Top 10 Cheapest Colleges in Indiana (2025)

Indiana is known for the Indianapolis 500, agricultural production, and its basketball teams. But did you know the state is also home to several affordable, high-quality colleges?

If you're looking to earn a bachelor's degree but worry about the cost of tuition, read on to explore some of the cheapest colleges in Indiana.

You can also learn how to save money on tuition costs to make school even more affordable.

Top Cheap Colleges in Indiana

If you're interested in earning a degree on a budget, take a look at some of the best and cheapest colleges in Indiana.

1. Indiana University Kokomo

Indiana University Kokomo is home to more than 70 bachelor's degree programs, some available online.

Students can choose from degrees in areas like accounting, biology, computer science, health sciences, and nursing.

Tuition for undergraduate in-state learners is $3,746.01. After mandatory fees, students pay $4,089.38 per semester or $8,178.76 for the academic year.

Out-of-state learners pay $10,678.02 per semester in tuition and $11,021.39 per semester after mandatory fees or $22,042.78 for the academic year.

2. Purdue Global

Purdue Global is one of the cheapest colleges in Indiana.

Indiana residents taking 12 to 18 credits pay just $3,797.10 in tuition per semester. With the school's composite fee, students pay a total of $4,209.45.

Non-residents are billed $5,695.55 per semester for tuition. The cost becomes $6,107.90 per semester after paying the composite fee.

Students can choose from more than 70 undergraduate degree programs. Scholarships from more than 200 donors are available to help reduce costs.

3. Indiana University East

Indiana University East offers nearly 60 bachelor's degree programs in areas of study like applied statistics, communication studies, elementary education, and psychology.

Tuition and fees for undergraduate residents attending full-time is $8,352 for the entire school year. Reciprocity students living in select Ohio counties pay the same rate.

Non-residents pay $22,216 in tuition and fees for the school year.

More than 70 scholarships are available along with financial aid options to further reduce costs.

4. Indiana University - South Bend

Indiana residents attending Indiana University - South Bend pay just $8,352 in tuition and fees when enrolled full-time.

Non-residents pay $22,216 for full-time tuition and fees.

Students have the opportunity to pay even lower school costs by taking advantage of financial aid like federal grants, state aid, scholarships, and work-study options.

Low tuition costs and financial aid options help students easily cover the cost of the school's dozens of undergraduate degrees.

5. Indiana University Northwest

Indiana University Northwest offers more than 70 bachelor's degree programs — many are delivered on-campus and others are offered in a hybrid format.

Degree options include the Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Applied Science.

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees are available in areas like neuroscience, Spanish, radiologic, dental hygiene, and biochemistry.

Tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate residents are $8,352 for the year.

Full-time non-residents pay $22,216 for the year.

6. Indiana University Southeast

Students residing in Indiana who attend Indiana University Southwest full-time pay just $8,352 in tuition and fees for the full year of study. Reciprocity students pay the same rate.

Non-residents attending full-time pay $22,216 for the full year.

These costs apply to undergraduates enrolled in one of more than 90 bachelor's degree programs, nearly 20 of which are available 100% online.

If students want to reduce these great rates, the school offers more than 170 scholarships.

7. Ball State University

At Ball State University, Indiana undergraduate residents pay just $8,688 in tuition for the academic year when taking 12 to 18 credit hours each semester.

Undergraduate non-residents pay $26,696 for the academic year.

The university provides about 90% of its new freshmen with some form of merit- or need-based financial aid. This might include scholarships, grants, or work-study.

Low tuition and financial assistance help students earn one of dozens of on-campus and online bachelor's degrees.

8. University of Southern Indiana

At the University of Southern Indiana, students can choose from dozens of bachelor's degree programs in areas of study like biophysics, global studies, marketing, and sports management.

More than a dozen bachelor's degrees are available in an online format.

The cost of tuition and fees when taking an average of 30 undergraduate credit hours in the academic year is $9,621 for Indiana residents and $22,058 for non-residents.

Scholarships are available to help incoming freshmen reduce school costs.

9. Indiana State University

Indiana residents who attend Indiana State University as full-time undergraduates pay just $9,712 over the academic year when taking 12 to 18 credit hours per semester.

Non-residents and international students pay $21,454 for the academic year.

A non-resident reduced rate of $12,626 is available to Illinois, Kentucky, or Ohio Student Scholarship recipients, non-resident online learners, and Midwest Consortium students.

Students can choose from over 100 undergraduate majors and nearly two dozen online Bachelor of Science programs.

10. Indiana University - Bloomington

At Indiana University - Bloomington, students can choose from more than 300 bachelor's degree programs, three are available online.

Attendees can earn degrees in areas of study like animal behavior, cognitive science, youth development, public financial management, and neuroscience.

The cost of earning an undergraduate degree as an Indiana resident is $11,790 for the academic year. Out-of-state learners pay $40,480 for the year.

The university offers more than two dozen scholarships for in-state and out-of-state first-year students.

How Much Will a College Degree Cost?

The cost of earning a college degree varies based on several factors, including the school you attend, the type of degree you pursue, state of residency, and course load.

The National Center for Education Statistics revealed that tuition and fees for public institutions in 2021-22 were $9,700.

But the cost of tuition could realistically be higher or lower depending on whether you attend part-time or full-time, live in the state of the school you want to attend, or even pursue an online degree.

Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable schools in Indiana.

Indiana University Kokomo, Purdue Global, and several others are among the cheapest colleges in Indiana offering programs for less than $9,000 per year for in-state students.

How To Make College Affordable

Enrolling in one of the cheapest colleges in Indiana is a great way to save on your degree. But don't stop there. Explore additional ways to lower tuition costs.

Scholarships

Scholarships are financial awards based on merit, talent, or financial need that can pay some or all of a student's tuition and fees without the requirement of repayment.

Grants

A grant is a form of financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Common federal grants include Pell, FSEOF, and TEACH.

Tuition Reimbursement

Many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs that reimburse students for a portion or all of their employees' tuition after taking a course or completing a semester.

Military Aid

Veterans and active military members can benefit from school tuition reduction programs, military grants and scholarships, and the GI Bill.

Student Loans

Student loans enable college attendees to pay for tuition and fees but must be repaid after graduating.

Do Cheap Colleges in Indiana Offer High-Quality Education?

Yes, it is possible to secure a high-quality education from one of the cheapest colleges in Indiana.

For instance, the University of Southern Indiana and Indiana University - Bloomington are ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 20% of Regional Universities Midwest and Top Public Schools.

Both schools are also ranked among Best Value Schools.

Purdue Global and Indiana University East tied in ranking among Regional Universities Midwest and Top Public Schools.

All other schools in this list are ranked among Regional Universities Midwest and National Universities.

In-State Vs. Out-of-State Tuition Rates

You might notice that most state schools provide lower tuition rates for in-state students. The reason is that residents support state schools through taxes and are therefore offered a discount.

However, there are sometimes exceptions to this rule.

For instance, the Midwest Student Exchange Program saves out-of-state students an average of $7,000 when enrolling in one of more than 70 institutions across eight states.

Participating schools in Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin agree to grant out-of-state students a special rate to save on tuition.

Find an Affordable College in Indiana Today

Now's the time to find and enroll in one of the cheapest colleges in Indiana.

There are also many affordable online colleges in the U.S. to consider.

You don't have to worry about sacrificing a quality education to save money. Satisfy your budget and academic needs by choosing your school today.