Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Indiana
Ranked by graduate earnings
Purdue University Northwest, Saint Mary's College and University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Indiana by graduate earnings. Purdue University Northwest leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,691, College Scorecard. Indiana University - Indianapolis, Purdue University Northwest and Marian University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Indiana: 713, 423 and 265 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 34 Indiana colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 6,933 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
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 | Purdue University Northwest Hammond Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,691 | 423 | 43% | — | $24,552 |
| 2 | Saint Mary's College Notre Dame Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,962 | 65 | 69% | $25,896 | $27,000 |
| 3 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,478 | 156 | 55% | $20,012 | $30,849 |
| 4 | Indiana University - Kokomo Kokomo Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,172 | 92 | 46% | — | $26,832 |
| 5 | Valparaiso University Valparaiso Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,747 | 94 | 70% | $20,155 | $27,366 |
| 6 | Ball State University Muncie Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,719 | 159 | 62% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion Marion Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,557 | 72 | 67% | $21,351 | $31,000 |
| 8 | Indiana University - Northwest Gary Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,335 | 78 | 37% | — | $29,890 |
| 9 | Indiana University - East Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,491 | 59 | 40% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Indiana State University Terre Haute Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,381 | 177 | 43% | — | $30,155 |
Top 4 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 | Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing Lafayette Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $68,665 | 39 | 64% | $27,375 | $38,369 |
| 2 | Fortis College - Indianapolis Indianapolis Private for-profit · Associate degree | $66,396 | 22 | 44% | $31,306 | $37,444 |
| 3 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis Public · Associate degree | $65,738 | 1,617 | 40% | — | $18,000 |
| 4 | Vincennes University Vincennes Public · Associate degree | $60,857 | 126 | 39% | — | $20,060 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing 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 - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public | 713 | $68,136 |
| 2 | Purdue University Northwest Hammond Public | 423 | $77,691 |
| 3 | Marian University Indianapolis Private not-for-profit | 265 | $71,111 |
| 4 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public | 223 | $71,759 |
| 5 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville Public | 203 | $68,945 |
| 6 | Indiana State University Terre Haute Public | 177 | $72,381 |
| 7 | Ball State University Muncie Public | 159 | $73,719 |
| 8 | University of Indianapolis Indianapolis Private not-for-profit | 158 | $71,248 |
| 9 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Private not-for-profit | 156 | $74,478 |
| 10 | Valparaiso University Valparaiso Private not-for-profit | 94 | $73,747 |
ShowHide the other 24 Indiana colleges offering Registered Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis | Public | 1,617 |
| Purdue University Global (Online) | West Lafayette | Public | 1,332 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global (Online) | Marion | Private not-for-profit | 327 |
| Vincennes University | Vincennes | Public | 126 |
| Indiana University - Kokomo | Kokomo | Public | 92 |
| American College of Education (Online) | Indianapolis | Private for-profit | 84 |
| Indiana University - Northwest | Gary | Public | 78 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion | Marion | Private not-for-profit | 72 |
| Indiana University - South Bend | South Bend | Public | 68 |
| Saint Mary's College | Notre Dame | Private not-for-profit | 65 |
| Indiana University - Southeast | New Albany | Public | 61 |
| Indiana University - East | Richmond | Public | 59 |
| Huntington University | Huntington | Private not-for-profit | 58 |
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary of the Woods | Private not-for-profit | 54 |
| Chamberlain University - Indiana | Indianapolis | Private for-profit | 44 |
| Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing | Lafayette | Private not-for-profit | 39 |
| University of Evansville | Evansville | Private not-for-profit | 38 |
| Bethel University | Mishawaka | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| Goshen College | Goshen | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| Anderson University | Anderson | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| Fortis College - Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Private for-profit | 22 |
| Manchester University | North Manchester | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Trine University | Angola | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Marian University - Ancilla | Plymouth | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Indiana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Indiana.
Which Indiana colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Indiana University - Indianapolis (713 graduates a year), Purdue University Northwest (423 graduates a year) and Marian University (265 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Indiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 34 Indiana colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Indiana?+
By graduate earnings, Purdue University Northwest leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Indiana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,691, College Scorecard. Saint Mary's College and University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne follow. By degrees awarded, Indiana University - Indianapolis is the largest, with 713 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Indiana has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Purdue University Northwest tops the list at $77,691. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Indiana?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Indiana is $89,150 (median $83,500), across about 68,980 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
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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