Indiana Institute of Technology
Fort Wayne, Indiana · Private Nonprofit · 70.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 26/100 · Poor Value
Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech) in Fort Wayne posts a 26/100 ROI score in our Poor Value tier — a difficult profile despite a name that suggests engineering-dominant outcomes. Sticker tuition of $31,361 is reduced to a $23,206 net price by institutional aid, pushing four-year cost to $92,824. Median earnings of $38,300 six years out climb modestly to $47,327 by year ten, producing only a 13.3% earnings premium. Median debt of $26,391 yields a 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio, and the 18.9-year paybackPeriod is moderate. The school's biggest red flag is the repayment rate trajectory: just 41.6% of borrowers reduce principal one year out, climbing slowly to 49.0% at three years and only 52.0% at seven years — among the worst repayment profiles on our database. Completion rate of 47.8% is mediocre. With 1,441 students and a 35.2% Pell rate, Indiana Tech is small, working-to-middle-class, and primarily a regional adult-learner-friendly institution. The engineering programs (industrial engineering, CS) deliver genuine value but enroll small cohorts; the bulk of students study business, criminal justice, and psychology with weaker outcomes. Despite the 'Tech' name, Indiana Tech is broadly diversified, and most graduates end up in non-engineering tracks.
The data raises concerns about Indiana Institute of Technology
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score26/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period18.9 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Indiana Institute of Technology
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $31,361/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $31,361/yr |
| Average net price | $23,206/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $92,824 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,327 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,391 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $280 |
| Estimated payback period | 18.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 47.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,441 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Indiana Institute of Technology is $31,361/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $23,206/year, or roughly $92,824 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $19,524/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,828/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,391 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $280 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $47,327 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.69 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,524 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,194 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,077 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,042 |
| $110,001+ | $27,828 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $19,524 net — high relative to income. Across four years that's $78,096 against $38,300 graduate earnings. The math is genuinely difficult; the documented 49% three-year repayment rate suggests low-income borrowers struggle to keep up.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The brackets show an inversion: $30,001–$48,000 pays $17,194 (LESS than the lowest bracket — a classic inversion that signals significant aid concentration in this band). $48,001–$75,000 pays $21,077, $75,001–$110,000 pays $27,042. Middle-income families pay $69,000-$108,000 over four years against $38,300 early-career earnings. The math works for engineering tracks; weaker for everything else.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $27,828 — about $111,312 across four years, well above the published $92,824 total cost figure. High-income full-pay families are paying close to sticker. The financial math is genuinely indefensible at full price for non-engineering tracks; students with this option should consider Purdue, IU, or other Indiana publics with stronger ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Indiana Institute of Technology with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $66,296 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $47,199 | D |
| Psychology | $46,698 | D |
| Industrial Engineering | $90,363 | B |
| Accounting | $62,603 | C+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other | $69,222 | B |
| Human Services, General | $35,467 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Industrial Engineering
Industrial Engineering is Indiana Tech's strongest financial program: 12 graduates with first-year earnings of $77,456 climbing to $90,363 by year four. Median debt of $32,750 yields a 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade). Direct pipeline into northeast Indiana and Ohio manufacturing employers (BAE Systems, GE, Lincoln Financial, regional auto suppliers). For students set on engineering at a small private at this price, the program delivers genuine value despite the higher debt load.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Admin is Indiana Tech's largest program: 60 graduates with first-year earnings of $53,894 climbing to $66,296 by year four. Median debt of $38,629 (notably high for a business program) yields a 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). The earnings are reasonable but the debt load is punishing. Students considering this track should weigh whether a Purdue Fort Wayne or IU South Bend equivalent at lower cost makes more sense.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 21 students with first-year earnings of $36,510 climbing to $47,199 by year four. Median debt of $35,511 yields a 0.97 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade) — high for a CJ program. Pipeline into Indiana state law enforcement, local police departments, and federal agency roles. The debt load is challenging; students with options at lower-cost in-state alternatives should evaluate carefully.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 15 students with first-year earnings of $36,111 climbing to $46,698 by year four. Median debt of $33,611 yields a 0.93 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). The bachelor's-only psych path is structurally weak; the high debt load makes Indiana Tech's psychology program one of the more questionable financial bets at the school.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 10 students with first-year earnings of $62,287 — strong for a regional private. Four-year earnings of $62,603 are essentially flat, suggesting graduates plateau early without CPA progression. Median debt of $29,048 yields a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio (C+ grade). For students who pursue and pass the CPA, the long-term trajectory improves substantially; the modest cohort size makes this a niche but defensible track.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 41.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 49.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 50.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 52.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 70.4% |
| Enrollment | 1,441 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,234 |
Indiana Tech admits 70.4% of applicants — moderately selective on paper. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported, common for adult-learner-friendly institutions where standardized tests are de-emphasized. The 47.8% completion rate suggests admit standards are loosely matched to retention; many adult learners and non-traditional students enroll part-time, which complicates the standard 6-year cohort tracking. Students should evaluate Indiana Tech based on program-specific outcomes (engineering and accounting outperform the institutional median).
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among Indiana Tech's listed peers — Anderson University Indiana, Bethel University Indiana, Atlantic University, William Woods University, and Missouri Baptist University — Anderson IN and Bethel IN are direct Indiana Christian-private peers with somewhat better completion rates. William Woods (MO) and Missouri Baptist are similar small Christian-affiliated regional privates. Atlantic University is a smaller specialty school. Indiana Tech sits in the middle of this peer set on most metrics; its engineering program differentiates it from the others, but the small engineering-cohort size limits institutional impact.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Institute of Technology (this school) | 26 | $23,206 | $47,327 |
| Bethel University | 34 | $18,610 | $48,860 |
| Anderson University | 32 | $25,021 | $48,899 |
| William Woods University | 26 | $26,569 | $42,401 |
| Atlantic University | 26 | $6,425 | $25,272 |
| Missouri Baptist University | 25 | $27,006 | $46,660 |
Who Thrives Here
Indiana Tech fits Indiana and Ohio working adults seeking flexible scheduling for engineering, business, or criminal justice degrees, particularly those targeting the Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana labor market. With 1,441 students and a 35.2% Pell rate, the campus is small and working-class-leaning. Strong outcomes for the small industrial engineering cohort ($77,456 first-year earnings, B grade); decent for accounting; weaker for the larger business administration and criminal justice flows. Students considering Indiana Tech should weigh whether Purdue Fort Wayne (a public option in the same market) offers comparable program access at lower cost.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Indiana Institute of Technology. With a net cost of $23,206 per year and median graduate earnings of only $47,327 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 18.9 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 47.8% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,391 against $47,327 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.