Indiana University-East
Richmond, Indiana · Public · 67.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 50/100 · Below Average Value
Indiana University-East earns an overall ROI score of 50 out of 100, placing it in Below Average Value -- a notable step above the Poor Value tier and reflecting a low-cost public model where the math works when students complete. Net price is just $8,134 (in-state tuition $8,424, with aid offsetting most of that), and median earnings six years after enrollment are $32,400, climbing to $47,156 by year 10. The earnings premium of 37.4% is the standout strength (79/100 sub-score). The challenges are completion (39.6%, 20/100) and repayment (56.2% three-year rate, 13/100). Median debt of $18,000 is modest and produces a 0.556 debt-to-earnings ratio with a 14.2-year payback period. IU-East is a small regional public in Richmond on the Ohio border, serving commuter and online students across East-Central Indiana and Western Ohio. The low net price combined with a strong nursing program and several B-grade majors (math, business administration operations) makes this a genuine value pick for committed, prepared in-state students.
The data raises concerns about Indiana University-East
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate39.6% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
Indiana University-East
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,424/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,811/yr |
| Average net price | $8,134/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $32,536 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,156 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $191 |
| Estimated payback period | 14.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,589 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Indiana University-East is $8,424/year ($22,811/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 $8,134/year, or roughly $32,536 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $5,154/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,067/year.
The median graduate leaves with $18,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $191 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $47,156 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.56 - 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 | $5,154 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,454 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $7,100 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,260 |
| $110,001+ | $16,067 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay just $5,154 per year -- exceptional value. Pell grants and state aid absorb most of the cost. Over four years that is roughly $21,000 against median graduate earnings of $32,400. This is among the best price-to-earnings ratios available to Pell-eligible Indiana students. Completion remains the variable: at 39.6%, not finishing is the dominant risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $5,454 and the $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $7,100. Both remarkable values for any four-year degree pathway. Working-class Indiana families face a four-year cost of $22,000-$28,000, which is genuinely affordable. The earnings premium of 37.4% is meaningfully higher than at most low-cost regional publics.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $13,260 and the $110,001-plus bracket pays $16,067. Even at the top bracket, IU-East is materially cheaper than Indiana University-Bloomington or Purdue West Lafayette. For high-income East-Central Indiana families, the question is whether the residential flagship experience is worth $50,000+ more over four years -- often it is, given the completion-rate differential.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Indiana University-East with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $49,596 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,886 | B |
| Mathematics | $71,223 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $51,990 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $82,212 | B |
| Teacher Education | $47,103 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $53,389 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,141 | C |
| English Language and Literature | $38,061 | D |
| Social Work | $43,470 | 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
Nursing graduates 45 students per year with $72,491 first-year earnings rising to $82,212 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.372 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Graduates feed Indianapolis, Dayton, and Cincinnati hospital systems plus regional Richmond-area providers. The combination of low total program cost, strong NCLEX outcomes, and competitive starting wages makes this one of the best nursing program values in Indiana.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration Operations is the highest-volume program at 118 graduates per year. First-year earnings of $47,114 climb to $62,886 by year four, with median debt of $20,789 producing a 0.441 ratio and a B ROI grade. The combination of high volume, strong earnings curve, and modest debt makes this the school's most reliable broad-appeal program for career-shifting working adults.
Mathematics
Mathematics graduates 70 students annually with $58,764 first-year earnings climbing to $71,223 by year four. Median debt of $22,388 produces a 0.381 ratio and a B ROI grade. The strong outcomes likely reflect graduates pipelining into actuarial, statistical, data analytics, and teaching positions. Volume of 70 for a math program at a small regional public is unusually high and suggests the program serves as a feeder to specialized roles.
Psychology
Psychology is the second-largest cohort at 126 graduates with weak outcomes: $33,938 first-year earnings rising to $49,596 by year four, median debt of $26,893 producing a 0.792 ratio and a D ROI grade. As elsewhere, ROI requires graduate school. The high volume of 126 graduates means this single program drags meaningfully on the school's overall ROI score.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 46 students with $45,204 first-year earnings rising to $51,990 by year four. Median debt of $28,686 -- unusually high for this major -- produces a 0.635 ratio and a C ROI grade. Graduates work in regional law enforcement, corrections, and federal positions including the Federal Correctional Institution in Terre Haute. Earnings curve is flatter than business or nursing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 50.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 56.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 45.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 45.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 67.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-24 |
| Enrollment | 2,589 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,046 |
IU-East admits 67.2% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 470-570 math and 490-600 reading, and ACT composite 19-24. The school is moderately accessible with modest academic filtering. The 39.6% completion rate is below national norms for public four-years and reflects the regional-campus reality: many students are part-time, working adults, or first-generation college students balancing school with work, which depresses completion even when academic preparation is adequate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
IU-East's peer set includes regional publics across the Midwest and Plains. Ball State University is the Indiana step-up with stronger completion and earnings. Purdue University-Fort Wayne is the closest like-for-like Indiana regional public. Wayne State College (NE), Southwest Minnesota State University, and Southwestern Oklahoma State University are similar small regional publics with comparable ROI profiles. Among this peer set, IU-East's strong earnings premium and very low net price are above-peer strengths; its completion rate is below peer median.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University-East (this school) | 50 | $8,134 | $47,156 |
| Ball State University | 54 | $14,940 | $51,833 |
| Southwest Minnesota State University | 52 | $15,291 | $51,342 |
| Wayne State College | 46 | $15,360 | $47,075 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University | 46 | $14,459 | $45,744 |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | 35 | $13,171 | $45,872 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment of 2,589 with a 35.4% Pell rate signals a school serving a meaningful share of working-class students in Richmond and surrounding counties (Wayne, Henry, Randolph). The student body skews older and more part-time than residential publics. Strong fit: working adults pursuing nursing, mathematics, or business operations degrees (the three B-grade programs), and place-bound East-Central Indiana students who need an affordable in-state option. Weak fit: traditional 18-year-old residential students looking for the campus experience, who would do better at Ball State or IU-Bloomington.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Indiana University-East is mixed. At $8,134 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $47,156 ten years after entry - a payback period of 14.2 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Key strengths include strong earnings premium over high school graduates. However, the data also shows a 39.6% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $18,000 against $47,156 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.