Indiana University-Northwest
Gary, Indiana · Public · 73.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 44/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Indiana University-Northwest earns an ROI score of 44 in the Below Benchmark tier, with a striking split between strong earnings premium (subscore 83, graduates outearn typical high school grads by 40.7%) and very weak completion (37.4%, subscore 17). Average net price is $5,130 per year ($20,520 over four years). In-state tuition is $8,424. The two damaging metrics are the 37.4% completion rate and the 57.3% repayment rate (subscore 15), the worst single number on the card. Median 10-year earnings of $43,361 against $21,710 in median debt produce a 0.648 debt-to-earnings ratio. The 19.2-year payback period flags structural difficulty for non-completers and lower-earning majors. IU-Northwest's nursing and allied health programs produce strong outcomes, and the very low net price means the math actually works for completers, but the dropout risk dominates the institutional ROI picture.
How Indiana University-Northwest scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score44/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate37.4% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period19.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Indiana University-Northwest
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,424/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,811/yr |
| Average net price | $5,130/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $20,520 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,361 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,710 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $230 |
| Estimated payback period | 19.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 37.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,661 |
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 $5,130/year, or roughly $20,520 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 $1,419/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $13,042/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 $21,710, which works out to about $230 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,500) and comes to 0.65, 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 | $1,419 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $331 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,159 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $10,047 |
| $110,001+ | $13,042 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $1,419 per year, $5,700 over four years, an extraordinarily low figure that reflects strong Pell coverage of in-state tuition. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $331 (a likely small-sample variance figure but real for the cohort it represents). For Pell-eligible Indiana residents who can complete, IU-Northwest is genuinely free or near-free.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $5,159 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $10,047. Four-year cost runs $20,600 to $40,200, still very affordable. With $43,361 median earnings, the math works for middle-income completers in stronger program tracks.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households over $110,000 pay $13,042 per year, $52,200 over four years. Out-of-state tuition is $22,811 per year.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Indiana University-Northwest with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $82,626 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $47,530 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $56,211 | C |
| Psychology | $45,323 | D |
| Dental Support Services | $67,468 | B |
| Social Work | $51,575 | D |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $86,888 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,155 | C |
| Public Health | $53,988 | C |
| Teacher Education | $54,088 | 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
Registered Nursing is one of the school's largest programs with 86 graduates and earns a B ROI grade. First-year earnings of $73,335 climb to $82,626 by year four, very strong for the field and the highest first-year earnings on campus. Median debt of $29,890 against these earnings produces a 0.408 debt-to-earnings ratio, healthy. This is the cleanest ROI path on campus and, combined with the very low net price, a strong nursing value.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment earns a B ROI grade with 26 graduates. First-year earnings of $68,086 grow to $86,888 by year four, the highest four-year earnings on campus. Median debt of $23,966 and a 0.352 debt-to-earnings ratio produce strong financial outcomes. The school's clinical program lineup is its most defensible ROI feature.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences has 67 graduates and earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $37,035 grow modestly to $47,530 by year four, but median debt of $31,000 (the highest in the program list) produces a 0.837 debt-to-earnings ratio. As a broad credential, this track requires graduate or professional school for viable earnings outcomes.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration has 57 graduates and earns a C ROI grade. First-year earnings of $39,957 grow to $56,211 by year four, modest. With $24,822 in median debt and a 0.621 debt-to-earnings ratio, the financial picture is workable. The Indiana labor market for business graduates is healthy enough to support this credential.
Psychology
Psychology has 44 graduates and earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings are $24,061 and four-year earnings of $45,323 against $23,500 in median debt produce a 0.977 debt-to-earnings ratio, near the 1.0 threshold.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 50.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 57.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 38.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 47.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Indiana University-Northwest’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 | 73.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-580 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 460-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-26 |
| Enrollment | 2,661 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 42.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,562 |
IU-Northwest admits 73.4% of applicants. SAT mid-50% bands run 450-580 math and 460-600 reading, with ACT composites 18-26. Test-prepared admits at the upper bands likely complete at much higher rates than the institutional median.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University-Northwest (this school) | 44 | $5,130 | $43,361 |
| Ball State University | 54 | $14,940 | $51,833 |
| Georgia Southwestern State University | 46 | $12,019 | $48,757 |
| 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
With 2,661 students and a 42.6% Pell rate, IU-Northwest serves a working-class, predominantly commuter population in northwest Indiana, including many transfer and adult learners. The school fits cost-conscious students seeking nursing, allied health, or business credentials at the lowest possible price point, the $5,130 net price is exceptional. The 37.4% completion rate is the dominant risk variable, students should walk in with a clear program plan, ideally in the strong-ROI nursing or dental support tracks.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Indiana University-Northwest scores 44/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $5,130 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $43,361 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 19.2 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 37.4% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 57.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,710 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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 University-Northwest: Common Questions
Is Indiana University-Northwest worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Indiana University-Northwest scores 44/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $5,130 a year after aid against $43,361 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 19.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Indiana University-Northwest 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 $5,130 a year, or roughly $20,520 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-Northwest graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $43,361 ten years after enrolling, roughly $1,561 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-Northwest?
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 19.2 years for Indiana University-Northwest. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Indiana University-Northwest graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,710, against average earnings of $33,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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 University-Northwest?
The six-year graduation rate is 37.4%. 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.