THE BEST VALUE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN INDIANA

Oakland City University sets itself apart from other top universities in Indiana by its faith affiliation. As the only school in the country affiliated with the General Baptist Church, OCU puts a strong emphasis on faith, service, and Christian values. While the school promotes a Christian environment with chapel services, a campus minister, and various worship activities, students of any faith or denomination are welcome to attend. Located in Oakland City — a small town without the features that cities offer — the school makes an effort to keep campus life exciting with a variety of student organizations and free activities.
Net Price: $19,344/yr
Score: 114.82

The Earlham College experience is marked by its affiliation with the Quakers. A religious group known for its principles of equality and community improvement, the Quaker mindset makes the campus especially egalitarian and active. Earlham is one of the best colleges in Indiana for students' well-being, thanks to a campus community that encourages students to be open about their feelings and respect the needs of their peers. It also supports community initiatives both on and off campus, such as the Bonner Scholars Program, which awards service scholarships to students based on financial need.
Net Price: $20,589/yr
Score: 109.12

Founded as the Anderson Bible Training School in 1917, Anderson University quickly opened up to offer a plethora of educational paths while maintaining its affiliation to the Anderson Church of God. In addition to offering a theology degree, Anderson University participates in the Tri-S: Study, Serve, Share program. This initiative sends students to locations across the globe to work toward the elimination of poverty and social injustice. Back home, students have access to a vibrant spiritual community and plenty of other activities. Anderson University supports extracurriculars as a way to strengthen its community and is considered one of the top universities in Indiana for intramural sports.
Net Price: $23,229/yr
Score: 104.74

Despite being just 10 minutes from busy downtown Indianapolis, Marian University occupies a quiet, scenic campus. That means that students at one of the top universities in Indiana can explore the city and take advantage of everything the wooded campus has to offer all in the same day. Marian University oversees a unique cycling arena known as the Indy Cycloplex, where students and community members can bike and attend races. The campus also houses the Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab, a 55-acre environmental restoration area that serves as outdoor laboratory, classroom, and nature reserve. These facilities make Marian University's campus exciting for anyone, but they'll especially benefit students in the school's respected exercise science and ecology programs.
Net Price: $19,930/yr
Score: 102.03

Located less than an hour from Lake Michigan, 90 minutes from Chicago, and near a number of other top colleges in Indiana, Bethel's ideal placement ensures that students can always find a fun way to spend their free time. When it's time to go to class, students benefit from a 12 to 1 student to faculty ratio, and the personal attention they'll receive really pays off! Bethel graduates have twice the national average acceptance rate to medical school, and both its nursing and music education programs enjoy a nearly perfect job placement rate.
Net Price: $18,216/yr
Score: 101.96

Founded in 1855 by abolitionist Ovid Butler, Butler University supports hands-on learning, community engagement, and equal access to education for all. Butler is held in high regard throughout the country and has earned special recognition as a top school for veterans and undergraduate business students. Its Holcomb Observatory is home to Indiana's largest telescope and is actually one of the world's largest public observatories! Being one of Indiana's best colleges doesn't mean that Butler takes itself too seriously, as evidenced by its adoration for its famous mascot, Blue the Bulldog, and its numerous opportunities for students to get involved in campus organizations and Greek life.
Net Price: $32,742/yr
Score: 100.42

Calumet College of St. Joseph is a small college that caters especially to students who work or have families by offering plentiful part-time options and evening classes. Serving many students from Illinois as well as Indiana, Calumet doesn't charge extra fees for out-of-state tuition. Add to this its convenient location - just 30 minutes from Chicago and easy to reach by highway - and Calumet may be the best affordable Indiana college for commuters. Its focus on convenience doesn't mean that Calumet skimps in other areas, though. The school is highly selective, with a 34% acceptance rate, and is home to numerous athletic teams.
Net Price: $11,790/yr
Score: 100.09

Indianapolis is home to several of top Indiana colleges, and the University of Indianapolis is a popular choice among them due to its ideal location right in the heart of the city. Undergraduates have 100 programs of study to choose from, where they will enjoy small classes with an average of 17 students. The school also offers a substantial financial aid package that supports 90% of students with some form of assistance. UIndy, as it's commonly known, is the best Indiana college for producing clinical psychologists and physical and occupational therapists, and it also houses the only neonatal nurse practitioner program in the state! But non-health science majors need not worry; the school's business, education, and communication programs are also popular.
Net Price: $22,639/yr
Score: 99.64

Valparaiso University offers a unique blend of some of the most important attributes for a college. With 70 distinct undergraduate majors with an enrollment of more than 3,000, VU can feel every bit like a large research university. And yet caring professors - not graduate students - take the helm in the classroom, ensuring that students still enjoy the intimate atmosphere that no doubt attracted them to Valparaiso. Its green campus houses more than 60 buildings, along with state-of-the-art technological features such as a powerful research microscope and video labs. And perhaps most important, graduates are highly successful; 92.5% enter graduate school or joining the workforce within six months of receiving their degrees. In fact, the university has been recognized for its excellent record of educating professionals in STEM fields and producing Fulbright Scholars.
Net Price: $22,058/yr
Score: 99.22

Students at Indiana University East get the best of both worlds, thanks to a school that combines the amenities and services of a large university with the feel of a regional college. On campus, students have more than 50 academic programs to choose from while participating in more than 30 clubs and organizations and 11 sports teams, all at one of the most affordable Indiana colleges. They'll also have access to a broad range of internships both nationally and in the state of Indiana and can participate in the university's renowned service learning program. Students wanting to explore even further afield can enroll in a study abroad program either through their own school or through Indiana University's Bloomington campus.
Net Price: $7,975/yr
Score: 98.83

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis is unusual in that it's actually a member of two of the best Indiana college systems. In 1969, the Purdue and Indiana universities merged the campuses of two of their satellite schools to form IUPUI. The school enrolls more than 20,000 undergraduates, most of whom attend full-time and all of whom benefit from the resources and attention of two leading university systems. IUPUI is noted for its commitment to diversity and has long been lauded as one of the best schools in the nation for minority students. Women also account for more than 40% of the faculty, while 27% of faculty identify as people of color. But that's not all: its legal writing and primary care programs are among the best in the country.
Net Price: $10,979/yr
Score: 94.02

Indiana University Kokomo is a small school with a lot to offer. With a student body of around 4,000, IUK gives students a small-town feel while still making all the resources of the Indiana University system readily available. The school boasts myriad facilities that students might not expect from a cheap college in Indiana, such as a $2.5 million high-tech nursing lab equipped with the latest in medical education technology. Its compact campus is easy to get around while still housing a top-notch, library, an art gallery, and an observatory. Students can also rent apartments just across the street, making the commute to class practically nonexistent (a favorite feature among those who aren't "morning people!).
Net Price: $8,633/yr
Score: 93.54

The University of Southern Indiana is firmly committed to social engagement, and its programs are designed to enrich the local community through economic, cultural, and educational means. Nearby New Harmony, Indiana, was once the site of two utopian experiments in the 1800s, and today serves as a magnet for culturally minded tourists. The university works closely with the town to support its civic goals and takes pride in its central role in the Evansville community. USI sits on a sprawling 1,400-acre campus in town, which provides a beautiful backdrop to the quality education students receive there. Despite its average enrollment of just over 9,000, USI uses its large campus to host more than 130 active campus organizations and nationally competitive sports teams, making it inarguably above average when it comes to student engagement.
Net Price: $12,925/yr
Score: 88.83

The University of Evansville is a small school of just over 2,000 students that offers opportunities unmatched by larger universities. Its study abroad program has been called the best in the nation, allowing students to study at UE's British campus, Harlaxton College, where students can take classes in a 100-room Victorian manor. The school also recently announced The UE Guarantee, which asserts that all students can graduate in four years or their fifth year will be free. What's more, this guarantee promises that all students will have the chance to study abroad. Those who have not ventured beyond the U.S. by their senior year will get a $1,000 travel grant to support their trip. UE also offers the GAP program, a hands-on interdisciplinary program based on research and real-world applications.
Net Price: $21,164/yr
Score: 88.02

Franklin College was the first college in Indiana to admit women in 1842, becoming only the sixth co-educational school in the country to do so. Franklin's administrators have carried on that spirit, building an inclusive community dedicated to ethical leadership. The school's traditional liberal arts curriculum incorporates this focus on both leadership and moral principles, and it includes 55 majors and 41 minors from which to choose. With a picturesque 207-acre campus 20 minutes from Indianapolis, Franklin is positioned as a peaceful home for its 1,000 students while still enabling them to experience the excitement of the city. Even in Franklin, a town of 20,000, students can find plenty to do. For those who prefer a more natural setting, 31 acres of Franklin's campus are devoted to woodlands.
Net Price: $22,307/yr
Score: 84.65

In the heart of downtown Terre Haute, Indiana State University sits on a large but easily navigable 435-acre campus. Students can walk across the campus in 10 minutes, but it still offers plenty of space for activities, not to mention everything there is to do in the city. ISU makes an effort to give every student ample opportunity to socialize, offering living space in 12 residence halls and generous support for student groups. Commuters aren't left out either; with access to lounges, a laptop lending program, and even special scholarships, off-campus students will feel just as welcome as their dorm dwelling classmates.
Net Price: $11,525/yr
Score: 83.36

Founded by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary's College has a reputation as one of the best Indiana colleges for women. A women's school since its inception, Saint Mary's has stayed true to its principles of supporting the community and seeking social justice. The college ensures that housing is available for all four years for students who want it, and 90% choose to live on campus. Located next to the Saint Joseph River and just across the street from the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's beautiful campus is dotted with trees, gardens, and historic architecture. The school is beloved by students and has an exceptional 81% graduation rate.
Net Price: $26,529/yr
Score: 82.59

Indiana University South Bend's 80-acre campus is the third-largest of the Indiana University system and is situated on the Saint Joseph River. The campus is home to 46 laboratories, a cutting-edge library, and athletic fields across the river connected by a pedestrian bridge. Students regularly join their professors on research projects, and all classes are taught by faculty rather than graduate assistants. This cheap Indiana college nonetheless offers a close-knit community, the support of the renowned - and expansive - IU system, and more than 100 degree options, including the new Bachelor of Applied Sciences.
Net Price: $9,889/yr
Score: 81.99

Indiana University Northwest makes it easy for students to join the respected IU system. Its location in Northwest Indiana makes it accessible to residents of both Indiana and Illinois, while its flexible schedule opens the door for students who are also working or raising families. Already one of the most affordable colleges in Indiana, IU Northwest offers a number of payment plans and financial aid opportunities to make paying for school even easier. Clubs and organizations abound on the university's campus, and students can also sign up for the affordable and well-equipped Savannah Fitness Center.
Net Price: $7,563/yr
Score: 80.87