Marion, Indiana Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Marion, Indiana shows: median public in-state tuition $8,208 (+48.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $59,986 (+10.4% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.8% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $24,250 (+80.5% vs U.S.) 8,630 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 8,630 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $8,208 (+48.9% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $59,986 (+10.4% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 91.8% (+3.9 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,882 (+99.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $24,250 (+80.5% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 50.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 82.9%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Marion, Indiana—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Indiana and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Marion 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion, Indiana | $8,208 | $19,882 | $24,250 | 50.8% | 8,630 |
| Indiana (state median) | $6,518 | $9,763 | $16,712 | 53.4% | 309,215 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Marion, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion, Indiana | $59,986 | 91.8% | 82.9% | 4.4% | — | 63.1% | 0.40 |
| Indiana (state median) | $51,943 | 91.8% | 75.6% | 4.6% | — | 72.5% | 0.45 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion, Indiana | $8,208 | $19,882 | $24,250 | 50.8% | 8,630 | $59,986 | 91.8% |
| Indianapolis | $13,200 | $20,262 | $16,500 | 55.1% | 86,148 | $56,978 | 92.6% |
| 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% |
| Terre Haute | $10,258 | $17,560 | $17,364 | 60.5% | 8,585 | $74,820 | 93.8% |
| Evansville | $10,066 | $16,667 | $11,690 | 56.3% | 7,156 | $53,770 | 92.7% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Marion, 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, 66.7%, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 34.9%, Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Top 10 colleges in Marion, 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, 91.8%, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 91.8%, Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Top 10 most selective colleges in Marion, 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, 88.9%, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Top 10 colleges in Marion, 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, $73,557, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $73,557, Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Top 10 colleges in Marion, 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, $84,157, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $84,157, Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Top 10 colleges in Marion, 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, $51,329, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $51,329, Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Top 10 colleges in Marion, 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, $59,093, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $59,093, Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Top 10 colleges in Marion, 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, $59,986, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $59,986, Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Top 10 colleges in Marion, 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, $201,324, Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $169,814, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Marion, 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, $16,898, Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
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Rank 2, Net Price, $22,866, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Top 10 colleges in Marion, 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, 82.9%, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
In-state tuition: Marion, Indiana vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Marion, Indiana median in-state tuition is $8,208, +48.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Marion, Indiana vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Marion, Indiana is $24,250 (+80.5% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Marion, Indiana vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Marion, Indiana center around $59,986 (+10.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Marion, Indiana vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 91.8% at the median Marion, Indiana campus (+3.9 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
Marion, Indiana median public in-state tuition is $8,208, about +48.9% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +45.9%.
Median graduate debt is $24,250 (+80.5% above the U.S. median of $13,432). 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 Marion, Indiana are $59,986, about +10.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 91.8% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+3.9 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 82.9% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.4% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 63.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion (91.8%), Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global (91.8%)—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 Marion, Indiana is 50.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Marion?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 3 campuses in Marion, Indiana with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Marion?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Marion is $8,208 and median net price is $19,882. For Indiana overall, medians are $6,518 and $9,763; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Marion?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Marion is $59,986 vs $51,943 for Indiana and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Marion colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Marion is $24,250 vs $16,712 for Indiana and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Marion?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion (graduation) and Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Marion?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 3 campuses in Marion, Indiana, 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Wesleyan (2).
Sources & related
- Indiana college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON