2025 Best Colleges in Indiana

Academic Highlights: 75 majors are offered across six undergraduate colleges. A solid 61% of courses enroll fewer than 20 students, and 18% have single-digit numbers. Just 9% of courses have an enrollment of more than 50 undergrads. The Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement offers hundreds of opportunities for conducting research, both individually and alongside faculty; more than one-third of graduates ultimately partake. One of the top universities for study abroad participation, 87% of Notre Dame undergrads select one of 50+ programs in 35 countries; the satisfaction rate for study abroad experiences is above 90%.

Professional Outcomes: A spectacular 98% of 2023 Notre Dame graduates were employed, continuing their educations, volunteering, or serving in the military within six months of completing their degrees. Top companies where recent alumni set up shop included Deloitte, EY, PwC, Microsoft, Amazon, Bank of America, KPMG, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and McKinsey & Co. The median starting salary across all majors is $82,000, a mark that is significantly higher than the national average for college grads. The highest concentration of recent alumni can be found in Illinois followed by New York, Indiana, California, and Texas.

Academic Highlights: Purdue offers over 200 majors at ten discipline-specific colleges, and 37% of course sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer. Undergraduates conduct more than 2,000 research projects per year; they can connect with professors during the academic year or apply to participate in a Summer Research Fellowship. Discipline-specific research programs, a research pitch competition, research conferences & symposiums, and publishing opportunities abound. 1,300 students per year elect to study abroad at one of 400 programs in 50 countries.

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after receiving their diplomas, 65% of 2023 grads headed to the world of employment while 25% headed to graduate/professional school. Companies employing the greatest number of recent alumni were Eli Lilly & Company, Amazon, Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase, PepsiCo, and Cummins, Inc. The average starting salary was $71k across all degree programs. The majority of alumni remain in Indiana with Illinois, California, Texas, New York, and Wisconsin rounding out the five next most common destinations.

Academic Highlights: IU offers 200+ majors The university’s 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio is strong for a school of Indiana’s size, and it does make an effort to keep undergraduate classes on the small side. While there are a number of introductory courses that transpire in giant lecture halls, 35% of all sections contain no more than 19 students. Experiential learning opportunities are available to those who seize them; over one-quarter of arts and sciences students completed research with a faculty member. On the study abroad front, roughly the same percentage of A&S graduates spent a semester in a foreign country. In total, the school offers 380 programs in 70 countries and 20 languages.

Professional Outcomes: Class of 2023 grads reached their next employment or graduate school destination at a 92% rate within six months of receiving their degrees. The median starting salary for IU grads ranged between $54,000 and $60,000. Among the largest employers of Hoosier alumni are local pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, EY, Amazon, PwC, Salesforce, Deloitte, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Accenture, and Google. Indianapolis, Chicago, Bloomington, and New York City are the locales where you can find the greatest concentration of Indiana graduates.

Academic Highlights: Rose-Hulman offers 22 undergraduate degree programs. A student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 and a minimal presence of graduate students bodes well for both class sizesand the number of introductory classes that are taught by full-time faculty members, 96% of whom hold PhDs. The average class size is twenty, and 97% of sections are smaller than 29 students. Undergraduate research can be arranged through the Independent Project/Research Opportunities Program, which connects you to faculty mentors and sets you on the path toward presenting your work at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of exiting, an enviable 99% of 2023 grads had landed at their next destination, whether employment or graduate school. Top employers of recent graduates included Caterpillar, Texas Instruments, Amazon, Milwaukee Tool, and Epic. Raytheon, Microsoft, and Eli Lilly also have a strong alumni representation. The average first-year salary across all majors was $79k. 2023 grads immediately enrolled in graduate school at universities like Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, and Duke.

Academic Highlights: No matter which of the 75+ majors, minors, or pathways you pursue at DePauw, you will enjoy the benefits of small class sizes and face time with faculty. A 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and the fact that only eight class sections in the whole university enroll more than 29 students assures that. Even more impressive, 12% of courses enroll single-digit numbers of students, and 69% enroll fewer than 19.

Professional Outcomes: The university’s “Gold Commitment” guarantees that all grads will land at their next destination within six months or that they will be provided with an entry-level professional opportunity or an additional tuition-free semester. Ninety-two percent of the Class of 2023 reported enrolling in grad school or securing employment, with an average starting salary of $61,242. Top employers of recent DePauw grads include Eli Lilly and Company, IU Health, Teach for America, JP Morgan Chase, and the Indiana Department of Health.

Academic Highlights: As one of America’s premier men’s liberal arts colleges, Wabash College delivers an exceptionally personalized education through its 27 majors. With an outstanding 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 75% of classes enrolling fewer than 20 students, Wabash fosters intense intellectual engagement and mentorship. The college emphasizes global perspectives, with 25% of students participating in off-campus study programs before graduation. This focused academic environment combines the best traditions of men’s education with innovative, real-world learning opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: Wabash graduates achieve extraordinary success, with 97% of the Class of 2024 employed or in graduate school. Alumni advance to top graduate programs at Duke, Vanderbilt, and Notre Dame, while others launch careers with leading employers like Eli Lilly, Amazon, and Penske Entertainment. While 64% choose to build their careers in Indiana, Wabash men are equally competitive in national job markets, demonstrating the portable value of their rigorous liberal arts education combined with professional preparation.

Academic Highlights: At Butler, undergrads can select from over 90 academic majors. An excellent 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio translates to very few large lecture halls; just 3% of class sections contain more than 50 students. Known for the quality of its undergraduate teaching, Butler delivers a quality education without a harrowing admissions process.

Professional Outcomes: Butler grads enjoyed a 98% placement rate in 2023. The median starting salary is a solid $65,497 and prominent employers of last year’s grads include NBCUniversal, Eli Lilly, USA Today, Cleveland Clinic, Pfizer,  Ascension Health, and The Walt Disney Company. Butler alumni enter all types of graduate institutions including the likes of Purdue, NYU, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Yale, and Northwestern.

Academic Highlights: Earlham College stands among America’s premier liberal arts institutions, renowned for its collaborative learning environment rooted in Quaker values. With an exceptional 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio (one of the most intimate in higher education), students develop transformative relationships with faculty while choosing from 40+ majors and innovative applied minors that bridge academics with experiential learning through capstone projects. The college’s global character shines through its diverse community representing 40 states and 30 countries, while programs like the Epic Advantage Grant and McNair Research Intensive provide unparalleled undergraduate research opportunities that prepare students for postgraduate success.

Professional Outcomes: Earlham graduates achieve impressive long-term outcomes, with an 89% five-year success rate (69% employed, 31% in graduate programs). Alumni advance to top institutions, including Georgetown and Carnegie Mellon, while others launch careers at organizations ranging from Amazon to Richmond Community Schools, with many choosing entrepreneurial paths. While some contribute to Earlham’s own vibrant academic community, others make their mark in major hubs like New York City, demonstrating how the college’s unique combination of Quaker values, intellectual rigor, and hands-on learning produces graduates who thrive in diverse professional landscapes.

Academic Highlights: Valparaiso University delivers a transformative liberal arts education enhanced by robust professional preparation. With an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, average class size of 20, and 100% of courses taught by professors (not teaching assistants), students receive unparalleled mentorship across 70+ majors in five colleges. The university’s commitment to hands-on learning shines through its 96% experiential participation rate, including internships, faculty-led research, and capstone projects.

Professional Outcomes: Valpo graduates achieve exceptional results, with a 98% success rate (64% employed at an average $67,744 starting salary, 33% in graduate programs). An impressive 92% express satisfaction with their first career position, typically in the Midwest at top employers like Caterpillar and Eli Lilly. Others advance to elite institutions, including Johns Hopkins and Purdue, demonstrating how Valpo’s blend of liberal arts foundations, professional experiences, and personalized attention creates graduates who excel in both immediate careers and long-term professional growth.

Academic Highlights: Ball State University offers students an expansive academic portfolio with almost 120 undergraduate majors across seven distinct colleges, ensuring every learner finds their ideal path. The university combines the resources of a large institution with personalized attention, featuring a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class sizes of 22 students. Ball State distinguishes itself through immersive, hands-on learning; each year, 4,300 students participate in real-world projects, while programs like the Teacher-Scholar program and Research Experience Program provide robust undergraduate research opportunities that prepare students for professional success.

Professional Outcomes: Ball State graduates achieve exceptional career outcomes, with a 94% placement rate for recent graduates. Alumni excel at top employers, including Eli Lilly and Company, Indiana University Health, Salesforce, and Amazon, as well as educational institutions like Purdue University and Ivy Tech Community College. While many build their careers in the Greater Indianapolis area, the university’s strong reputation ensures opportunities nationwide. These outcomes reflect Ball State’s commitment to blending academic rigor with practical, career-ready experiences.