Indiana University-Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana · Public · 76.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 67/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Indiana University-Indianapolis is a large public research university serving roughly 13,830 students in Indiana's state capital. Its overall ROI score of 67 places it in the Fair Value tier, anchored by a strong earnings premium (score: 85) - graduates earn 43% more than high-school-only workers - against a modest drag from a 54% completion rate and an 18% in-state tuition of $10,762. Average six-year earnings of $39,900 are respectable, rising to a median $55,198 at ten years. The payback period of 9.2 years reflects a reasonable but not exceptional cost-to-earnings ratio. The institution's breadth - spanning engineering, nursing, business, health sciences, and liberal arts - means that program selection matters enormously: engineering and health sciences graduates earn two to three times as much as fine arts or humanities graduates.
Indiana University-Indianapolis
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,762/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,891/yr |
| Average net price | $11,668/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $46,672 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,198 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $212 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 13,830 |
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: $10,762/year ($34,891/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 $11,668/year, or roughly $46,672 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 $5,701/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,680/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,000, which works out to about $212 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,900) and comes to 0.50, 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 | $5,701 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,995 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,038 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,056 |
| $110,001+ | $20,680 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $5,701. At that price, even modest-earning programs offer a reasonable return.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($48,001 - $75,000) face a net price around $11,038. This is still competitive for an urban research university. Combined with median debt of only $20,000, students in engineering, nursing, or business are well-positioned. The 9.2-year payback period is reasonable at this income bracket, especially for STEM and health programs.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,000-plus) face a net price of about $20,680.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Indiana University-Indianapolis with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $79,722 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $72,282 | C+ |
| Business Administration and Management | $70,903 | B |
| Psychology | $46,904 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $51,718 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $77,983 | C+ |
| Biology | $56,830 | C |
| Teacher Education | $49,540 | C+ |
| Social Work | $50,246 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,960 | B |
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.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering is the top-performing program at IU Indianapolis. Graduates earn a median of $73,122 one year out, reaching $97,841 at four years - nearly double the institutional median. Against $25,603 in median debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 earns a B grade. With 73 annual graduates feeding Indianapolis's growing tech and manufacturing sector, this is a clear high-ROI pathway.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the institution's largest tracked program by volume, with 626 annual graduates. One-year median earnings of $68,136 confirm strong immediate labor market placement, rising to $79,722 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 earns a B grade. At a net price under $12,000 for most students, IU Indianapolis nursing is an affordable entry point into registered nursing.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates earn $67,181 one year out and $94,380 at four years - reflecting the strong Indianapolis tech labor market. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 earns a B grade on $25,000 in median debt. With 101 annual graduates, the program feeds consistently into local software development and IT roles. This is a strong-value program relative to the institutional cost structure.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the institution's second-largest program with 306 graduates annually. One-year earnings of $53,101 are solid; four-year earnings reach $72,282. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 earns a C+ grade. At an urban public university price point, business graduates start with a reasonable earnings-to-debt ratio, though the C+ grade suggests some students would benefit from specialization in finance or accounting to accelerate payoff.
Psychology
Psychology is among the institution's highest-enrollment programs with 245 graduates, but financial outcomes are modest. One-year earnings of $34,432 are well below the cost of attendance in absolute terms, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 earns a C grade. Psychology as a standalone bachelor's is typically a stepping stone to graduate school; students should plan for additional education costs when modeling the full investment.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 68.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Indiana University-Indianapolis’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 | 76.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 510-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 520-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-29 |
| Enrollment | 13,830 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,620 |
The 76% admission rate and ACT mid-range of 21 - 29 indicate selective but broadly accessible admissions. SAT mid-range spans 510 - 610 in math and 520 - 630 in reading. Transfer pathways from Indiana's community colleges are well-established.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
IU Indianapolis's ROI score is 67.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University-Indianapolis (this school) | 67 | $11,668 | $55,198 |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 67 | $23,331 | $61,258 |
| Rowan University | 66 | $22,408 | $59,988 |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology | 64 | $5,127 | $49,365 |
| Ball State University | 54 | $14,940 | $51,833 |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | 35 | $13,171 | $45,872 |
Who Thrives Here
IU Indianapolis suits students who want access to a large program portfolio and urban internship ecosystem in Indianapolis at a modest public university price. The 76% admit rate signals accessible entry for the majority of in-state applicants. With 37% of students receiving Pell Grants, the institution genuinely serves first-generation and middle-income families. Students focused on engineering, nursing, or business will see the strongest returns; those pursuing arts or general social science should model earnings carefully against their debt load.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Indiana University-Indianapolis is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $11,668 a year after aid ($46,672 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $55,198 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 68.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $20,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Indiana University-Indianapolis: Common Questions
Is Indiana University-Indianapolis worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Indiana University-Indianapolis is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 67/100 on our ROI scale. At $11,668 a year after aid ($46,672 over four years) against $55,198 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Indiana University-Indianapolis 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 $11,668 a year, or roughly $46,672 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 University-Indianapolis graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,198 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,398 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 University-Indianapolis?
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 9.2 years for Indiana University-Indianapolis. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Indiana University-Indianapolis graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,000, against average earnings of $39,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Indiana University-Indianapolis?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.4%. 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.