Gary, Indiana Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Gary, Indiana: median public in-state tuition $8,424 (+47.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $48,764 (-17.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 90.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $17,858 (+32.3% vs U.S.) 2,701 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Gary serve students across Indiana with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 2,701 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $8,424. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Gary, Indiana and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Gary 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary, Indiana | $8,424 | $18,906 | $17,858 | 36.1% | 2,701 |
| 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: Gary, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary, Indiana | $48,764 | 90.4% | 71.4% | 10.8% | — | 57.3% | 0.41 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary, Indiana | $8,424 | $18,906 | $17,858 | 36.1% | 2,701 | $48,764 | 90.4% |
| 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% |
Top college in Gary, Indiana by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 36.1%, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
Top college in Gary, Indiana by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 90.4%, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
Most selective college in Gary, Indiana (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 73.4%, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
Top college in Gary, Indiana by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $82,500, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
Top college in Gary, Indiana by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $86,888, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
Top college in Gary, Indiana by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,121, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
Top college in Gary, Indiana by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $49,184, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
Top college in Gary, Indiana by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $48,764, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
Top college in Gary, Indiana by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $215,860, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
Most affordable college in Gary, Indiana (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $5,567, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
Top college in Gary, Indiana by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 71.4%, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
In-state tuition: Gary, Indiana vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Gary, Indiana median in-state tuition is $8,424, +47.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Gary, Indiana vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Gary, Indiana is $17,858 (+32.3% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $14,568.
Median earnings (10 years out): Gary, Indiana vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Gary, Indiana center around $48,764 (-17.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Gary, Indiana vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 90.4% at the median Gary, Indiana campus (-2.6 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
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
Gary, Indiana median public in-state tuition is $8,424, about +47.8% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +46.7%.
Median graduate debt is $17,858 (+32.3% 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.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Gary, Indiana are $48,764, about -17.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 90.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (-2.6 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 71.4% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 10.8% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 57.3% (U.S. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Indiana University-Northwest (90.4%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Gary, Indiana is 36.1% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Gary?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Gary, Indiana with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Gary?
Median in-state tuition in Gary is $8,424 and median net price is $18,906. For Indiana overall, medians are $6,518 and $9,752; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Gary?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Gary is $48,764 vs $58,791 for Indiana and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Gary colleges?
Median completer debt in Gary is $17,858 vs $17,750 for Indiana and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Gary?
Top campuses on this page include Indiana University-Northwest (graduation) and Indiana University-Northwest (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Gary?
Among 2 campuses in Gary, Indiana, 1 campus reports at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment in U.S. Department of Education data; examples include Indiana University-Northwest.
Sources & related
- Indiana college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON