Cost of college in Indiana
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Indiana averages $10,372 a year, or $12,426 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $55,835 and owe about $21,098. The net price pays back in about 3.5 years.
How Indiana compares to the US
Indiana ranks #24 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #24 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #17 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Indiana | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $10,372 | $9,518 | +$854 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $27,918 | $23,652 | +$4,266 |
| Net price after aid | $12,426 | $13,788 | -$1,362 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $55,835 | $56,427 | -$592 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,098 | $17,856 | +$3,242 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Indiana pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Indiana costs about $49,704 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 3.5 years from the roughly $14,035-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #17 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Indiana list about $39,371 in tuition and net out to about $23,873 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Indiana?
At a public 4-year college in Indiana, in-state tuition and fees average about $10,372 a year and out-of-state runs about $27,918. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $12,426. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Indiana earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Indiana's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $55,835 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $21,098 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Indiana?
A public 4-year degree in Indiana costs about $49,704 over four years at net price and recoups in about 3.5 years from the roughly $14,035-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.