Cheapest Economics Colleges in Indiana

Economics students can attend Indiana University-Northwest for just $5,970 annually, making it one of the most affordable options in the state. The cost gap between public and private institutions reaches extreme levels, with some private colleges charging over $42,000 while public universities keep tuition under $12,000. Indiana University-Bloomington graduates earn $52,941 annually, reflecting strong returns despite higher net costs of $15,342. The state's economy relies heavily on manufacturing giants like Cummins and pharmaceutical leader Eli Lilly, creating steady demand for economics graduates who understand market analysis and business cycles. Purdue's Main Campus delivers strong value with graduates earning $50,563 while maintaining reasonable debt levels at $23,099. Public universities dominate the affordable market, with acceptance rates ranging from 53% at Purdue to over 94% at University of Southern Indiana.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Indiana University-Northwest the most affordable economics option?

Indiana University-Northwest costs just $5,970 per year after aid, significantly lower than other state universities. The Gary campus maintains an 80% acceptance rate while keeping graduation rates at 37%. Students benefit from the same Indiana University system reputation at a fraction of the cost compared to the Bloomington campus.

How do earnings compare between Indiana's public and private economics programs?

Indiana University-Bloomington leads with graduates earning $52,941 annually, while Purdue graduates earn $50,563. University of Southern Indiana graduates earn $40,485, showing that even lower-cost public options provide solid returns. Private institutions don't necessarily guarantee higher earnings despite their premium pricing structure.

Is the 21st Century Scholars program worth considering for economics majors?

The program covers full tuition at public universities, making schools like Purdue and Indiana University essentially free for qualifying students. With Purdue graduates earning over $50,000 annually, this represents strong return on investment. Students must maintain academic standards and complete community service requirements to retain benefits.

Does Indiana's job market support economics graduates effectively?

Major employers like Eli Lilly, Cummins, and Indiana University Health actively recruit economics graduates for analyst and planning roles. The state's manufacturing base creates demand for supply chain and market analysis expertise. Healthcare systems need health economists, while pharmaceutical companies require regulatory and market research specialists with economics backgrounds.

Where do graduation rates differ most among affordable programs?

Huntington University achieves 68% graduation rates at $13,710 net cost, while Purdue Fort Wayne graduates only 33% of students at $11,513. Indiana University-Indianapolis balances both metrics with 54% graduation rates and moderate $11,408 costs. Private colleges generally show higher completion rates but at significantly increased expense.

More Economics Rankings

Best Value Economics in Indiana Economics Under $20,000 in Indiana

All Economics Programs Best Colleges in Indiana Best Economics in Indiana

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