Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Indiana University-Indianapolis #138 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,616, placing Indiana University-Indianapolis in the 64.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with the institution sitting in the 78.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Indiana University-Indianapolis #163 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at Indiana University-Indianapolis earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern driven by the university's concentration in health and professional programs that connect graduates directly to in-demand careers. That earnings advantage, combined with strong mobility outcomes, places Indiana University-Indianapolis among the higher-performing public universities in the Azimuth coverage set for translating enrollment into long-run financial progress.
Azimuth ranks Indiana University-Indianapolis #138 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Indianapolis, IN, Indiana University-Indianapolis enrolls roughly 13,830 undergraduates. Retention stands at 72.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 54.4%, figures that reflect the institution's profile as a health-sciences-anchored urban campus still building its completion infrastructure. The composite is shaped most strongly by mobility outcomes. Indiana University-Indianapolis sits in the 89.0 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 37.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.1% are first-generation college students. That broad-access posture — reinforced by an admission rate of 76.4% — means the university serves a population that many comparable institutions do not reach at similar scale. Affordability adds further support, with Indiana University-Indianapolis sitting in the 85.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite. Azimuth ranks Indiana University-Indianapolis #468 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 68.4 percentile. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $64,616, and graduates earn about $5,678 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Indiana University-Indianapolis in the 78.0 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Health, and the earnings figures reflect IN's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $32,990, even where they fall below selective-peer averages.
Indiana University-Indianapolis prices its programs accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $5,701 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $11,038, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $20,680. Azimuth ranks Indiana University-Indianapolis #202 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That positioning reflects the university's public-tuition structure and its broad financial-aid reach across a student body where a substantial share of undergraduates qualify for need-based support. 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 University-Indianapolis participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply through the FAFSA for need-based grants, subsidized loans, and work-study. The university's health-sciences and professional program mix attracts students who often carry focused career goals into enrollment, and the aid structure is designed to keep access broad across income levels. Families weighing the full cost picture should note that the net price illusion — the gap between published sticker price and what families actually pay — is real here, and the income-band figures above are the more meaningful planning anchors than the headline cost of attendance. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,205; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,616, median federal debt of $20,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $226 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Indiana University-Indianapolis is a strong fit for students drawn to health, applied sciences, and professional fields who want an urban public university experience in Indianapolis, IN, with a program mix oriented toward direct career entry and stable long-term earnings. The earnings case is grounded in outcomes. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,616, placing Indiana University-Indianapolis in the 64.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Indiana University-Indianapolis sits in the 78.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $5,678 more than similar students at comparable institutions. The access structure is broad. 37.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.1% are first-generation students, and the institution's completion rate for Pell-eligible students stands at 44.1% — a meaningful signal for cost-sensitive families weighing whether a public university in this range will see them through to a degree. Median student debt at graduation is $20,000, which is relevant context for students who expect to borrow. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those pursuing unrelated disciplines may find a narrower range of high-return options. Students who plan to work in the Indianapolis region or broader Midwest health and professional labor markets are particularly well-positioned to benefit from the university's local employer relationships and career pathways.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Indiana University-Indianapolis hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Indiana University-Indianapolis prices its programs accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $5,701 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $11,038, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $20,680.
Azimuth ranks Indiana University-Indianapolis #202 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That positioning reflects the university's public-tuition structure and its broad financial-aid reach across a student body where a substantial share of undergraduates qualify for need-based support.
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 University-Indianapolis participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply through the FAFSA for need-based grants, subsidized loans, and work-study.
The university's health-sciences and professional program mix attracts students who often carry focused career goals into enrollment, and the aid structure is designed to keep access broad across income levels. Families weighing the full cost picture should note that the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — the gap between published sticker price and what families actually pay — is real here, and the income-band figures above are the more meaningful planning anchors than the headline cost of attendance.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,205; 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 $64,616, median federal debt of $20,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $226 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 of Indiana University-Indianapolis earn median earnings of $64,616 four years after enrollment, placing Indiana University-Indianapolis in the 64.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $5,678 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 78.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime 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 degree mix at Indiana University-Indianapolis is anchored in Health, which accounts for 15% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 6% and Education at 5%. Nursing combines strong enrollment with solid pay, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall earnings profile.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #142 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/), with 652 graduates earning median earnings of $79,722. The Business/Commerce, General program graduates 482 students with median earnings of $70,903, and Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #234 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 223 graduates earning median earnings of $46,904.
General Studies and Biology, General round out the top programs, with median earnings of $51,718 and $56,830 respectively.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Morgan State University Similar quality tier (#4289 ranked) | MD | 82% | $50,698 | #4289 | Compare |
Utah State University Similar quality tier (#4286 ranked) | UT | 92% | $54,022 | #4286 | Compare |
Oakland University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#4290 ranked) | MI | 88% | $58,612 | #4290 | Compare |
Kean University Similar quality tier (#4294 ranked) | NJ | 76% | $57,237 | #4294 | Compare |
University Of Missouri-Columbia Similar quality tier in Midwest (#4283 ranked) | MO | 78% | $63,403 | #4283 | Compare |
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
30 graduates
Computer Engineering
27 graduates
Computer Science
88 graduates
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
12 graduates
Engineering, Other
19 graduates
Indiana University-Indianapolis's program mix is anchored in Health, reflecting the institution's identity as a health-sciences-oriented public university in Indianapolis. Business accounts for 15% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 6% and Education at 5%.
Across 61 programs serving roughly 4,338 students annually, 45 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — and the strongest results cluster in health and applied-professional fields. The highest aggregate return program is Nursing, which combines substantial enrollment with strong earnings.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #142 among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 652 graduates annually earning median 4-year earnings of $79,722. Business/Commerce, General ranks #11 among nonprofit four-year institutions, graduating 482 students with median earnings of $70,903.
Psychology, General (223 graduates, $46,904) and General Studies (188 graduates, $51,718) round out the institution's largest cohorts. For Mechanical Engineering, Azimuth ranks #167 among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 147 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $88,960.
Many of Indiana University-Indianapolis's strongest programs feed directly into high-demand health-sector careers — nursing, health informatics, and allied health fields where regional employer demand in central Indiana remains strong. Programs like Biology, General, with 174 graduates earning $56,830, represent pathways where four-year earnings reflect direct workforce entry.
Other fields may be more grad-school-dependent, where four-year earnings undercount the full trajectory for graduates who continue to medical or graduate study. The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's health-heavy program families align with national labor-market demand, and the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates programs across cohort scale and earnings outcomes.
