Martin University
Indianapolis, Indiana · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 2/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Martin University earns an overall ROI score of 2 (Poor Value) - one of the lowest scores in CampusROI's entire database. The small private nonprofit in Indianapolis, IN, founded to serve African-American and adult learners, charges $13,200 in tuition but average net price is $18,114 - net price exceeds tuition, meaning costs beyond tuition exceed institutional aid. Four-year cost is $72,456. The outcomes are severe: median earnings are $21,300 six years out and barely grow to $22,544 at 10 years. Completion is reported at 0%. Median debt is $42,002 against a 1.972 debt-to-earnings ratio - students owe nearly two full years of wages. Payback shows 999 years, meaning earnings essentially never recoup cost. Repayment is among the weakest in the database at 19.8% three-year and 21.1% seven-year. The school serves a heavily Pell-eligible (52.5%) working-adult population in Indianapolis, and its mission to provide access to non-traditional students is real, but the financial outcomes for the typical enrollee are deeply concerning. Most prospective students would be better served by Ivy Tech or IU programs at meaningfully lower borrowing.
The data raises concerns about Martin University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score2/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.97 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- 6-year graduation rate0.0% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers - the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Martin University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,200/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $13,200/yr |
| Average net price | $18,114/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $72,456 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $22,544 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $21,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $42,002 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $445 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 0.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 150 |
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: $13,200/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,114/year, or roughly $72,456 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 $17,905/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $42,002 in federal loans, which works out to about $445 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $22,544 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 1.97, which is high - the rule of thumb is that total debt should not top your first-year salary, and this is over that line.
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 | $17,905 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | N/A |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,412 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,652 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $17,905 net per year - about $72K total. Pell-eligible students borrow heavily relative to the wage outcomes the institution produces. This is the bracket where the financial risk is most severe, given the high Pell concentration and the wage data showing no meaningful return on investment.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48K bracket is not reported. The 48-75K bracket pays $14,412 - lower than the under-30K figure, suggesting inverted aid. The 75-110K bracket pays $22,652. Flag: inverted bracket between low- and middle-income tiers. Aid structure is not transparently progressive.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Net price for over-110K is not reported. The small enrollment and Pell concentration mean the institution sees few high-income families. The financial-fit case for any income tier is weak given the universal outcomes data.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 12.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 19.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 14.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 21.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Martin University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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
| Enrollment | 150 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 52.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,315 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, nor are SAT or ACT mid-ranges. Martin University historically operates with open or near-open admissions serving non-traditional and adult students. The reported 0% completion rate and the institution's small scale (150 enrolled) suggest profound operational challenges. Prospective students should investigate accreditation status and institutional financial health before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include Anderson University (IN), Bethel University (IN), Trinity College of Florida, Saint Augustine's University, and Bennett College. Saint Augustine's and Bennett are HBCUs with similar mission focus on serving Black students but materially stronger institutional infrastructure. Anderson and Bethel are Indiana faith-based privates with much better completion economics. The peer set highlights how dramatically Martin underperforms other mission-aligned institutions.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin University (this school) | 2 | $18,114 | $22,544 |
| Bethel University | 34 | $18,610 | $48,860 |
| Anderson University | 32 | $25,021 | $48,899 |
| Trinity College of Florida | 6 | $20,297 | $32,465 |
| Bennett College | 6 | $28,299 | $36,654 |
| Saint Augustine's University | 6 | $24,313 | $35,730 |
Who Thrives Here
Martin University fits adult, primarily Black, primarily working-class Indianapolis residents seeking a degree pathway. Pell rate is 52.5% and enrollment is just 150 - exceptionally small. The institution's intent to serve an underserved population is genuine, but the financial outcome data is alarming: $42,002 median debt against $22,544 ten-year median earnings is a recipe for long-term debt distress. Students should explore Ivy Tech transfer pathways, IU-Indianapolis, or IUPUI options before committing here.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Martin University are a real concern. With a net cost of $18,114 per year and the typical graduate earning only $22,544 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 0.0% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
Be careful with the debt here. A median $42,002 owed against $22,544 in earnings is heavy, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.86 is past the level advisors flag. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
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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.