Indiana State University

Indiana State University's published cost of attendance is $24,535. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $6,455, middle-income families pay around $9,317, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,345.

Azimuth ranks Indiana State University #273 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Indiana State's aid structure combines federal need-based aid, state grants, and institutional scholarships. Most undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs.

The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to making attendance affordable across income levels, though the affordability rank indicates that post-graduation debt service remains a meaningful consideration relative to peer public universities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,049; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,688, median federal debt of $24,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,688, placing Indiana State University in the 32.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,832 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Indiana State University in the 66.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Indiana State University #767 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to IN's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,990, the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.

The earnings pattern at Indiana State University is anchored in Business, which forms the core of the institution's degree output and connects graduates to stable, career-ready employment. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest cohort scale with the strongest aggregate earnings contribution.

The Nursing program graduates 185 students with median earnings of $81,988 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #178 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Criminology and Teacher Education round out the upper tier, with graduates earning $51,991 and $44,482 respectively four years after enrollment — fields that reflect Indiana State University's emphasis on applied, professionally oriented programs that translate directly into workforce entry.

Air Transportation and Psychology, General contribute additional breadth, supporting a program mix weighted toward Business (17% of graduates), Social Sciences (10%), and Education (9%).

Indiana State University's program mix is anchored in Business, with meaningful enrollment across health, education, and applied-technology fields — a portfolio shaped by the university's regional public identity in Terre Haute, Indiana. The highest aggregate-return program is Nursing, which combines broad enrollment with solid four-year earnings, making it a central driver of the institution's overall financial outcomes.

Across 57 programs serving roughly 1,906 students annually, the mix reflects Indiana State University's role as a comprehensive regional university preparing graduates for careers across Indiana's labor market and beyond. The strongest earnings at Indiana State University are concentrated in applied and technical fields.

Construction Management graduates earn median earnings of $94,902 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #5 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing graduates earn $81,988 four years after enrollment, with Azimuth ranking the program #178 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians and Air Transportation also deliver competitive early-career pay, with graduates earning $79,527 and $71,254 respectively four years after enrollment, reflecting the institution's depth in career-oriented programs aligned with regional employer demand. Among the most-enrolled programs, Nursing program graduates 185 students annually and delivers median earnings of $81,988 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #178 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Criminology and Teacher Education are also among the largest programs by graduate count, with four-year median earnings of $51,991 and $44,482 respectively. Several of these high-enrollment programs — particularly in education and health — are fields where graduates often enter local labor markets in Indiana, and where four-year earnings reflect stable, in-demand roles rather than high-mobility national career tracks.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with broader labor-market trends.