Indiana University-Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana · Public · 78.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 84/100 · Strong Value
Indiana University-Bloomington scores 84 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale. With $44,200 median 6-year earnings, a 7.1-year payback period, an 80.2% completion rate, and in-state tuition of $12,144, IU Bloomington delivers broad-based value for Indiana residents in particular. The Kelley School of Business dominates by volume: Business Administration and Management alone produces 2,457 graduates at $71,100 year-one and $105,583 year-four -- among the highest-volume, strongest-earning business programs in the country. Computer Science (184 graduates, $77,909 year-one) and Computer and Information Sciences (292 graduates, $62,350 year-one) add meaningful STEM volume. Economics (74 graduates, $59,142 year-one, $99,653 year-four) shows strong career progression. The program mix is wide -- IU has over 40 programs in the dataset -- and outcomes fall across the full grade spectrum. Music (137 graduates, $15,911 year-one, F-grade ROI), Drama (36 graduates, F-grade), and Dance (12 graduates) are outliers at the bottom. The 16.8% Pell grant rate is relatively low for a flagship public, suggesting IU Bloomington serves a predominantly middle- and upper-income student body. The $6,324 low-income net price is genuine institutional generosity at the bottom bracket.
Indiana University-Bloomington scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Indiana University-Bloomington
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,144/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,891/yr |
| Average net price | $16,264/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $65,056 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,742 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,509 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 80.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 37,806 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Indiana University-Bloomington is $12,144/year ($41,891/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $16,264/year, or roughly $65,056 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $6,324/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,128/year.
The median graduate leaves with $19,509 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $207 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $63,742 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.44 - well within manageable territory.
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 | $6,324 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,610 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,154 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,204 |
| $110,001+ | $25,128 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from the 0-30000 bracket pay $6,324 net price per year -- $25,296 over four years. At $44,200 median six-year earnings and a 7.1-year payback, IU Bloomington is among the most accessible large research universities in the Midwest for low-income students. Students in Kelley or CS can recover that entire investment in under one year of post-graduation earnings. The low-income net price is competitive with regional public alternatives.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $12,154 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $20,204 per year. Even at the higher end of the middle-income range, $80,816 total four-year cost against Kelley or CS earnings is a sound investment. For students in lower-earning programs, middle-income families should carefully model whether the IU experience justifies the cost compared to regional public alternatives in Indiana.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $25,128 per year, roughly $100,512 over four years. At this price, IU Bloomington remains good value for business and STEM students: Kelley's $105,583 four-year earnings recover the investment in roughly one year of post-graduation income. For arts and humanities, the investment at full out-of-pocket is harder to justify financially, though the Jacobs School of Music carries non-financial professional value.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Indiana University-Bloomington with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $105,583 | B+ |
| Public Administration | $77,422 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $68,675 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $63,855 | C |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $31,129 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $98,539 | B+ |
| Biology | $65,224 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $52,020 | C |
| Computer Science | $114,199 | B+ |
| Public Health | $68,038 | 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.
Business Administration and Management
Kelley School of Business is IU Bloomington's defining program: 2,457 graduates, $71,100 year-one earnings, $105,583 year-four earnings, median debt $19,500, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.274 (ROI grade B+). This is one of the largest and most consistently high-performing business programs in the country. Year-four earnings exceeding $105,000 against $19,500 debt reflects strong placement into consulting, finance, and technology. Kelley's brand drives outcomes that outperform most business programs at private universities costing twice as much.
Computer Science
Computer Science produces 184 graduates earning $77,909 at year one and $114,199 at year four, with $20,417 median debt and a 0.262 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B+). CS at IU Bloomington delivers near-top-tier outcomes at a fraction of the cost of private CS programs. Year-four earnings exceeding $114,000 against median debt under $21,000 represents a highly favorable payback structure, particularly for in-state students paying $12,144 annual tuition.
Economics
Economics (74 graduates) earns $59,142 at year one and $99,653 at year four with $20,500 median debt and a 0.347 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B+). The four-year trajectory to nearly $100,000 reflects strong placement into finance, consulting, and graduate programs. At IU's in-state price, Economics is a compelling value -- the debt-to-earnings ratio is similar to what selective private universities charge for the same program with comparable outcomes.
Public Administration
Public Administration produces 420 graduates at $47,013 year-one and $77,422 year-four, with $20,731 median debt and a 0.441 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B). This is SPEA -- the School of Public and Environmental Affairs -- one of the top-ranked public affairs programs in the country. The four-year trajectory to $77,000 reflects placement into government, nonprofits, consulting, and graduate programs in law and policy. B-grade ROI at IU's price point is a solid outcome for public-sector-oriented students.
Music
Music (137 graduates) produces $15,911 year-one earnings and $28,727 year-four, with $20,769 median debt and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.305 (ROI grade F). IU's Jacobs School of Music is world-renowned, and students who graduate go into professional performance, music education, and academic careers -- paths that do not register well in Scorecard earnings data. This F-grade reflects the field's earnings structure, not the program's quality. Students should enter fully aware that the financial return is poor by standard metrics.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 78.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-710 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590-690 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-33 |
| Enrollment | 37,806 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 16.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,043 |
IU Bloomington admits 78.2% of applicants, making it one of the more accessible Big Ten universities. SAT Math 580-710 and Reading 590-690 represent a wide middle range. ACT 27-33 spans from modestly above average to near the top tier. Admission to IU is not highly selective, but admission to Kelley School of Business is a separate, more competitive process -- students interested in business should research Kelley's direct-admit and internal transfer criteria separately.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
IU Bloomington's Scorecard peers include Ball State University, Purdue-Fort Wayne, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Houston, and University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Among meaningful large-public comparisons, IU (ROI 84) is competitive with Minnesota (ROI ~82) and Colorado Boulder (~80). IU's Kelley School is widely recognized as the strongest business undergraduate program among Big Ten publics, which drives the high earnings premium score of 86. The 80.2% completion rate compares favorably to the peer group. The 16.8% Pell grant rate is below most peers, reflecting a wealthier-than-average student body for a flagship public.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University-Bloomington (this school) | 84 | $16,264 | $63,742 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 88 | $16,778 | $69,020 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | 80 | $25,346 | $69,738 |
| University of Houston | 80 | $14,276 | $62,377 |
| Ball State University | 54 | $14,940 | $51,833 |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | 35 | $13,171 | $45,872 |
Who Thrives Here
IU Bloomington enrolls 37,806 undergraduates, making it a large public research university with the amenities and activity density that scale brings. The admissions profile is accessible at 78.2% acceptance; SAT mid-ranges are 580-710 Math and 590-690 Reading, ACT 27-33. Students serious about Kelley School admission face a more competitive internal application process. The campus is residential and social; students who want a traditional large-campus college experience will find it here. Pre-professional students in business, informatics, and nursing will find well-resourced pipelines. Students in arts and humanities should model their specific program outcomes carefully before enrolling.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
Indiana University-Bloomington delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $16,264 per year ($65,056 over four years), graduates earn a median of $63,742 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 7.1 years - a solid return on the investment.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, a 80.2% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $19,509 against $63,742 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.