Cheapest Engineering-Related Fields Colleges in Indiana

Purdue University Northwest delivers engineering training for just $8,463 annually, making it Indiana's most affordable option by a significant margin. The state's eight engineering programs span from $8,463 to $25,580, with public universities consistently undercutting private alternatives. Graduates enter a job market anchored by major manufacturers like Cummins and pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, where engineering expertise drives innovation across multiple sectors. Purdue's main campus commands the highest earnings at $66,653 despite charging $13,945 net price.

Programs

$8,463 – $25,580

Net Price Range

$54,668

Avg. Program Earnings

65.3%

Avg. Graduation Rate

8 Engineering-Related Fields Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, Indiana	$8,463	$8,419	44.0%	72.8%
2	Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana	$12,188	$9,992	41.1%	92.3%
3	University of Southern Indiana Evansville, Indiana	$12,621	$10,136	52.0%	94.4%
4	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
5	Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana	$21,583	$46,588	67.0%	94.2%
6	Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses Angola, Indiana	$21,976	$9,576	100.0%	24.4%
7	Earlham College Richmond, Indiana	$24,516	$51,840	67.9%	73.2%
8	Trine University Angola, Indiana	$25,580	$35,600	67.6%	91.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the wide graduation rate gap between Indiana engineering programs?

Graduation rates vary dramatically from 41% at Indiana State to 100% at Trine's regional campuses. Purdue's main campus achieves 83% completion, reflecting its selective 53% acceptance rate compared to Indiana State's open-access 92% admission policy.

How do private engineering programs justify costs nearly double public options?

Private schools like Trine University charge $25,580 net price versus public alternatives around $12,000-$14,000. However, smaller class sizes and specialized facilities often translate to higher completion rates, with private programs averaging 67-100% graduation compared to public schools at 41-83%.

Does Purdue's main campus provide the best return on investment for engineering students?

Purdue graduates earn $66,653 annually with only $16,153 in debt, creating a favorable debt-to-income ratio. This represents a $24,000 earnings premium over Purdue Northwest graduates while costing just $5,482 more in net price.

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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.