Cheapest Biology Colleges in Indiana

Indiana University-Northwest offers the state's most affordable biology degree at just $5,970 net cost, making it nearly three times cheaper than Purdue's main campus at $13,945. This stark price difference reflects Indiana's commitment to accessible education through its extensive public university system, which spans from Gary to Evansville. The state's biology graduates enter a job market anchored by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and major healthcare systems like Indiana University Health, where starting salaries range from $25,194 to $38,289. While regional campuses provide the lowest costs, they also show varying graduation rates from 33% at IU Southeast to 53% at IU Indianapolis. Private options like Oakland City University achieve 70% graduation rates but cost significantly more despite financial aid. The 21st Century Scholars program helps bridge these gaps by covering full tuition for qualifying students across the state's public institutions.

Programs

$5,970 – $43,465

Net Price Range

$30,737

Avg. Program Earnings

58.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

42 Biology, General Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Indiana University-Northwest Gary, Indiana	$5,970	$8,179	36.9%	80.3%
2	Indiana University-Kokomo Kokomo, Indiana	$6,276	$8,179	44.7%	85.8%
3	Indiana University-Southeast New Albany, Indiana	$8,257	$8,179	33.4%	85.2%
4	Indiana University-South Bend South Bend, Indiana	$8,364	$8,179	35.7%	86.9%
5	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, Indiana	$8,463	$8,419	44.0%	72.8%
6	Indiana University-East Richmond, Indiana	$9,082	$8,179	45.4%	77.6%
7	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$11,408	$10,449	53.9%	82.9%
8	Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$11,513	$9,254	32.5%	80.7%
9	Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana	$12,188	$9,992	41.1%	92.3%
10	University of Southern Indiana Evansville, Indiana	$12,621	$10,136	52.0%	94.4%
11	Oakland City University Oakland City, Indiana	$12,820	$27,150	70.0%	55.7%
12	Huntington University Huntington, Indiana	$13,710	$29,982	68.2%	77.5%
13	Martin University Indianapolis, Indiana	$13,879	$12,830	33.3%
14	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
15	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$15,342	$11,790	81.2%	82.4%
16	Goshen College Goshen, Indiana	$15,725	$37,760	60.5%	93.5%
17	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$15,898	$10,758	63.3%	69.0%
18	Grace College and Theological Seminary Winona Lake, Indiana	$18,406	$30,034	69.9%	84.6%
19	University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$18,748	$36,136	55.8%	76.1%
20	Manchester University North Manchester, Indiana	$19,268	$37,090	44.8%	66.4%
21	Bethel University Mishawaka, Indiana	$19,726	$33,320	57.2%	99.5%
22	University of Evansville Evansville, Indiana	$20,230	$42,676	71.3%	76.3%
23	University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$20,361	$35,420	60.7%	98.1%
24	Calumet College of Saint Joseph Whiting, Indiana	$20,739	$22,650	29.9%
25	Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne, Indiana	$21,318	$30,446	31.4%	64.7%
26	Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana	$21,583	$46,588	67.0%	94.2%
27	Hanover College Hanover, Indiana	$21,826	$42,894	63.6%	74.1%
28	Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana	$21,906	$49,125	77.1%	61.5%
29	Anderson University Anderson, Indiana	$22,144	$35,640	49.4%	51.8%
30	Franklin College Franklin, Indiana	$22,762	$37,350	63.4%	92.9%
31	Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Marion, Indiana	$23,069	$31,168	66.3%	86.7%
32	Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana	$23,594	$39,100	60.9%	93.8%
33	Taylor University Upland, Indiana	$24,327	$39,104	76.6%	74.6%
34	Earlham College Richmond, Indiana	$24,516	$51,840	67.9%	73.2%
35	DePauw University Greencastle, Indiana	$24,546	$57,070	80.0%	65.8%
36	Trine University Angola, Indiana	$25,580	$35,600	67.6%	91.9%
37	Holy Cross College Notre Dame, Indiana	$26,470	$35,500	29.5%	76.2%
38	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$27,823	$62,693	96.8%	12.9%
39	Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, Indiana	$28,552	$51,430	76.5%	83.9%
40	Butler University Indianapolis, Indiana	$38,472	$45,980	80.2%	82.1%
41	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, Indiana	$40,665	$56,674	81.7%	73.0%
42	Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana	$43,465	$33,490	52.3%	78.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $7,975 cost difference between the cheapest and most expensive public biology programs?

Regional IU campuses like Northwest ($5,970) and Kokomo ($6,276) operate with lower overhead costs than flagship universities. IU Bloomington charges $15,342 net cost but offers extensive research facilities and higher graduation rates at 81.2%. The regional campuses serve local student populations with more limited resources but maintain the same IU degree standards.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Indiana biology programs?

Higher-cost programs generally show better completion rates, with Purdue's main campus achieving 83.1% graduation at $13,945 net cost. Regional campuses like IU Southeast graduate only 33.4% of students despite costing just $8,257. Private schools Oakland City (70%) and Huntington (68.2%) lead in graduation rates but cost over $12,800 net.

Is the earnings potential worth the higher costs at flagship universities?

University of Southern Indiana graduates earn $38,289 annually while paying just $12,621, offering the best return on investment. IU South Bend graduates earn $33,637 for an $8,364 investment, while Purdue Fort Wayne provides $27,343 earnings for $11,513 in costs. The data shows regional programs can deliver strong earning potential without flagship price tags.

Does student debt vary significantly between Indiana's public biology programs?

Debt levels remain relatively consistent across public institutions, ranging from $18,000 at Purdue Fort Wayne to $23,449 at IU South Bend. IU Indianapolis and IU Bloomington both average $19,500 in debt despite different net costs. This suggests financial aid packages help normalize borrowing regardless of sticker price differences.

Where do biology graduates find employment opportunities in Indiana?

Indiana's pharmaceutical sector, led by Eli Lilly, provides research and development positions for biology graduates. The state's extensive healthcare network, including Indiana University Health and regional hospital systems, offers clinical laboratory and healthcare administration roles. Manufacturing companies like Cummins also hire biology graduates for quality control and environmental compliance positions across the state.

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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.