Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Indiana (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 17 Liberal Arts programs in Indiana by the median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. University of Indianapolis leads the list at $64,325, followed by University of Notre Dame at $60,369.
Across the listed schools, median earnings range from $64,325 to $40,017, with a median of $49,893.
Public institutions account for 12 of the 17 schools, or 71%. Indiana University-Kokomo posts the lowest average net price on the page at $3,968, while University of Notre Dame reports the highest six-year completion rate at 95%.
Purdue University-Main Campus ranks 87th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Liberal Arts Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN | $64,325 | $21,602 | $15,346 | 66.5% |
| University of Indianapolis reports $64,325 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list, and its 66% admission rate is the second-lowest among the 17 schools. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($64,325) | |||||
| 2 | University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN | $60,369 | $26,780 | $7,244 | 11.3% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 95%, University of Notre Dame reports $60,369 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (32 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($60,369) | |||||
| 3 | Indiana University-East · Richmond, IN | $53,389 | $8,134 | $5,154 | 67.2% |
| Indiana University-East, a public university in Richmond, posts $53,389 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing alongside an average net price of $8,134. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (39 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($53,389) | |||||
| 4 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion · Marion, IN | $52,784 | $22,866 | $19,793 | 88.9% |
| An admission rate of 89% and median earnings of $52,784 four years after completing mark Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($52,784) | |||||
| 5 | Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN | $52,020 | $16,264 | $6,324 | 78.2% |
| Ranking 96th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, Indiana University-Bloomington reports median earnings of $52,020 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (189 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($52,020) | |||||
| 6 | Indiana University-Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN | $51,718 | $11,668 | $5,701 | 76.4% |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis reports an average net price of $5,701 for families earning under $30,000, while its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $51,718 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (188 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($51,718) | |||||
| 7 | Purdue University Northwest · Hammond, IN | $51,349 | $6,079 | $1,432 | 72.4% |
| An average net price of $6,079 and median earnings of $51,349 four years after completing are the figures for Purdue University Northwest. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (31 graduates) | |||||
| 8 | Indiana State University · Terre Haute, IN | $50,968 | $10,873 | $6,455 | 80.8% |
| Indiana State University posts a six-year completion rate of 43% and median earnings of $50,968 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (54 graduates) | |||||
| 9 | Indiana University-Kokomo · Kokomo, IN | $49,893 | $3,968 | -$583* | 86.5% |
| The lowest average net price on the page, $3,968, belongs to Indiana University-Kokomo, whose Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $49,893 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (51 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($49,893) | |||||
| 10 | Ball State University · Muncie, IN | $49,657 | $14,940 | $7,834 | 85.5% |
| Ball State University admits 86% of applicants and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $49,657 four years after completing, just below the page median of $49,893. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (171 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($49,657) | |||||
| 11 | Indiana University-Southeast · New Albany, IN | $49,376 | $7,888 | $3,782 | 84.5% |
| For families earning under $30,000, Indiana University-Southeast reports an average net price of $3,782, and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $49,376 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (80 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($49,376) | |||||
| 12 | Indiana University-South Bend · South Bend, IN | $48,815 | $8,653 | $4,637 | 83.8% |
| Indiana University-South Bend ranks 411th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $48,815 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (45 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($48,815) | |||||
| 13 | Indiana University-Northwest · Gary, IN | $47,530 | $5,130 | $1,419 | 73.4% |
| A public university in Gary, Indiana University-Northwest reports $47,530 in median earnings for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $5,130. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (35 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($47,530) | |||||
| 14 | Bethel University · Mishawaka, IN | $45,366 | $18,610 | $17,580 | 97.7% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 53%, Bethel University admits 98% of applicants and lists median earnings of $45,366 for Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($45,366) | |||||
| 15 | Purdue University Fort Wayne · Fort Wayne, IN | $44,299 | $13,171 | $8,306 | 83.9% |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne ranks 15th on this list, with Liberal Arts graduates earning a median of $44,299 four years after completing and an average net price of $8,306 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (75 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($44,299) | |||||
| 16 | Anderson University · Anderson, IN | $41,966 | $25,021 | $23,119 | 79.3% |
| Anderson University, a private nonprofit institution in Anderson, posts a six-year completion rate of 54% and median earnings of $41,966 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (11 graduates) | |||||
| 17 | Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN | $40,017 | $14,600 | $5,098 | 49.9% |
| Purdue University-Main Campus holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on the page, 87th among nonprofit four-year institutions, and reports median earnings of $40,017 for Liberal Arts graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (11 graduates) | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Liberal Arts earnings cohort in Indiana appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 1 of the 17 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The top-ranked University of Indianapolis reports $64,325, which is $3,956 ahead of second-place University of Notre Dame at $60,369.