Cheapest Philosophy Colleges in Indiana

Philosophy programs across Indiana show dramatic cost differences, with net prices spanning from $5,970 at Indiana University-Northwest to $19,726 at Bethel University. The state's regional campuses deliver philosophy education at remarkably low costs, while graduation rates vary significantly from 32.50% at Purdue Fort Wayne to 83.10% at Purdue's main campus. Philosophy graduates in Indiana earn between $25,194 and $32,029, positioning them well for the state's growing sectors including healthcare administration and corporate ethics roles at major employers like Eli Lilly and Cummins. Indiana's 21st Century Scholars program particularly benefits philosophy students at public institutions, where in-state tuition runs $8,179 to $11,790. The acceptance rates remain accessible across most programs, with 12 of the 15 schools accepting over 75% of applicants.

Programs

$5,970 – $38,472

Net Price Range

$28,612

Avg. Program Earnings

61.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

29 Philosophy 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	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, Indiana	$8,463	$8,419	44.0%	72.8%
5	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$11,408	$10,449	53.9%	82.9%
6	Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$11,513	$9,254	32.5%	80.7%
7	Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana	$12,188	$9,992	41.1%	92.3%
8	University of Southern Indiana Evansville, Indiana	$12,621	$10,136	52.0%	94.4%
9	Huntington University Huntington, Indiana	$13,710	$29,982	68.2%	77.5%
10	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
11	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$15,342	$11,790	81.2%	82.4%
12	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$15,898	$10,758	63.3%	69.0%
13	University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$18,748	$36,136	55.8%	76.1%
14	Manchester University North Manchester, Indiana	$19,268	$37,090	44.8%	66.4%
15	Bethel University Mishawaka, Indiana	$19,726	$33,320	57.2%	99.5%
16	University of Evansville Evansville, Indiana	$20,230	$42,676	71.3%	76.3%
17	University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$20,361	$35,420	60.7%	98.1%
18	Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana	$21,583	$46,588	67.0%	94.2%
19	Hanover College Hanover, Indiana	$21,826	$42,894	63.6%	74.1%
20	Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana	$21,906	$49,125	77.1%	61.5%
21	Anderson University Anderson, Indiana	$22,144	$35,640	49.4%	51.8%
22	Franklin College Franklin, Indiana	$22,762	$37,350	63.4%	92.9%
23	Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana	$23,594	$39,100	60.9%	93.8%
24	Taylor University Upland, Indiana	$24,327	$39,104	76.6%	74.6%
25	Earlham College Richmond, Indiana	$24,516	$51,840	67.9%	73.2%
26	DePauw University Greencastle, Indiana	$24,546	$57,070	80.0%	65.8%
27	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$27,823	$62,693	96.8%	12.9%
28	Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, Indiana	$28,552	$51,430	76.5%	83.9%
29	Butler University Indianapolis, Indiana	$38,472	$45,980	80.2%	82.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What accounts for the $13,756 cost difference between the cheapest and most expensive philosophy programs in Indiana?

The gap reflects the divide between regional public campuses and private institutions. Indiana University-Northwest costs $5,970 net, while Bethel University runs $19,726. Public regional campuses keep costs low through state funding and lower overhead, while private schools offer smaller class sizes and specialized resources. The 21st Century Scholars program further reduces costs for qualifying students at public institutions.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs among Indiana philosophy programs?

Higher-cost programs generally show stronger graduation rates, though exceptions exist. Purdue's main campus achieves 83.10% graduation at $13,945 net cost, while Indiana University-Bloomington reaches 81.20% at $15,342. However, some expensive private schools like Manchester University show only 44.80% graduation rates despite $19,268 costs. Regional campuses typically graduate 33-44% of philosophy students.

Is the earnings gap between Indiana philosophy graduates significant enough to influence school choice?

The $6,835 difference between top earners at Indiana University-Indianapolis ($32,029) and those at Indiana University-Bloomington ($25,194) represents a 27% variance in starting salaries. This gap often reflects geographic factors and industry connections rather than program quality. Indianapolis graduates benefit from proximity to corporate headquarters and state government positions requiring philosophical reasoning skills.

Does acceptance rate indicate program selectivity or institutional accessibility in Indiana philosophy departments?

Most Indiana philosophy programs prioritize accessibility over selectivity, with 12 of 15 schools accepting over 75% of applicants. Purdue's main campus shows the most selectivity at 52.70% acceptance, reflecting its overall institutional standards rather than philosophy-specific requirements. Bethel University accepts 99.47% of applicants, indicating an open-access approach to philosophical education.

Where do Indiana's most affordable philosophy programs provide the best graduation rate value?

Purdue University Northwest offers the strongest combination of affordability and completion rates among budget options, with $8,463 net cost and 44% graduation rate. Indiana University-Southeast provides another solid value at $8,257 with 33.40% graduation. These regional programs serve working students and commuters while maintaining reasonable completion rates for their demographics.

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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.