Columbus, Indiana Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Columbus, Indiana: median public in-state tuition $6,518 (+14.3% vs national median) median graduate debt $18,750 (+38.9% vs U.S.).
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 | $18,750 | N/A | N/A |
| Indiana (state median) | $6,518 | $9,752 | $17,750 | 55.0% | 309,065 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
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) | $58,791 | 92.7% | 75.6% | 4.6% | — | 72.5% | 0.38 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
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 | $18,750 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Indianapolis | $15,929 | $23,459 | $16,500 | 55.9% | 85,998 | $61,898 | 94.8% |
| West Lafayette | $10,044 | $10,404 | $22,188 | 60.8% | 75,331 | $80,082 | 95.6% |
| Bloomington | $8,649 | $19,578 | $10,166 | 80.0% | 37,915 | $70,105 | 94.8% |
| Bloomington | $8,649 | $19,578 | $10,166 | 80.0% | 37,915 | $70,105 | 94.8% |
| Muncie | $8,118 | $18,002 | $9,581 | 61.6% | 14,051 | $56,674 | 94.9% |
| Fort Wayne | $10,169 | $19,594 | $19,144 | 42.0% | 11,584 | $49,346 | 88.3% |
| Notre Dame | $55,093 | $25,339 | $19,675 | 74.8% | 10,915 | $69,044 | 93.8% |
| Marion | $8,448 | $19,754 | $23,375 | 48.1% | 8,630 | $65,692 | 92.7% |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
In-state tuition: Columbus, Indiana vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Columbus, Indiana median in-state tuition is $6,518, +14.3% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Columbus, Indiana vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Columbus, Indiana is $18,750 (+38.9% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $14,568.
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 +14.3% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +13.5%.
Median graduate debt is $18,750 (+38.9% above the U.S. median of $13,500). 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 $9,752; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Columbus?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Columbus is N/A vs $58,791 for Indiana and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Columbus colleges?
Median completer debt in Columbus is $18,750 vs $17,750 for Indiana and $13,500 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, none report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment, and none 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