Cheapest Liberal Arts and Sciences Colleges in Indiana

Indiana University-Northwest stands out with the state's lowest net price for Liberal Arts and Sciences programs at just $5,970, making higher education accessible in Gary's post-industrial economy. The $13,116 gap between the cheapest and most expensive options shows how location and institution type dramatically affect costs. Indiana's 21st Century Scholars program helps bridge these gaps, particularly important as the state's healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors increasingly value liberal arts graduates for their communication and analytical skills. Eli Lilly and Indiana University Health actively recruit graduates who combine technical knowledge with the critical thinking that liberal arts programs develop. Graduation rates vary significantly, from 33% at some regional campuses to over 80% at flagship institutions, reflecting different student populations and support systems. The earnings range of $26,121 to $45,277 demonstrates how program choice and career path selection impact long-term financial outcomes for humanities graduates entering Indiana's evolving job market.

Programs

$5,970 – $43,465

Net Price Range

$33,215

Avg. Program Earnings

57.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

39 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 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	Purdue University Global West Lafayette, Indiana	$12,267	$10,110	47.6%
11	University of Southern Indiana Evansville, Indiana	$12,621	$10,136	52.0%	94.4%
12	Oakland City University Oakland City, Indiana	$12,820	$27,150	70.0%	55.7%
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	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$15,898	$10,758	63.3%	69.0%
17	Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Marion, Indiana	$16,767	$8,216	37.2%
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	Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies Fort Wayne, Indiana	$19,086	$9,900
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	Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana	$21,906	$49,125	77.1%	61.5%
28	Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses Angola, Indiana	$21,976	$9,576	100.0%	24.4%
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	Earlham College Richmond, Indiana	$24,516	$51,840	67.9%	73.2%
34	Trine University Angola, Indiana	$25,580	$35,600	67.6%	91.9%
35	Holy Cross College Notre Dame, Indiana	$26,470	$35,500	29.5%	76.2%
36	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$27,823	$62,693	96.8%	12.9%
37	Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, Indiana	$28,552	$51,430	76.5%	83.9%
38	Butler University Indianapolis, Indiana	$38,472	$45,980	80.2%	82.1%
39	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 such an affordable option for liberal arts students?

At $5,970 net price, IU-Northwest offers the state's most affordable liberal arts education by serving primarily local students and maintaining lower operational costs. The Gary campus benefits from reduced housing demand and focuses on commuter students. Despite the low cost, students still access the broader IU system resources and earn a median of $29,956 after graduation.

How do graduation rates compare across Indiana's most affordable liberal arts programs?

Graduation rates range dramatically from 33% at IU-Southeast to 83% at Purdue's main campus, reflecting different student populations and institutional resources. Regional campuses like IU-East achieve 45% graduation rates while serving working adults and first-generation students. The higher-priced flagship institutions consistently show graduation rates above 80%, though they cost significantly more.

Does Purdue University Global offer good value for liberal arts students?

Purdue Global delivers the highest post-graduation earnings at $45,277 despite a moderate $12,267 net price. The online-focused institution serves adult learners and career changers, explaining both the strong earnings and 47.6% graduation rate. Students benefit from Purdue's name recognition while accessing flexible scheduling that accommodates working professionals.

Where do liberal arts graduates find employment in Indiana's job market?

Indiana's healthcare systems, including Indiana University Health, actively hire liberal arts graduates for patient advocacy and administrative roles. Pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly value the research and communication skills these programs develop. Manufacturing companies such as Cummins also recruit graduates for training, human resources, and customer relations positions that require strong analytical thinking.

Is the 21st Century Scholars program available for liberal arts students?

The 21st Century Scholars program covers full tuition at public institutions for qualifying Indiana students, making programs like IU-Bloomington accessible despite its $15,342 net price. This program particularly benefits liberal arts students who might otherwise struggle with college costs. Scholars can use the benefit at any participating Indiana public university, including regional campuses with even lower additional costs.

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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.