Best Colleges in Indiana

Serving approximately 2,500 students annually, the University of Evansville offers a liberal arts education primarily at the undergraduate level, though the school hosts a small number of graduate programs. This private college offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and minors in topics such as art history, British studies, ethics and social change, and religion. Graduate students can pursue degrees including public health, athletic training, and public service administration, along with two doctorates in physical therapy and nursing practice.

UE operates a global education center at Harlaxton College in Grantham, England. UE also offers a variety of additional study abroad experiences through membership in the International Student Exchange program, enabling students to travel to Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America.

An interdenominational Christian college based in Upland, Taylor University ranks among the oldest evangelical schools in the country, with a history that dates to 1846. Enrolling approximately 2,100 students from around the country and the world, TU delivers more than 60 undergraduate majors and minors in areas including art and film; communication, language, and writing; health sciences; and history, global, and political studies. The school also offers two graduate programs in ministry and higher education.

As a prominent evangelical college, TU emphasizes principles of servant leadership, most distinctly through a focus on missionary trips and local ministries. The school's World Outreach program offers varied opportunities for students to participate in service learning, including community outreach, study abroad, and spring mission trips. TU provides many opportunities to serve locally through several ministry partners, including tutoring programs, clubs, student-led groups, and community centers.

A Catholic women's college based in Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College delivers a liberal arts undergraduate education to around 1,500 students. Saint Mary's offers dozens of majors and minors in both secular and nonsecular subjects, including applied arts and design, justice studies, women's history, religious studies, and English writing. Undergraduates can also design their own interdisciplinary major. The school's size creates an intimate educational experience, with an average class size of just 15 students.

Saint Mary's students benefit from several campus resources. The Center for Academic Innovation provides funding for student and faculty research, including the Student Independent Study and Research Grant. The Center for Spirituality supports students' faith-based practices, offering community events and workshops. The Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership emphasizes social justice and diversity, empowering learners in their academic and professional lives.

A Christian college affiliated with the Wesleyan Church, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion ranks as the largest private college in Indiana, serving more than 13,000 students annually. IWU operates a main campus in Marion along with several regional education centers throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, offering degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Though associated with the Protestant Wesleyan Church, IWU enrolls students of all Christian backgrounds, with more than 80 denominations represented.

IWU undergraduates can choose from more than 80 majors, including both secular and nonsecular options such as applied music, Christian education, exercise science, social work, and worship arts. The Marion campus primarily serves undergraduates, though IWU does offer a selection of graduate programs in fields including criminal justice, education, health sciences, nursing, and religious and theological studies. For added flexibility, learners can typically combine on-campus courses with online learning.

A regional member of the Indiana University System, IU Kokomo serves around 3,000 students from its campus in north central Indiana. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as allied health sciences, business, education, hospitality and tourism, and nursing. Learners can also select from several pre-professional programs in healthcare fields including chiropractic, dentistry, and medicine. IU Kokomo hosts two accelerated bachelor's programs in general studies or applied science.

IU Kokomo provides experiential education for all undergraduate students through its Kokomo Experience and You (KEY) program, which connects participants to unique activities depending on their area of interest. Students choose from an assortment of study abroad programs, service-learning trips, field experiences, art retreats, and other learning opportunities to build both academic and professional experience. Some KEY experiences tie to specific courses, while others cater to certain majors.

Formed in 1969 through the merger of multiple extension programs from both Indiana University and Purdue University, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis now ranks among the largest public colleges in the state and enrolls around 30,000 students each year. The school hosts more than 450 academic and professional programs at all levels. IUPUI is home to 17 academic schools and colleges, including art and design, informatics and computing, liberal arts, public health, and social work.

IUPUI's size offers a variety of opportunities for learners, including the RISE initiative, which encourages professional and intellectual growth activities. Involving research, international travel, service-learning, and experiential learning opportunities, these unique personal and academic experiences deepen student learning and encourage personal development. Students might assist faculty with research, spend a semester studying in China, work alongside a community organization, or participate in an internship related to their major.

Based in Richmond, Indiana University-East enrolls around 3,500 students annually through on-campus and online programs. The school hosts more than 60 degrees at the bachelor's and master's levels, with options including business and economics, education, humanities and social sciences, mathematics and natural sciences, and social work. IUE also offers several online bachelor's completion programs, which enable students to complete the second half of a bachelor's degree online. Some degree options include psychology, nursing, and English.

As a regional campus of the Indiana University System, IUE combines the intimate educational experience of a small school with the resources of a major state college system. For instance, students can select from study abroad programs offered through IUE as well as the Office of Overseas Study on the main Bloomington campus. IUE features a wide variety of study abroad options in countries including Belize, Italy, India, and the Dominican Republic.

A private Catholic college based in Indianapolis, Marian University serves around 3,500 students annually. Home to one of only two medical schools in Indiana, Marian also offers academic programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Undergraduates can choose from more than 40 major options, including art education, business analytics, graphic design, and pastoral leadership. The school's master's programs include education, nursing, and counseling, while doctoral programs focus on healthcare.

Marian also hosts several accelerated online degrees designed for working students. With 12 start dates each year, these highly flexible associate and bachelor's programs enable candidates to complete a degree while remaining at their current job. Courses feature accelerated five- or eight-week schedules and use a primarily asynchronous format with few required login times. Marian offers online programs in fields including business administration, health and human services, nursing, and paralegal studies.

An evangelical Christian college affiliated with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University offers faith-based liberal arts education to around 1,300 students annually. Despite its size, HU offers an extensive selection of undergraduate and graduate degrees, with options in both secular and nonsecular fields. Some of HU's traditional undergraduate programs include biology, criminal justice, and digital media arts, while religious programs include Bible studies, youth ministries, and worship leadership.

For working students, HU offers a smaller selection of bachelor's degree programs that focus primarily on professional fields like business, human resource management, and marketing. These fully online, mainly asynchronous programs enable learners to complete a degree on their own schedule with no required campus visits. For advanced students, HU also offers several online and hybrid graduate programs, including options in counseling, occupational therapy pastoral leadership, business administration, and education.

Another regional member of the Indiana University System, IU Northwest enrolls more than 6,000 students annually from its campus in Gary. The college primarily serves undergraduates, offering bachelor's degrees through six academic divisions including arts and sciences, business and economics, education, health and human services, and library and information science. IU Northwest also hosts a selection of master's programs, including family nursing, clinical counseling, business administration, and education.

IU Northwest students benefit from extensive campus resources, including academic advising, tutoring, supplemental instruction, and career services. The Student Support office assists new learners with the transition to higher education, with a particular focus on first-generation college students. Tutoring services in math and writing offer varied support for most assignments, while weekly supplemental sessions offer added help for specific courses. Career services connect students to jobs, internships, and other resources.

Serving more than 5,000 students each year, IU South Bend is the third-largest member of the Indiana University System. Primarily an undergraduate institution, IU South Bend offers more than 100 academic degrees through seven schools and colleges, including business and economics, education, health sciences, and social work. Students can also choose from several fully online bachelor's and master's degrees, including programs in applied science, English, labor studies, medical imaging technology, and nursing.

IU South Bend hosts a branch of Purdue University's Polytechnic Institute, which offers several bachelor's degrees and certificates in various engineering fields, including electrical, industrial, mechanical, robotics, and general engineering. Candidates complete courses on the IU South Bend campus but earn a degree from Purdue, which confers the quality of a Purdue education with the convenience of a regional college. Engineering programs emphasize hands-on learning through extensive lab work and professional capstones.

As the distance education branch of Indiana Wesleyan University, the IWU National and Global Campus serves over 8,000 students across the world and offers more than 90 fully online degrees and certificate programs. Distance learners can pursue associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in most professional and academic fields, including business, computer science, health sciences, liberal arts, and social sciences. Online students also benefit from flexible credit-transfer policies and tuition discounts.

IWU offers comprehensive support for online learners, including dedicated advising services and library resources. The school assigns each online student a personal academic advisor, who assists with degree planning, course selections, and communications with individual academic departments. IWU's Off Campus Library Services offer extensive research support and access to digital collections. Catering to students interested in combining online learning with on-campus courses, IWU hosts regional education sites throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.

Founded in 1840 near Terre Haute, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is the oldest Catholic college in Indiana. Originally a school for women, the school became coeducational in 2015 and now serves around 1,700 students annually. SMWC offers more than 30 undergraduate majors including media art, graphic design, health and wellness, professional writing, and psychology. The school also hosts five master's programs, including art therapy, leadership development, music therapy, and nursing.

SMWC holds a reputation as one of the top colleges for equine studies. The Mari Hulman George School of Equine Studies offers some of the country's only bachelor's and associate degrees in equine studies and equine training and instruction. These professionally focused programs prepare graduates for positions at animal hospitals, veterinary organizations, equine centers, and similar environments. Students in the equine studies program also receive extensive professional training, including industry internships.

A Christian liberal arts college affiliated with the Church of the Brethren, Manchester University operates a main campus in North Manchester and an auxiliary campus in Fort Wayne, enrolling about 1,400 students annually. MU offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, with more than 70 areas of study available. Though the school is associated with the Anabaptist Church of the Brethren, only about 6% of students identify with the denomination, and MU admits Christian students of all backgrounds.

For undergraduates who wish to complete their degree as quickly as possible, MU offers an accelerated plan that enables students to graduate in just three years of full-time study. Participants complete the same number of credits but do so through a more intensive course load that includes summer sessions and some online courses. MU offers this accelerated track to students of all majors, and participants can save up to $25,000 on tuition and room and board.

A private Christian college located in southeastern Indiana, Oakland City University is the only college in the country affiliated with the General Baptist Church. The college serves around 2,300 students from its main campus in Oakland City and at extension centers in Bedford, Evansville, Plainfield, and Rockport. Learners can pursue academic programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, with several fully online degrees available in topics such as Christian studies, operations management, and criminal justice.

While OCU maintains a strong Baptist tradition, the college admits students of all Christian denominations. The general undergraduate curriculum includes Bible courses as part of all majors, and students who identify as Baptist can also complete a Baptist heritage course. Students benefit from a strong faith-based campus environment that includes weekly chapel services, Bible study groups, and on-staff ministers. OCU also provides academic services including counseling, advising, and career resources.