Cost & financial aid brief
Indiana University-South Bend Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid
How much does Indiana University-South Bend cost after financial aid?
Aid reduces the published price for the average recipient, with lower-income bands showing lower average net prices than higher-income bands. Aid covers about 50% of the published cost for the average aid recipient.
The published cost of $17,364 (an average across living arrangements) falls to an average net price of $8,653, an average reduction of $8,711. Across the listed income range, average net prices run from $4,637 for families earning under thirty thousand dollars to $15,825 for those earning above one hundred ten thousand dollars, with $4,926, $8,195, and $13,968 in the intervening bands.
The $11,188 spread shows a pattern of lower average net prices at lower incomes, rather than an individual aid package.
The published cost of attendance is $17,364 (an average across living arrangements). Azimuth ranks Indiana University-South Bend #122 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
For families earning under $30,000 it is $4,637, for the $48,001-$75,000 band it is $8,195, and for those earning over $110,000 it is $15,825, a spread of $11,188 from lowest to highest. Aid saves the average recipient $8,711 against the published sticker price.
Across all aid recipients, the average net price is $8,653, which sits $5,415 below the peer median of $14,068 for comparable institutions (same type and size). In-state tuition and fees are $8,424; out-of-state tuition and fees are $22,811.
Borrowers who complete leave with a median of $21,355 in federal student loans. That amount is $126 above the peer median of $21,229 for comparable institutions (same type and size).
73.2% of federal aid recipients borrow through the federal program. Parents who borrow through the separate Parent PLUS program hold a median of $12,486.
The median federal debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $243 a month if repaid over ten years.
Student loans: what does repayment look like?
Federal borrowing is widespread at Indiana University-South Bend, but the typical debt level remains close to that at comparable schools. 73.2% of federal aid recipients borrow through federal loans, and borrowers who complete have median federal student loan debt of $21,355.
At comparable institutions (same type and size), the peer median federal debt is $21,229; Indiana University-South Bend's median is $126 above that figure. For the separate population of Parent PLUS parent borrowers, median borrowing is $12,486.
Affordability is the strongest pillar at Indiana University-South Bend, while the earnings and borrowing figures offer a mixed investment picture. Four years after completion, federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled have median earnings of $55,103.
Azimuth places that earnings figure in the 33rd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings beyond expectations, the gap between what graduates earn and what expects for similar students, are close to the expected level.
Graduates earn about $234 less than the model expects for similar students, effectively at the expected level. Azimuth places this measure in the 54th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Earnings scenarios place downside earnings at $45,033, typical earnings at $55,103, and upside earnings at $84,043. Median federal debt is $21,355, which is $126 above the $21,229 peer median.
That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $243 a month if repaid over ten years. Debt is close to peers, but earnings sit near the model's expected level.
For the separate population of parent borrowers, median Parent PLUS borrowing is $12,486. For borrowers with median federal student debt, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $243 a month if repaid over ten years.
Repayment figures are in the Financial GPS card below. Borrowing populations and model assumptions.
Parent loans: what can the family afford?
How Parent PLUS borrowing affects families
- Median Parent PLUS debt
- $12,486
- Estimated parent payment
- $159/mo
| Household income | Share of income above basic expenses | Risk level |
|---|---|---|
| $35,000 | No room | High pressure |
| $50,000 | No room | High pressure |
| $75,000 | 9.4% | Caution |
| $100,000 | 4.2% | Safe |
| $150,000 | 2.0% | Safe |
| $200,000 | 1.3% | Safe |
The 10-year payment on the median Parent PLUS balance, as a share of household income above basic expenses ($54,640 a year: 200% of the 2026 federal poverty guideline for a household of three). No room is High pressure. Open the parent tool for your own numbers. Read the assumptions and limits.
Student and parent loans: the monthly payments
Financial GPS
What does repayment look like?
- Institution median student debt
- $21,355
- Institution Parent PLUS debt
- $12,486
Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included.
- Estimated student payment · monthly
- $243/mo
- Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly
- $159/mo
- Modeled student + parent payments
- $402/mo
Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s.
Student payment as a share of available income
At median graduate earnings of $55,103, with a $23,940 annual allowance for basic expenses:
9.4% of income above the allowance · Good
- Excellent Under 8%
- Good 8–under 12% · selected scenario
- Concerning 12–20%
- High risk Over 20%
How this estimate works
These are modeled earnings scenarios, not observed earnings percentiles. Annual student payments ÷ (earnings − basic-expense allowance). The starting allowance, $23,940, uses the published framework’s 2026 baseline; it is not a current local living-cost estimate. Change it for your budget, including taxes and other obligations. This combines school-level figures for illustration, not a typical individual’s budget or an official school rating. Parent PLUS is separate.
Payment assumptions
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates.
Data & methodology
Sources and reporting periods: methodology.
Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.
Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.
Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.
Net price and borrowing. The 2023–24 income-band averages include living costs and cover eligible first-time, full-time aid recipients; public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. They are not individual aid offers. Peer matching supplies overall net prices, not matched income-band averages. College Scorecard data and documentation.
A personal student-risk assessment also needs your major and borrowing plan; these school-level illustrations do not assign you a personal risk zone.
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. Private-loan figures from the Common Data Set are separate from these federal repayment illustrations.