Whether you're currently working in Indiana's motorsports or advanced manufacturing industries, or if you're looking to start a new career in a prevalent field like healthcare or IT, earning an online degree can help your career prospects. The skills you can learn from an online degree program can lead to more interesting responsibilities, increased job salaries and even better job security. Plus, online degree programs can allow you to take classes at times that fit with your schedule, helping you to advance your career even if you're already working or raising a family.

Let's take a look at what's available in terms of online colleges in Indiana:

  • Of the 44 online schools in Indiana, associate degrees can be earned at 36 and bachelor's degrees can be attained at 39. At the graduate level, 35 Indiana institutions offer online master's degrees programs and 12 offer online doctoral degree programs.
  • The public Indiana schools that offer the most online degree programs include Ball State University, Indiana State University and Ivy Tech Community College.
  • The private Indiana schools with the most online degree programs are Kaplan University-Indianapolis and Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global.
  • Almost 20 of the nonprofit online colleges in Indiana are faith-based institutions.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has two programs in place designed to help more Indiana residents earn higher education credentials. "Next Level Jobs" is a grant-funded certificate program that focuses on high-demand jobs in Indiana, such as manufacturing, information technology and transportation and logistics. There's also the "15 to Finish" program, which strives to raise college completion rates and help students reduce their degree costs.

To learn about the best online colleges in Indiana, look at best jobs in the state by metro area, and find out about state-specific scholarships and loans, we encourage you to keep reading.

What Makes a Good Online College in Indiana?

Students trying to pick an online college often look to rankings to help them narrow down their options. To help students in their search, we have created multiple rankings of the best online colleges in Indiana. Every college in our rankings has been accredited by an approved accrediting agency, such as the Higher Learning Commission or the International Christian Accrediting Association. To learn more about accreditation, see our "What is College Accreditation?" page, or check out the Indiana Department of Education website. We rank schools using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS); learn why we think these factors are relevant to online students in the "What Makes a Good Online College?" section of our "About Us" page.

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Best Online Colleges in Indiana for 2019-20

This ranking of the top 10 online colleges in Indiana is supplemented with hard data on each school, including the number of online programs offered, average in-state tuition and percentage of students participating in distance education. Factors like these were carefully selected to help students identify schools that create strong online environments.

1

Ball State University

Tuition & Fees
$9,896
Distance Education Participation
45%
Number of Programs Offered
65
School Type
4-year
2

Indiana University-East

Tuition & Fees
$7,344
Distance Education Participation
78%
Number of Programs Offered
16
School Type
4-year
3

Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis

Tuition & Fees
$9,465
Distance Education Participation
39%
Number of Programs Offered
41
School Type
4-year
4

Indiana State University

Tuition & Fees
$9,090
Distance Education Participation
43%
Number of Programs Offered
58
School Type
4-year
5

University of Southern Indiana

Tuition & Fees
$8,349
Distance Education Participation
50%
Number of Programs Offered
14
School Type
4-year
6

Harrison College-Indianapolis

Tuition & Fees
N/A
Distance Education Participation
N/A
Number of Programs Offered
N/A
School Type
4-year
7

Indiana Institute of Technology

Tuition & Fees
$26,900
Distance Education Participation
35%
Number of Programs Offered
22
School Type
4-year
8

Indiana University-Bloomington

Tuition & Fees
$10,681
Distance Education Participation
18%
Number of Programs Offered
28
School Type
4-year
9

University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne

Tuition & Fees
$30,430
Distance Education Participation
47%
Number of Programs Offered
7
School Type
4-year
10

Grace College and Theological Seminary

Tuition & Fees
$24,768
Distance Education Participation
38%
Number of Programs Offered
15
School Type
4-year
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Affordable Online Colleges in Indiana for 2019-20

The lists below highlight the most affordable online colleges in Indiana, divided into one list for 2-year schools and another for 4-year schools. Both lists use in-state tuition costs as reported by each school to IPEDS.

Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Financial Aid Resources in Indiana

If you plan to attend a college or university in Indiana, you've got lots of Hoosier support on your side. As of 2016, Indiana ranks seventh in the country for the most need-based grant aid per full-time undergraduate student. Add to that the opportunities for scholarships and the state's Commission for Higher Education eStudent system, which simplifies the whole financial process, and you can see why so many students in Indiana are confident college-bounders.

To get your financial aid research started, we've compiled some of the available state scholarships and grants for students attending college in Indiana.

What Grants and Scholarships are Available in Indiana?

Indiana students who work hard in high school and plan to stay in-state for college put themselves at an advantage to earn a substantial scholarship toward college. Here are three programs that are helping to make Hoosier education dreams come true.

Source: Scholarship directory data is copyrighted material which is reproduced on this website by permission of CollegeXpress, a division of Carnegie Dartlet. Copyright © 2020 by CollegeXpress.

Don't miss our Ultimate Guide to Grants or Ultimate Guide to Scholarships for advice and strategies on finding these types of financial aid.

Student Loans in Indiana

Finding a quality student loan program helps to make post-graduate payoff more manageable. Indiana's loan program is designed not only to help students pay for college, but also to help them maximize their financial aid.

The ISM helps families find free financial aid money before supplying loans to close the gap. They offer fixed and variable rate options with several repayment types to suit different borrowers.

  • Application deadline:  N/A
  • Award amount:  Varies

Learn more about student loans in the Ultimate Guide to Student Loans.

Additional Resources for Financial Aid in Indiana

Costs for Out-of-State Students in Indiana

As in many other states, Indiana public colleges and universities have different tuition rates for residents and non-residents. You must call the state home for 12 consecutive months to be considered a resident for tuition purposes. That means not only having a physical presence in the state but also registering to vote, paying taxes or holding a job, among other things.

If you fail to meet the Indiana criteria for residency, you could be charged higher out-of-state tuition rates. However, don't let that deter you from applying to the school of your dreams. You may be able to get reduced or in-state tuition by:

  • Relocating to Indiana one year before applying for a degree program
  • Enrolling in the Indiana National Guard
  • Participating the Midwest Student Exchange Program

Ten states participate in the Midwest Student Exchange Program, which provides reduced tuition rates for eligible out-of-state students. There may also be scholarships and grants available from specific institutions, and some schools may waive out-of-state tuition for college employees, active military members and others.

Talk to your admissions or financial aid office about options available to non-resident students, and visit the following links for further information on the subject.

Best Careers in Indiana

EmploymentEmployment GrowthMedian High School SalaryMedian Bachelor's Salary
3,179,2307.6%$31,381$49,599

Top Indiana Industries

*Industry rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.

Top IndustriesEmploymentProjected GrowthAverage Salary
Petroleum and coal products manufacturing1,213,5708%$58,406
Pipeline transportation857,6009%$64,674
Ambulatory healthcare services2,143,96010%$58,675
Chemical manufacturing1,683,8107%$56,616
Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing1,385,8406%$55,133
Oil and gas extraction1,245,7608%$61,025
Hospitals; state, local, and private2,332,03010%$57,131
Support activities for mining1,275,4107%$57,024
Paper manufacturing1,313,4906%$54,862
Computer and electronic product manufacturing1,578,7406%$55,373

The healthcare business is booming in Indiana -- so much so that the state is having a difficult time keeping up with the demand. For example, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration's Bureau of Health Workforce, by 2030 the state may need an additional 7,000 nurses in order to meet the demand for these professionals in various healthcare settings. And nurses are not the only ones that are affected by the increased demand for healthcare professionals: WTHR-TV Channel 13 in Indianapolis reports that by 2030, the state may also require an additional 813 primary care physicians to meet the anticipated need.

Another key industry that is thriving in Indiana is the information technology sector, which is growing around the state, thanks to several startups opening there. Electrical equipment, appliances, components, computers and other electronic products are all increasing in demand as Indiana's new businesses pick up steam.

This is an exciting time for many industries in Indiana. However, in order for workers to reap the benefits, they need the necessary training. According to Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, by 2020, 62 percent of jobs in the state are likely to require a higher education. In order to reach this goal, Indiana has developed grants designed to help businesses enhance the training and skills of their workers.

Continue reading to find out more information about the best careers in Indiana by looking at specific metropolitan areas around the state.

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metro Area

Total Population
2,007,497
Median salary for high school grads
$31,192
Median salary with a bachelor's degree
$53,504
% of the population enrolled in college or grad school
22.1%
Median rent
$888

The Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson area is home to several major companies in the manufacturing and logistics sectors. For example, companies like Allison Transmission, Celadon, Raytheon, FedEx and Express Scripts have a presence in the area, creating a steady need for general and operations managers, as well as sales representatives and related careers.

Best CareersMinimum EducationAverage SalaryEmployment
Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree$106,7502,070
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree$104,9403,440
Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree$123,3302,310
Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree$101,8101,920
General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree$122,50020,240

*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.

Fort Wayne, IN Metro Area

Total Population
431,612
Median salary for high school grads
$30,814
Median salary with a bachelor's degree
$46,739
% of the population enrolled in college or grad school
22.1%
Median rent
$739

Fort Wayne is the home to several major medical facilities where nurse practitioners and medical and health managers can look for employment. Some of these organizations include Parkview Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation, the Lutheran Health Network and VA Northern Indiana Health Care System. In addition, those in the engineering field may find opportunities at several large Fort Wayne employers, such as Raytheon, Harris Corp., BFGoodrich and Indiana Michigan Power.

Best CareersMinimum EducationAverage SalaryEmployment
Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree$102,540530
Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree$104,080720
Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree$80,600820
Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree$86,460790
Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree$94,020440

*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.

Evansville, IN-KY Metro Area

Total Population
314,967
Median salary for high school grads
$30,275
Median salary with a bachelor's degree
$47,402
% of the population enrolled in college or grad school
24.4%
Median rent
$754

Prominent organizations such as St. Vincent Evansville, St. Mary's Medical Center and Deaconess Hospital offer Evansville's healthcare professionals various opportunities, including registered nurse, nurse practitioner or physical therapist. Evansville is also the home of manufacturing companies like Koch Enterprises, Inc., Flanders Electric Motor Service Inc. and Whirlpool Corporation, which may be great places for general and operations managers and industrial production managers to look for employment.

Best CareersMinimum EducationAverage SalaryEmployment
Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree$109,190440
General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree$96,4503,230
Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree$81,560410
Registered NursesBachelor's degree$63,3104,390
Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree$101,730370

*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.

Sources