Indiana University-Kokomo
Kokomo, Indiana · Public · 86.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 68/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Indiana University-Kokomo scores 68 (Fair Value), a rating that obscures two sharply different stories. The earnings premium sub-score is 98 - implying graduates earn well above baseline - but the completion rate sub-score is 30, reflecting a 45.6% completion rate. Net price averages just $3,968 per year, with low-income families actually receiving negative net prices (tuition effectively covered by aid). Average 6-year earnings of $34,300 and a 10.4-year payback period are modest but acceptable at this cost level. Nursing is the dominant high-value program with 119 graduates and $74,172 year-one earnings.
Indiana University-Kokomo
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,424/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,811/yr |
| Average net price | $3,968/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $15,872 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,917 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,961 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $180 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 45.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,352 |
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: $8,424/year ($22,811/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $3,968/year, or roughly $15,872 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 -$583/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $10,593/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $16,961, which works out to about $180 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,300) and comes to 0.49, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | -$583 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | -$541 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $2,375 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $9,025 |
| $110,001+ | $10,593 |
Low-income students may receive more in grants than the cost of attendance, resulting in a negative net price.
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 receive a negative net price of -$583 per year at IU Kokomo - meaning grants exceed costs. The completion rate risk is the primary caveat: nearly half of students don't finish.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $2,375 per year. Families in the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pay $9,025. The jump at that threshold is large. The value proposition for middle-income students is strong if major selection aligns with labor market demand.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $10,593 per year - roughly $42,000 over four years. At $34,300 average 6-year earnings, full-pay at IU Kokomo still produces an acceptable payback for nursing graduates, but other programs yield very slow returns even at this modest cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Indiana University-Kokomo with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $83,756 | B |
| Business Administration and Management | $60,496 | C |
| Teacher Education | $43,726 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $49,893 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,161 | C |
| Psychology | $37,508 | D |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | $63,018 | C |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $41,830 | D |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $73,678 | - |
| Hospitality Administration | $43,009 | - |
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
Registered Nursing is IU Kokomo's anchor program: 119 graduates, $74,172 year-one earnings, $83,756 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.362 (ROI grade B). At a $3,968 average net price, nursing at IU Kokomo is an exceptional value proposition - graduates enter the healthcare workforce with manageable debt against strong starting wages. This is the clearest success story in the catalog.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration (73 graduates) earns $43,858 year-one and $60,496 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.564 (ROI grade C). At a near-zero net price, even a C-grade outcome is financially workable. Students entering regional business roles in Kokomo and central Indiana find the credential serves its purpose at this cost level.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (33 graduates) earns $39,833 year-one and $52,161 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.628 (ROI grade C). The earnings trajectory reflects placement into law enforcement, corrections, and security roles in the region. At low net price, this is a viable vocational path.
Psychology
Psychology (25 graduates) earns $32,826 year-one and $37,508 at year four - a very slow earnings trajectory - with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.717 (ROI grade D). The four-year figure of $37,508 is lower than year-one earnings at many other programs, suggesting limited career advancement without additional education. Given the low cost of attendance, the financial damage is limited; the career mobility risk is the larger concern.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 63.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 52.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 60.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Indiana University-Kokomo’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 | 86.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-580 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-27 |
| Enrollment | 2,352 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,243 |
IU Kokomo's 86.5% admission rate and modest academic profile reflect its open-access regional mission. The school competes for first-generation and working-adult students in a regional labor market centered on manufacturing and healthcare.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
IU Kokomo's near-zero net price is its primary competitive advantage.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University-Kokomo (this school) | 68 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| University of Illinois Springfield | 71 | $9,833 | $57,103 |
| University of Arkansas Grantham | 69 | $8,370 | $63,496 |
| Miami University-Hamilton | 62 | $11,286 | $55,076 |
| Ball State University | 54 | $14,940 | $51,833 |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | 35 | $13,171 | $45,872 |
Who Thrives Here
IU Kokomo admits 86.5% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 470-570 Math and 490-580 Reading, ACT 21-27 composite. The 33.4% Pell rate and near-zero net price for low-income families signal this is a genuine access institution. At 2,352 students it is a small commuter campus serving the Kokomo region. The critical risk is the 45.6% completion rate - students should be aware that fewer than half of enrollees graduate, and non-completers incur debt without a credential.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Indiana University-Kokomo is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $3,968 a year after aid ($15,872 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $49,917 a decade out, the cost takes about 10.4 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: its 45.6% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 71.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $16,961 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, 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-Kokomo: Common Questions
Is Indiana University-Kokomo worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Indiana University-Kokomo is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 68/100 on our ROI scale. At $3,968 a year after aid ($15,872 over four years) against $49,917 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 10.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Indiana University-Kokomo 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 $3,968 a year, or roughly $15,872 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-Kokomo graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $49,917 ten years after enrolling, roughly $8,117 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-Kokomo?
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 10.4 years for Indiana University-Kokomo. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Indiana University-Kokomo graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $16,961, against average earnings of $34,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. 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-Kokomo?
The six-year graduation rate is 45.6%. 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.