Columbus, Indiana Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Columbus, Indiana: median public in-state tuition $6,518 (+18.2% vs national median) median graduate debt $19,500 (+46.9% vs U.S.).
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Median public in-state tuition: $6,518 (+18.2% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $19,500 (+46.9% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,211
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Columbus serve students across Indiana with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with median in-state tuition near $6,518. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Columbus, Indiana and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Columbus vs Indiana & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, Indiana | $6,518 | N/A | $19,500 | N/A | N/A |
| Indiana (state median) | $6,518 | $9,763 | $16,666 | 54.0% | 309,065 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Columbus, Indiana vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, Indiana | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| Indiana (state median) | $51,943 | 91.8% | 75.6% | 4.6% | — | 72.5% | 0.45 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Indiana (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, Indiana | $6,518 | N/A | $19,500 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Indianapolis | $15,072 | $21,602 | $13,000 | 55.8% | 85,998 | $56,978 | 92.6% |
| West Lafayette | $10,046 | $11,185 | $22,789 | 66.5% | 75,331 | $72,424 | 93.0% |
| Bloomington | $8,649 | $19,058 | $10,727 | 80.2% | 37,915 | $63,742 | 92.5% |
| Bloomington | $8,649 | $19,058 | $10,727 | 80.2% | 37,915 | $63,742 | 92.5% |
| Muncie | $8,118 | $17,113 | $10,114 | 62.3% | 14,051 | $51,833 | 94.4% |
| Fort Wayne | $10,329 | $19,592 | $20,500 | 42.0% | 11,584 | $47,327 | 89.3% |
| Notre Dame | $53,230 | $26,728 | $24,000 | 72.9% | 10,915 | $59,354 | 92.5% |
| Marion | $8,208 | $19,882 | $24,250 | 50.8% | 8,630 | $59,986 | 91.8% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
In-state tuition: Columbus, Indiana vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Columbus, Indiana median in-state tuition is $6,518, +18.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Columbus, Indiana vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Columbus, Indiana is $19,500 (+46.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,211.
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Columbus, Indiana median public in-state tuition is $6,518, about +18.2% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +15.9%.
Median graduate debt is $19,500 (+46.9% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Columbus?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Columbus, Indiana with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Columbus?
Median in-state tuition in Columbus is $6,518 and median net price is N/A. For Indiana overall, medians are $6,518 and $9,763; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Columbus?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Columbus is N/A vs $51,943 for Indiana and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Columbus colleges?
Median completer debt in Columbus is $19,500 vs $16,666 for Indiana and $13,271 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Columbus?
Among 3 College Scorecard campuses in Columbus, Indiana, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Indiana college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON