affordable nursing education at just $5,970 net price, while graduates earn $61,516 annually. This remarkable value proposition reflects Indiana's commitment to accessible healthcare education across its regional campuses. The earnings spread among Indiana nursing programs ranges from $48,432 to $73,792, with Purdue University Global leading at the top despite charging $12,267 annually. Indiana's healthcare sector, anchored by employers like Eli Lilly and Indiana University Health, creates steady demand for nursing professionals across administration, research, and clinical practice. Public universities dominate the value market, with seven schools offering net prices below $10,000. The 21st Century Scholars program further reduces costs for qualifying students, making nursing education accessible statewide. Regional campuses like Indiana University-Kokomo and Indiana University-Southeast provide local training options with manageable debt loads under $17,000.

Programs

$5,970 – $43,465

Net Price Range

$58,561

Avg. Program Earnings

55.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

29 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Indiana University-Northwest Gary, Indiana	$5,970	$61,516	$8,179	36.9%	80.3%
2	Indiana University-Kokomo Kokomo, Indiana	$6,276	$58,303	$8,179	44.7%	85.8%
3	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, Indiana	$8,463	$65,123	$8,419	44.0%	72.8%
4	Indiana University-Southeast New Albany, Indiana	$8,257	$58,025	$8,179	33.4%	85.2%
5	Indiana University-South Bend South Bend, Indiana	$8,364	$54,174	$8,179	35.7%	86.9%
6	Indiana University-East Richmond, Indiana	$9,082	$57,154	$8,179	45.4%	77.6%
7	Purdue University Global West Lafayette, Indiana	$12,267	$73,792	$10,110	47.6%
8	Vincennes University Vincennes, Indiana	$10,215	$54,053	$6,886	34.7%
9	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$11,408	$58,015	$10,449	53.9%	82.9%
10	Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana	$12,188	$58,739	$9,992	41.1%	92.3%
11	Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$11,513	$51,813	$9,254	32.5%	80.7%
12	University of Southern Indiana Evansville, Indiana	$12,621	$56,554	$10,136	52.0%	94.4%
13	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$58,221	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
14	Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Marion, Indiana	$16,767	$63,353	$8,216	37.2%
15	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$15,342	$57,318	$11,790	81.2%	82.4%
16	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$15,898	$56,505	$10,758	63.3%	69.0%
17	Huntington University Huntington, Indiana	$13,710	$48,432	$29,982	68.2%	77.5%
18	Goshen College Goshen, Indiana	$15,725	$54,996	$37,760	60.5%	93.5%
19	University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$18,748	$60,821	$36,136	55.8%	76.1%
20	Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana	$21,583	$62,934	$46,588	67.0%	94.2%
21	University of Evansville Evansville, Indiana	$20,230	$55,964	$42,676	71.3%	76.3%
22	Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Marion, Indiana	$23,069	$63,353	$31,168	66.3%	86.7%
23	Bethel University Mishawaka, Indiana	$19,726	$52,107	$33,320	57.2%	99.5%
24	University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$20,361	$53,017	$35,420	60.7%	98.1%
25	Anderson University Anderson, Indiana	$22,144	$56,035	$35,640	49.4%	51.8%
26	Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana	$23,594	$58,464	$39,100	60.9%	93.8%
27	Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, Indiana	$28,552	$59,599	$51,430	76.5%	83.9%
28	Chamberlain University-Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana	$36,219	$71,315	$19,686	100.0%	100.0%
29	Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana	$43,465		$33,490	52.3%	78.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Indiana University-Northwest the best nursing value in the state?

Indiana University-Northwest charges just $5,970 net price while graduates earn $61,516 annually, creating an strong return on investment. The program maintains an 80.31% acceptance rate with graduates carrying only $22,539 in debt. This Gary campus serves the Chicago metropolitan area, providing access to major healthcare networks and employment opportunities.

How do graduation rates vary among Indiana's nursing programs?

Purdue University-Main Campus leads with an 83.1% graduation rate, followed by Indiana University-Bloomington at 81.2%. Regional campuses show more variation, with rates ranging from 32.5% at Purdue University Fort Wayne to 53.9% at Indiana University-Indianapolis. These differences often reflect student demographics and support services available at each campus.

Does attending a more expensive program guarantee higher nursing salaries?

Purdue University Global charges $12,267 annually but produces the highest-earning graduates at $73,792. However, Indiana University-Northwest graduates earn $61,516 despite paying only $5,970 net cost. The data shows that program quality and regional job markets matter more than tuition prices for nursing career outcomes.

Where do Indiana nursing graduates find the best employment opportunities?

Major employers include Eli Lilly, Indiana University Health, and Cummins, which maintain significant healthcare operations statewide. Indianapolis and the northwest region near Chicago offer the highest concentration of healthcare jobs. Graduates from programs like Purdue University Northwest in Hammond benefit from proximity to both Indiana and Illinois healthcare markets.

What financial aid options help reduce nursing education costs in Indiana?

The 21st Century Scholars program covers full tuition for qualifying students at public universities. Seven schools offer net prices below $10,000, making nursing education highly accessible. Average debt loads range from $15,500 at Indiana University-Kokomo to $26,350 at Purdue University Global, well below national averages for healthcare programs.

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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.