Indiana University-Bloomington
Indiana University-Bloomington — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Indiana University-Bloomington at a Glance
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university in Bloomington, Indiana, United States. It is the flagship campus of Indiana University and is its largest campus, with over 48,000 students. Established as the state's seminary in 1820, the name was changed to "Indiana College" in 1829 and to "Indiana University" in 1838.
1820
206 years old
$4.0B
$4.05 billion (2025) (system-wide)
48,424
36,833 undergrad · 10,694 grad
2,149
1,937 acres
Identity
Is Indiana University-Bloomington Worth It?
Indiana University-Bloomington delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $16,264/year, it's priced 20% below average, while graduates go on to earn $63,742 — 19% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 81% graduation rate means roughly 19% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: Indiana University-Bloomington delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Indiana University-Bloomington compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #8 of 29 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | San Jose State University | 96 | $13,760 | $78,988 |
| #3 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #4 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #5 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| #6 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 87 | $16,778 | $69,020 |
| #8 | Indiana University-Bloomington | 79 | $16,264 | $63,742 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Indiana University-Bloomington's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Indiana University-Bloomington
The highest-earning program at Indiana University-Bloomington is Computer Science at $67,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Music at $16,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Indiana University-Bloomington earns $67,600, while a Music graduate earns $16,100. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $22,611 in median debt vs. $19,500 for Music.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $16,264/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $67,600 | $67,600 | $22,611 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $62,300 | $62,300 | $20,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $59,700 | $59,700 | $23,045 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $56,800 | $56,800 | $24,265 |
| Mathematics | $54,000 | $54,000 | $22,250 |
| Economics | $49,400 | $49,400 | $21,500 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $44,500 | $44,500 | $20,381 |
| Public Administration | $41,900 | $41,900 | $20,963 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $41,400 | $41,400 | $23,625 |
| Chemistry | $39,900 | $39,900 | $20,875 |
| Public Health | $39,800 | $39,800 | $19,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $37,500 | $37,500 | $22,005 |
| Political Science and Government | $36,800 | $36,800 | $20,118 |
| Journalism | $35,800 | $35,800 | $19,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $35,300 | $35,300 | $20,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $35,200 | $35,200 | $20,000 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $33,100 | $33,100 | $21,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $32,800 | $32,800 | $22,750 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $32,500 | $32,500 | $26,000 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $31,200 | $31,200 | $23,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $31,000 | $31,000 | $20,260 |
| Psychology, General | $30,600 | $30,600 | $22,500 |
| Social Work | $30,200 | $30,200 | $19,500 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $29,800 | $29,800 | $23,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $28,700 | $28,700 | $22,250 |
| Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management | $28,700 | $28,700 | $22,000 |
| Biology, General | $28,500 | $28,500 | $21,500 |
| History | $28,300 | $28,300 | $19,774 |
| Sociology | $28,200 | $28,200 | $20,362 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $28,000 | $28,000 | $21,011 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $27,500 | $27,500 | $19,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,300 | $27,300 | $19,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $26,900 | $26,900 | $21,500 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $24,400 | $24,400 | $19,256 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $23,400 | $23,400 | $20,500 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $22,600 | $22,600 | $23,749 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $20,900 | $20,900 | $19,175 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $19,700 | $19,700 | $19,036 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $19,400 | $19,400 | $24,125 |
| Anthropology | $19,200 | $19,200 | $20,500 |
| Music | $16,100 | $16,100 | $19,500 |
Similar Colleges in IN
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Bloomington, IN
- Student Body
- 37,806 students
- Admission Rate
- 78%
- Graduation Rate
- 81%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $16,264
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $63,742
- Median Student Debt
- $19,509