South Bend, Indiana Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for South Bend, Indiana shows: median public in-state tuition $7,471 (+35.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $44,947 (-17.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.3% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $16,901 (+25.8% vs U.S.) 4,452 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 5 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 4,452 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $7,471 (+35.5% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $44,947 (-17.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 91.3% (+3.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $23,182 (+132.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $16,901 (+25.8% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 40.1%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 65.1%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in South Bend, Indiana—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Indiana and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
South Bend 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend, Indiana | $7,471 | $23,182 | $16,901 | 40.1% | 4,452 |
| 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: South Bend, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend, Indiana | $44,947 | 91.3% | 65.1% | 13.0% | — | 66.5% | 0.48 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend, Indiana | $7,471 | $23,182 | $16,901 | 40.1% | 4,452 | $44,947 | 91.3% |
| 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% |
| Marion | $8,208 | $19,882 | $24,250 | 50.8% | 8,630 | $59,986 | 91.8% |
| Marion | $8,208 | $19,882 | $24,250 | 50.8% | 8,630 | $59,986 | 91.8% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in South Bend, 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, 40.1%, Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend
Top 10 colleges in South Bend, 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, 91.3%, Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend
Top 10 most selective colleges in South Bend, 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, 83.8%, Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend
Top 10 colleges in South Bend, 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, $106,833, John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $67,253, Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend
Top 10 colleges in South Bend, 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, $122,061, John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $99,574, Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend
Top 10 colleges in South Bend, 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, $41,388, Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend
Top 10 colleges in South Bend, 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, $42,843, Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend
Top 10 colleges in South Bend, 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, $44,947, Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend
Top 10 colleges in South Bend, 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, $173,368, Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend
Top 10 most affordable colleges in South Bend, 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, $8,653, Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend
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Rank 2, Net Price, $37,711, John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
Top 10 colleges in South Bend, 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, 65.1%, Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend
In-state tuition: South Bend, Indiana vs benchmarks
Sticker price
South Bend, Indiana median in-state tuition is $7,471, +35.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: South Bend, Indiana vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in South Bend, Indiana is $16,901 (+25.8% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): South Bend, Indiana vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in South Bend, Indiana center around $44,947 (-17.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: South Bend, Indiana vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 91.3% at the median South Bend, Indiana campus (+3.3 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
South Bend, Indiana median public in-state tuition is $7,471, about +35.5% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +32.8%.
Median graduate debt is $16,901 (+25.8% 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 South Bend, Indiana are $44,947, about -17.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 91.3% 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% (+3.3 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 65.1% 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 13.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 66.5% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Indiana University-South Bend (91.3%)—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 South Bend, Indiana is 40.1% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in South Bend?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 5 campuses in South Bend, Indiana with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in South Bend?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in South Bend is $7,471 and median net price is $23,182. For Indiana overall, medians are $6,518 and $9,763; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in South Bend?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in South Bend is $44,947 vs $51,943 for Indiana and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for South Bend colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in South Bend is $16,901 vs $16,712 for Indiana and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in South Bend?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Indiana University-South Bend (graduation) and Indiana University-South Bend (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in South Bend?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 5 campuses in South Bend, Indiana, 2 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences and Lil Lou's Beauty and Barber College - South Bend.
Sources & related
- Indiana college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON