Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Indiana University-South Bend #407 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,103, placing Indiana University-South Bend in the 24.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Indiana University-South Bend sits in the 61.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the institution's strength in health-focused programs that connect graduates to stable, in-demand careers in the South Bend region. Earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, a result anchored in Indiana University-South Bend's health-dominant program mix and its role as a broad-access public institution serving a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students in northern Indiana. Azimuth ranks Indiana University-South Bend #822 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility and access rankings that reflect the university's commitment to moving cost-sensitive students toward durable career outcomes.
Azimuth ranks Indiana University-South Bend #407 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in South Bend, IN, Indiana University-South Bend enrolls roughly 3,933 undergraduates. With 42.7% of students receiving Pell Grants and 41.0% identifying as first-generation, the university serves a predominantly working- and middle-class student population — a profile that shapes how Azimuth reads its outcomes across all four pillars. The composite is anchored by what Indiana University-South Bend delivers for its graduates relative to comparable institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Indiana University-South Bend in the 61.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Health shapes this outcome — health-oriented graduates enter fields with stable regional demand, and the university's program mix reflects the workforce needs of the South Bend metro and broader northern Indiana economy. Access and mobility sit as the composite's defining context. A retention rate of 65.1% and a six-year graduation rate of 40.1% reflect the realities of serving a largely commuter, working-adult student body rather than a traditional residential population. Azimuth ranks Indiana University-South Bend #822 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 44.5 percentile — while affordability sits in the 91.5 percentile and access in the 74.3 percentile, reflecting the institution's broad-access posture and the cost structure typical of regional public universities in IN.
Indiana University-South Bend's published cost of attendance is $17,364. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $4,637, middle-income families pay around $8,195, and higher-income families pay approximately $15,825. Azimuth ranks Indiana University-South Bend #122 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 University-South Bend participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The institution's aid structure is designed to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, with need-based scholarships available to qualifying students. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and the university evaluates demonstrated financial need to determine aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,355, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,486; 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 $55,103, median federal debt of $21,355 projects to a monthly payment of about $241 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Indiana University-South Bend is a public university in South Bend, IN, well suited for students drawn to health, education, and applied professional fields who want an accessible, regionally grounded institution with a clear path to stable employment. Graduates earn in the 24.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Indiana University-South Bend sits in the 61.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students whose program choices align with the institution's dominant Health concentration. The access profile is broad. 42.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 41.0% are first-generation college students, and the institution's completion outcomes for Pell-eligible students — 35.2% — reflect a campus that actively supports students who face financial and first-generation barriers. Median debt at graduation is $21,355, which keeps borrowing in a range that aligns with the earnings trajectory most graduates follow. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Indiana University-South Bend is a regional campus rather than a large flagship, so students seeking a broad research-university experience or highly specialized graduate-feeder programs may find a better match elsewhere. Students whose interests center on Health and related applied fields, and who want an affordable, accessible institution in northern IN, will find the value proposition here straightforward.
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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
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This is the Indiana University-South Bend hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southeastern Louisiana University Similar quality tier (#15265 ranked) | LA | 99% | $46,482 | #15265 | Compare |
Louisiana Tech University Similar quality tier (#15275 ranked) | LA | 86% | $52,279 | #15275 | Compare |
Ramapo College Of New Jersey Similar quality tier (#15280 ranked) | NJ | 71% | $67,541 | #15280 | Compare |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Similar quality tier (#15287 ranked) | PA | 98% | $63,435 | #15287 | Compare |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Similar quality tier (#15258 ranked) | PA | 97% | $63,435 | #15258 | Compare |
Computer Science
20 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
94 graduates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
13 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
155 graduates
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
19 graduates
Indiana University-South Bend's program mix is anchored in health, business, and applied professional fields — a signature well matched to the institution's role as a regional public university serving the South Bend labor market. Health programs form the largest share of degree output, with Business accounting for 22% of graduates, followed by Education at 8% and Arts at 5%.
Across 29 programs, 14 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, collectively serving roughly 750 students annually. The program with the strongest combination of cohort scale and earnings is Business/Commerce, General, which anchors Indiana University-South Bend's economic profile by pairing meaningful graduate volume with solid four-year pay.
Nursing is the top-earning program at the institution, with graduates earning median earnings of $84,541 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks Nursing #181 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business/Commerce, General follows closely, with graduates earning median earnings of $64,275 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks Business/Commerce, General #28 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Criminal Justice and General Studies round out the high-earning tier, with Azimuth ranking them #149 and #149, respectively, for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Among the most-enrolled programs, Business/Commerce, General program graduates 155 students annually, with graduates earning median earnings of $64,275 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks Business/Commerce, General #28 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Nursing is the second-largest program by cohort, graduating 94 students, with graduates earning median earnings of $84,541 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks Nursing #181 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. General Studies and Psychology, General also draw substantial enrollment, with Azimuth ranking them #149 and #310, respectively, for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Health-oriented programs at Indiana University-South Bend are largely direct-to-workforce pathways — nursing and allied health graduates enter regional employer pipelines quickly — while fields like Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, which enrolls 56 students, tend toward grad-school-dependent trajectories where four-year earnings undercount longer-term outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with regional labor-market demand.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Indiana University-South Bend's published cost of attendance is $17,364. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $4,637, middle-income families pay around $8,195, and higher-income families pay approximately $15,825.
Azimuth ranks Indiana University-South Bend #122 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 University-South Bend participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The institution's aid structure is designed to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, with need-based scholarships available to qualifying students.
Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and the university evaluates demonstrated financial need to determine aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,355, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,486; 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 $55,103, median federal debt of $21,355 projects to a monthly payment of about $241 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 $55,103, placing Indiana University-South Bend in the 24.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Indiana University-South Bend in the 61.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Indiana University-South Bend #822 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to IN's no-degree earnings baseline of $32,990 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential in the young-adult age range.
The earnings pattern at Indiana University-South Bend reflects its concentration in Health and related applied fields. Business/Commerce, General stands out as the program combining the broadest graduate cohort with strong earnings outcomes, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile.
Among the largest programs by graduate count, Business/Commerce, General enrolls 155 graduates and delivers median earnings of $64,275 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #28 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/). Nursing (94 graduates) and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (56 graduates) round out the largest enrollment clusters, while General Studies and Psychology, General post median earnings of $48,815 and $46,521 respectively — Azimuth ranks General Studies #149 and Psychology, General #310 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
