2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Indiana
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value liberal arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Indiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Indiana University Kokomo earned the #1 spot for value among liberal arts schools in Indiana. Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kokomo. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $24,236. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Indiana University Kokomo generally make around $35,482. That is a strong return on a $24,236 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Ivy Tech Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $10,026 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $24,356 early in their careers. Set against $10,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Indiana University Southeast, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $28,948 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $37,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Northwest came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gary. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Indiana University Northwest earn a median of $37,035 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
A rank of #5 makes Indiana University South Bend one of the best values for liberal arts. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $25,319 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $33,716. That is a strong return on a $25,319 median debt. Indiana University South Bend admits about 84% of applicants.
Vincennes University came in at #6 for value in liberal arts this year. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $12,079 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $35,239. Set against $12,079 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #7 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $29,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $41,499. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Northwest came in at #8 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $29,517. Liberal Arts graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $33,295 early in their careers. Set against $29,517 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Southern Indiana placed #9 among the best values for liberal arts. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Students borrow a median of $17,707 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $34,573 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University East ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Richmond, Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $29,072 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Indiana University East generally make around $49,598. Set against $29,072 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Students borrow a median of $21,671 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $52,655. Set against $21,671 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University placed #12 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,258, compared with $22,322 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $33,414 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,750 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $26,965. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $27,724. Set against $26,965 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Grace College And Theological Seminary landed the #14 spot for liberal arts value this year. Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,645. Students borrow a median of $21,211 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Grace College And Theological Seminary earn a median of $42,188 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,211 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Indianapolis ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,200. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $31,000. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $43,509. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. University Of Indianapolis admits about 66% of applicants.
Bethel College Mishawaka earned the #16 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Mishawaka, Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,600. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Bethel College Mishawaka earn a median of $31,754 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Marian University Indiana earned the #17 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Marian University Indiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,664. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $28,633 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $49,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marian University Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
Holy Cross College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,600. Students borrow a median of $23,586 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Holy Cross College earn a median of $33,043 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,586 median debt. Holy Cross College admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Notre Dame came in at #19 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,025. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $18,800. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $45,579 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,800 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
More Liberal Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
