Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana · Public · 80.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Indiana State University in Terre Haute earns a Below Average Value ROI score of 45. The completion rate of 42.9% is the most serious problem - fewer than half of students who start actually finish a degree. The school serves a high-needs population, with 41.6% Pell Grant recipients, and offers genuinely affordable in-state tuition at $10,258. The best programs - Registered Nursing (184 graduates, $72,381 year one), Construction Management (116 graduates, $72,379 year one), and Industrial Production Technologies - deliver strong results. But the school's overall profile is weighed down by low completion rates across many majors and below-average earnings broadly. Students who know their program and finish will get value; those who don't have a clear path face real financial risk.
Indiana State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,258/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,322/yr |
| Average net price | $10,873/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $43,492 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,387 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $254 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 42.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,188 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $10,258/year ($22,322/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $10,873/year, or roughly $43,492 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $6,455/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,345/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,000, which works out to about $254 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,400) and comes to 0.70, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $6,455 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,571 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,317 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,450 |
| $110,001+ | $19,345 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $6,455 per year. The deal is real for families who can't afford much. The risk is the 42.9% completion rate. Students in this income bracket who don't finish face debt without the earnings boost of a degree - and that outcome is too common at ISU. Clear program choice and support-seeking are essential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $6,571 (nearly identical to the lowest bracket), and the 48-75k bracket rises to $9,317. The 75-110k bracket jumps to $15,450. The pricing structure is progressive and affordable across the middle range. Families in the middle brackets get solid value if their student completes - particularly in nursing or construction management.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $19,345 per year, which is still affordable for a public university. At this price point, ISU is only worth choosing if the target program aligns with strong career outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Indiana State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $81,988 | B |
| Construction Management | $94,902 | B |
| Psychology | $42,822 | D |
| Air Transportation | $71,254 | C |
| Political Science and Government | $51,991 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $79,527 | B |
| Teacher Education | $44,482 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $46,556 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $50,968 | D |
| Marketing | $66,087 | C+ |
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.
Registered Nursing
The highest-volume and highest-earning program at ISU, with 184 graduates and median 1-year earnings of $72,381 climbing to $81,988 at four years. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.417, ROI grade B. Nursing graduates from ISU enter Indiana and regional hospital markets where RN demand remains high. This is the clearest high-value pathway at ISU.
Construction Management
116 graduates with 1-year median earnings of $72,379 and $94,902 at four years. Debt-to-earnings of 0.409, ROI grade B. Construction management is one of the more underappreciated career pathways in higher education - strong starting wages, consistent demand across economic cycles, and clear advancement to project management and superintendent roles. ISU's program sits in central Indiana, where infrastructure and commercial construction activity generate steady hiring. The four-year earnings growth from $72k to $94k reflects rapid advancement in a hands-on field.
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
15 graduates with 1-year earnings of $78,215 and $91,915 at four years - the highest one-year median at ISU. Debt-to-earnings of 0.262, ROI grade B+. Industrial production technology graduates manage manufacturing processes, quality systems, and production lines. Indiana's manufacturing base - automotive, pharmaceutical, and steel - provides consistent demand for this profile. The small graduate count means individual employer relationships matter, but starting wages here outpace most degree programs at the school.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Indiana State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 80.8% |
| Enrollment | 6,188 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,104 |
Indiana State admits 80.8% of applicants and does not report SAT or ACT band data. This is effectively an open-access public university for Indiana residents. Admissions selectivity is not a meaningful factor; students should focus on program fit and financial aid rather than admissions strategy.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
ISU's 42.9% completion rate is weak. The school's affordable pricing for low-income students is a genuine strength not captured in overall ROI scores.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana State University (this school) | 45 | $10,873 | $48,387 |
| Ball State University | 54 | $14,940 | $51,833 |
| Angelo State University | 49 | $15,091 | $50,116 |
| Murray State University | 48 | $9,096 | $44,737 |
| Northern Michigan University | 40 | $14,085 | $47,107 |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | 35 | $13,171 | $45,872 |
Who Thrives Here
Students targeting nursing, construction management, or industrial/mechanical technology programs will find solid career pipelines here. The 80.8% admissions rate and no reported test score bands suggest open access. The high Pell rate reflects a working-class student body, and the low completion rate suggests students benefit from knowing their career goal before enrolling rather than exploring. Students who need strong academic support infrastructure should research ISU's retention resources carefully.
Transfer Pathways
With an 80.8% admissions rate and affordable in-state tuition, ISU is a common transfer destination for Indiana community college students. The school has articulation agreements with regional two-year institutions, and the career-technical programs in construction management and industrial technology draw transfer students from applied programs.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Indiana State University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $10,873 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $48,387 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 13.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 42.9% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 71.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Indiana State University: Common Questions
Is Indiana State University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Indiana State University scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $10,873 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $48,387 ten years after entry, so it takes about 13.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Indiana State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $10,873 a year, or roughly $43,492 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Indiana State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $48,387 ten years after enrolling, roughly $6,587 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Indiana State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 13.7 years for Indiana State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Indiana State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,000, against average earnings of $34,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Indiana State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 42.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.