2023 Best Nursing Schools in Indiana
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Schools in Indiana to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 22 schools in Indiana to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Top Nursing Schools in Indiana
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Purdue University Northwest the best school in Indiana for nursing students working on their degree. Located in Hammond, Indiana, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,940 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,260 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $155 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Purdue Northwest, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,610 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 22 schools in Indiana that were part of this year’s ranking, Ivy Tech Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31,118 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,090 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Ivy Tech Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,780 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Mary’s College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Indiana list. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 415 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $38,743 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from St. Mary’s College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,893 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Indiana list. This large public school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 13,356 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,656 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $391 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Purdue graduates make an average of $53,430 annually.
The excellent programs at Ball State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Indiana. Ball State University is a fairly large public school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 6,518 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Ball State accumulate an average of $26,497 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $283, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Ball State graduates make an average of $42,329 annually.
University of Southern Indiana came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Indiana ranking. Located in Evansville, Indiana, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,556 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $21,374 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $146, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, USI graduates make an average of $38,819 annually.
Valparaiso University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Valparaiso University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Valparaiso, Indiana that handed out 1,025 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Valpo accumulate an average of $41,401 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $310 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Valpo graduates make an average of $47,875 annually.
With a ranking of #8, Goshen College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Goshen, Indiana, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 227 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Goshen accumulate an average of $21,344 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Goshen graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $73,422 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #9, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8,172 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from IUPUI accumulate an average of $33,365 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $187. During the early years of their career, IUPUI graduates make an average of $52,865 annually.
With a ranking of #10, University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 696 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from University of St. Francis Fort Wayne accumulate an average of $33,979 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $273, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, University of St. Francis Fort Wayne graduates make an average of $55,001 annually.
University of Indianapolis landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,525 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UIndy accumulate an average of $41,234 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $345 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UIndy graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,080 during the early year of their career.
Marian University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. Marian University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 1,063 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $54,997 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $339.After graduating from Marian, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,396 during the early years of their career.
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Indiana list. IWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marion, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,385 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from IWU accumulate an average of $32,440 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $346.After graduating from IWU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,269 during the early years of their career.
Indiana University - Southeast came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Indiana ranking. Located in New Albany, Indiana, the small public school handed out 952 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Indiana University - Southeast accumulate an average of $19,200 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Indiana University - Southeast graduates make an average of $39,554 annually.
Bethel University - Mishawaka came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Indiana ranking. Located in Mishawaka, Indiana, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 348 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $25,810 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Bethel University graduates make an average of $42,447 annually.
With a ranking of #16, Indiana University - South Bend did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Indiana University - South Bend is a small public school situated in South Bend, Indiana. It awarded 924 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $24,085 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Indiana University - South Bend, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,131 during the early years of their career.
Indiana State University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Indiana State is a medium-sized public school situated in Terre Haute, Indiana. It awarded 2,573 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $29,651 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $186 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Indiana State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,808 during the early year of their career.
came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Indiana ranking.
Indiana University - Kokomo came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Indiana ranking. Indiana University - Kokomo is a small public school located in Kokomo, Indiana that handed out 687 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,639 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, IU Kokomo graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,664 during the early year of their career.
Indiana University - East came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Indiana ranking. IU East is located in Richmond, Indiana and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 911 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $20,766 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from IU East, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,174 during the early years of their career.
Indiana University - Northwest did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. IU Northwest is a public institution located in Gary, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 630 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $23,966 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, IU Northwest graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,191 during the early year of their career.
Vincennes University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #22 on the list. Vincennes University is a fairly large public school located in Vincennes, Indiana that handed out 3,085 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,774 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $142 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Vincennes University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,687 during the early year of their career.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 22 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.