2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Indiana

[General Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/economics-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general economics education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general economics students.
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2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Indiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Economics Schools
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #1 spot for value among general economics schools in Indiana. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $18,711 to complete the general economics program here. Early-career general economics graduates make about $45,443. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general economics will find it at University Of Southern Indiana, which ranked #2. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Students borrow a median of $21,999 to complete the general economics program here. General Economics graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $47,216 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. General Economics graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $59,142. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Ball State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general economics, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general economics graduates is $22,054. General Economics graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $56,782 early in their careers. Set against $22,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Valparaiso University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools. Set in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,450. Typical student debt for general economics graduates is $26,724. Early-career general economics graduates make about $51,987. That is a strong return on a $26,724 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Wabash College placed #6 among the best values for general economics. Wabash College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Crawfordsville. In-state tuition and fees average $50,800. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general economics program here. Early-career general economics graduates make about $51,815. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Wabash College admits about 63% of applicants.
Butler University placed #7 among the best values for general economics. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,560. Students borrow a median of $25,351 to complete the general economics program here. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. Set against $25,351 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.