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10 Best Colleges in Indiana
What’s Covered:
From the University of Notre Dame to Indiana University Bloomington, Purdue University to Wabash College, Indiana boasts great colleges and universities with plenty to offer. Regardless of your career goals or academic interests, you will be able to find a school in the state that fits your interests. We’ve rounded up the 10 best schools in the state, and in this post we will take a closer look at each one.
Our Ranking Methodology
In determining our 10 best colleges in Indiana, we mainly focused on school quality, outcomes, and return on investment (ROI). We also factored in data such as retention rate, selectivity, endowment per student, student-faculty ratio, median earnings, and cost of attendance, among many others. You can see our full rankings if you are curious about how schools outside of Indiana stack up.
Best Colleges in Indiana
1. University of Notre Dame
Location: Notre Dame
Acceptance Rate: 18%
Middle 50% SAT: 1400-1550
Middle 50% ACT: 33-35
Undergrad Enrollment: 8,600
Notre Dame was founded on Catholic principles, which allows the school to embody two important principles: “a spirit of inclusion and welcoming of people from all faith traditions, or no faith traditions; and an earnest desire to serve the local and global community.” Since 1842, the university has been at the forefront of scholarship and research. Undergraduates can choose among 75 majors across eight colleges and schools.
Ranked in the top 25 institutions of higher learning by U.S. News, Forbes, Niche, and others, Notre Dame offers a world-class education to its students and numerous opportunities outside of the classroom. Roughly a third of undergraduates are involved in research. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish are famed for their performance on the football field and beyond.
Learn more about the University of Notre Dame and what it takes to get accepted.
2. Purdue University
Location: West Lafayette
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Middle 50% SAT: 1180-1410
Middle 50% ACT: 25-32
Undergrad Enrollment: 33,700
Purdue is noted for its learning communities, which enable students to connect with others who share similar interests, its Honors College, and its prestigious College of Engineering. With 108 majors and over 100 minors across 13 colleges, the university seeks to prepare students from all backgrounds to become leaders in whatever field they choose.
A member of the Big Ten Conference, Purdue also offers opportunities for students to excel beyond the classroom. Additionally, it’s home to the first Online Writing Lab (OWL), which offers information on writing according to different styles, formats, and subjects.
Learn more about Purdue and what it takes to get accepted.
3. DePauw University
Location: Greencastle
Acceptance Rate: 63%
Middle 50% SAT: 1120-1340
Middle 50% ACT: 23-29
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,100
“Gold Within” is the motto and principle of DePauw’s community. Offering a comprehensive liberal arts and science curriculum, DePauw promises small class sizes, innovative teaching, and more. Nearly a third of students participate in in research, and most secure internships before graduation. The school also ranks #4 nationally for students studying abroad. A DePauw education pays off: the university is in the top 14% for graduate earnings in the U.S. 15 years after graduation.
Learn more about DePauw University and what it takes to get accepted.
4. Wabash College
Location: Crawfordsville
Acceptance Rate: 65%
Middle 50% SAT: 1100-1330
Middle 50% ACT: 23-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 800
Wabash is an all-men’s college that has educated leaders across fields for nearly 200 years. The liberal arts school offers 26 majors, divided into three separate divisions—the first is dedicated to the sciences, the second is dedicated to the arts and humanities, and the third is dedicated to humanities and social sciences. Although the student body is small, it is diverse with students coming from 31 states and 19 countries. The faculty at Wabash College are highly ranked for their accessibility outside of class.
WabashX programs are available in Global Health, Democracy and Public Discourse, the Center for Innovation, Business & Entrepreneurship, and Digital Arts and Human Values. These co-curricular programs allow students to gain hands-on experience in their fields and prepare them for careers. Meanwhile, student conduct is governed by the school’s Gentleman’s Rule, instructing students to conduct themselves “as a gentleman and a responsible citizen.”
Learn more about Wabash College and what it takes to get accepted.
5. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | RHIT
Location: Terre Haute
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Middle 50% SAT: 1270-1480
Middle 50% ACT: 28-33
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,000
RHIT’s curriculum focuses on STEM disciplines, particularly engineering and the natural sciences. The school is frequently ranked among the top undergraduate engineering colleges in the nation by U.S. News, Fisk Guide, and Princeton Review—in fact, U.S. News has ranked it first in this category for the past 22 years. As a member of the Global E3, a consortium of more than 60 schools of engineering across the world, RHIT provides opportunities far beyond the walls of the school itself. Most students find careers within six months of graduation.
Learn more about RHIT and what it takes to get accepted.
6. Indiana University Bloomington | Indiana
Location: Bloomington
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Middle 50% SAT: 1150-1360
Middle 50% ACT: 24-31
Undergrad Enrollment: 33,300
The flagship campus of Indiana University, IU offers more than 200 undergraduate majors, including top programs in business and health. In addition to an innovative curriculum, the university provides opportunities in research, study abroad, and much more. Recently, IU launched new programs, such as intelligent systems engineering, and expanded its online programs. These augment existing programming, which offer “an interdisciplinary approach to advancing knowledge and solving problems.”
Students at IU certainly know how to work hard and play hard, as it is one of the best party schools in the country. Between the Big Ten athletics like football and basketball, 18% of campus partaking in Greek life, and vibrant nightlife in Bloomington, the Hoosiers like to have fun.
Learn more about Indiana University and what it takes to get accepted.
7. Butler University
Location: Indianapolis
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Middle 50% SAT: 1170-1330
Middle 50% ACT: 25-30
Undergrad Enrollment: 4,600
Small class size, close faculty relationships, experiential learning, research, performances, service learning, and a close community are the defining facets of Butler. The university boasts a 98% placement rate within six months of graduation and ranks #1 among Regional Universities in the Midwest by U.S. News. It is also the #1 Most Innovative School and #1 school for Undergraduate Teaching. Additionally, the school ranks highly for its first-year experience, study abroad opportunities, and offering the best value to its students.
Learn more about Butler University and what it takes to get accepted.
8. Earlham College
Location: Richmond
Acceptance Rate: 65%
Middle 50% SAT: 1160-1380
Middle 50% ACT: 26-31
Undergrad Enrollment: 1,000
“An Earlham education is all about connections,” according to the college. Founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1847, Earlham continues to uphold Quaker values, including a commitment to peace, respect, and social justice, although many students who attend are not Quakers. The school ranks among the top 20 colleges for “Best Classroom Experience” by The Princeton Review.
Called an EPIC Journey, the undergraduate program includes internships, research, and plenty of leadership opportunities. In addition to undergraduate programs, Earlham offers an MA in Teaching and three master’s degrees through the School of Religion.
Learn more about Earlham College and what it takes to get accepted.
9. University of Evansville
Location: Evansville
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Middle 50% SAT: 1080-1300
Middle 50% ACT: 22-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,200
Founded in 1854 as Moorse Hill Male and Female Collegiate Institute, UE is a liberal arts university affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university offers small class size, excellent employment rates post-graduation, diversity, and much more.
UE is compromised of three colleges. They are the College of Business and Engineering, the College of Education and Health Sciences, and the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences. No classes are taught by graduate assistants, and students have plenty of opportunities to conduct research and take part in internships.
Learn more about the University of Evansville and what it takes to get accepted.
10. Saint Mary’s College
Location: Notre Dame
Acceptance Rate: 82%
Middle 50% SAT: 1050-1260
Middle 50% ACT: 22-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 1,400
A private, Catholic, women’s liberal arts college, Saint Mary’s calls itself a “place of discovery.” The college offers more than 30 undergraduate majors, along with a Master of Science and a doctorate program. Study abroad is integral to the educational experience at Saint Mary’s—students can choose from programs in more than a dozen countries to spend a semester in. More than half of Sanit Mary’s students take advantage of this opportunity.
Learn more about Saint Mary’s College and what it takes to get accepted.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Wondering what your odds are of admission at one of Indiana’s exceptional schools? CollegeVine can help. Our free chancing engine uses a variety of factors—such as grades, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities—to predict your odds of acceptance at hundreds of schools across the country.
Collegevine’s chancing engine can also help you build a balanced school list. By providing your odds of acceptance, you can strategically assign safety, target, and reach schools and put yourself in the ideal position to get into a great fit school. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!
