Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Indiana
Ranked by graduate earnings
Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion, University of Indianapolis and Indiana University - Indianapolis are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Indiana by graduate earnings. Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,763, College Scorecard. Indiana University - Bloomington, University of Southern Indiana and Ball State University award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Indiana: 8,459, 1,247 and 227 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 40 Indiana colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 21,535 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion Marion Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,763 | 22 | 67% | $21,351 | $27,000 |
| 2 | University of Indianapolis Indianapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,509 | 28 | 56% | $18,930 | $31,000 |
| 3 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,499 | 144 | 54% | — | $29,000 |
| 4 | Indiana University - East Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,936 | 79 | 40% | — | $29,072 |
| 5 | Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,564 | 99 | 36% | — | $24,106 |
| 6 | Indiana University - Southeast New Albany Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,440 | 83 | 39% | — | $28,948 |
| 7 | Indiana University - Northwest Gary Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,035 | 64 | 37% | — | $31,000 |
| 8 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,775 | 8,459 | 80% | — | $22,842 |
| 9 | Indiana University - Kokomo Kokomo Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,482 | 90 | 46% | — | $24,236 |
| 10 | Ball State University Muncie Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,269 | 227 | 62% | — | $26,965 |
Top 5 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public · Certificate | $79,921 | 88 | 83% | — | $17,917 |
| 2 | Vincennes University Vincennes Public · Certificate | $31,882 | 1,549 | 39% | — | $12,000 |
| 3 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis Public · Certificate | $22,188 | 8,774 | 40% | — | $9,052 |
| 4 | Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Marion Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Online | $43,511 | 225 | 35% | $18,316 | $24,688 |
| 5 | Indiana Institute of Technology - College of Professional Studies Fort Wayne Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Online | $29,654 | 21 | 28% | $19,930 | $38,348 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Indiana
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public | 8,459 | $35,775 |
| 2 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville Public | 1,247 | $34,573 |
| 3 | Ball State University Muncie Public | 227 | $35,269 |
| 4 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public | 144 | $41,499 |
| 5 | Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Public | 99 | $39,564 |
| 6 | Indiana University - Kokomo Kokomo Public | 90 | $35,482 |
| 7 | Indiana University - Southeast New Albany Public | 83 | $37,440 |
| 8 | Indiana University - East Richmond Public | 79 | $39,936 |
| 9 | Indiana University - Northwest Gary Public | 64 | $37,035 |
| 10 | Indiana State University Terre Haute Public | 55 | $33,414 |
ShowHide the other 30 Indiana colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis | Public | 8,774 |
| Vincennes University | Vincennes | Public | 1,549 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global (Online) | Marion | Private not-for-profit | 225 |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette | Public | 88 |
| Indiana University - South Bend | South Bend | Public | 50 |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | Winona Lake | Private not-for-profit | 36 |
| Bethel University | Mishawaka | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion | Marion | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology - College of Professional Studies (Online) | Fort Wayne | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| American College of Education (Online) | Indianapolis | Private for-profit | 20 |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Purdue University Northwest | Hammond | Public | 17 |
| Holy Cross College | Notre Dame | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Oakland City University | Oakland City | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Marian University | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Calumet College of Saint Joseph | Whiting | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Anderson University | Anderson | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Trine University - Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses (Online) | Angola | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Marian University - Ancilla | Plymouth | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary of the Woods | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology | Fort Wayne | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Saint Mary's College | Notre Dame | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Valparaiso University | Valparaiso | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Trine University | Angola | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Butler University | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Earlham College | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Evansville | Evansville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Wabash College | Crawfordsville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Indiana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Indiana.
Which Indiana colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Indiana University - Bloomington (8,459 graduates a year), University of Southern Indiana (1,247 graduates a year) and Ball State University (227 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Indiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 40 Indiana colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Indiana?+
By graduate earnings, Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Indiana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,763, College Scorecard. University of Indianapolis and Indiana University - Indianapolis follow. By degrees awarded, Indiana University - Bloomington is the largest, with 8,459 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Indiana has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion tops the list at $43,763. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Indiana?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Indiana is $79,970 (median $76,390), across about 1,340 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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