Hammond, Indiana Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Hammond, Indiana: median public in-state tuition $8,675 (+57.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $48,318 (-11.2% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 89.8% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $17,766 (+33.9% vs U.S.) 5,697 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 5,697 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $8,675 (+57.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $48,318 (-11.2% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 89.8% (+1.8 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $13,290 (+33.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $17,766 (+33.9% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,211
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 42.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 65.7%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Hammond serve students across Indiana with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 5,697 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $8,675. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Hammond, Indiana and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Hammond 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond, Indiana | $8,675 | $13,290 | $17,766 | 42.9% | 5,697 |
| 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: Hammond, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond, Indiana | $48,318 | 89.8% | 65.7% | 11.9% | — | 59.6% | 0.44 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond, Indiana | $8,675 | $13,290 | $17,766 | 42.9% | 5,697 | $48,318 | 89.8% |
| 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% |
Top college in Hammond, 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, 42.9%, Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
Top college in Hammond, 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, 89.8%, Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
Most selective college in Hammond, 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, 72.4%, Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
Top college in Hammond, 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, $79,917, Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
Top college in Hammond, 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, $96,206, Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
Top college in Hammond, 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, $48,439, Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
Top college in Hammond, 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, $49,368, Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
Top college in Hammond, 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, $48,318, Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
Top college in Hammond, 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, $213,476, Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
Most affordable college in Hammond, 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, $6,079, Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
Top college in Hammond, 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, 65.7%, Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
In-state tuition: Hammond, Indiana vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Hammond, Indiana median in-state tuition is $8,675, +57.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Hammond, Indiana vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Hammond, Indiana is $17,766 (+33.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,211.
Median earnings (10 years out): Hammond, Indiana vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Hammond, Indiana center around $48,318 (-11.2% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Hammond, Indiana vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 89.8% at the median Hammond, Indiana campus (+1.8 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
Hammond, Indiana median public in-state tuition is $8,675, about +57.4% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +54.2%.
Median graduate debt is $17,766 (+33.9% 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.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Hammond, Indiana are $48,318, about -11.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 89.8% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+1.8 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 65.7% 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 11.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 59.6% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Purdue University Northwest (89.8%)—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 Hammond, Indiana is 42.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Hammond?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Hammond, Indiana with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Hammond?
Median in-state tuition in Hammond is $8,675 and median net price is $13,290. For Indiana overall, medians are $6,518 and $9,763; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Hammond?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Hammond is $48,318 vs $51,943 for Indiana and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Hammond colleges?
Median completer debt in Hammond is $17,766 vs $16,666 for Indiana and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Hammond?
Top campuses on this page include Purdue University Northwest (graduation) and Purdue 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 Hammond?
Among 2 campuses in Hammond, Indiana, 2 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Purdue University Northwest and Lil Lou's Beauty and Barber College-Hammond.
Sources & related
- Indiana college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON