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Indiana University-Northwest

Public Graduate Strong 72/100

Indiana University-Northwest

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Gary, Indiana

About Indiana University-Northwest

Indiana University-Northwest is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Gary, Indiana. It enrolls 2,661 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: northwest.iu.edu

Acceptance: 73.4%
Graduation: 30.9%
Net Price: $5,130
Median Earnings (10yr): $43,361
Enrollment: 2,661
Student : Faculty: 14:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

72/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 21

Value 98

Affordability 86

Selectivity 40

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 73.4%, Indiana University-Northwest is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

73.4%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

910 – 1180

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

18 – 26

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Indiana University-Northwest is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 2.1 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Indiana University-Northwest isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $5,130 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$5,130

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

43%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

34%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $8,424
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $22,811
Room & Board (off-campus): $10,972
Books & Supplies: $1,166
Other Expenses (off-campus): $4,736
Total Cost of Attendance: $13,989

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$1,419
$30,001 – $48,000

$331
$48,001 – $75,000

$5,159
$75,001 – $110,000

$10,047
Over $110,000

$13,042

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,750

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$21,710

Median percentile

$27,502

75% percentile

$42,762

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $13,775 ↓ $7,935

No Pell $10,825 ↓ $10,885

Dependent students $10,124 ↓ $11,586

Independent students $17,470 ↓ $4,240

Female students $13,000 ↓ $8,710

Male students $10,500 ↓ $11,210

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,562, less than completers ($21,710), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

31% of full-time students who enrolled at Indiana University-Northwest graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

31%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

70%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Indiana University-Northwest earn a median of $43,361 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$43,361

Earning > $25K

67%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$35,900

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$51,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$35,500

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$43,500

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$45,100

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $15,700, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 16.2 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 67% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Indiana University-Northwest is home to 2,661 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

2,661

Part-Time

24%

First-Generation

45%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 42.2% 1,122

Hispanic 29.6% 788

Black 19.8% 526

Other 4.6% 123

Asian 2.9% 77

International 0.4% 10

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Indiana University-Northwest. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Gary, Indiana

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

24% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Indiana University-Northwest offers an extensive catalog of programs: 61 distinct programs across 19 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

9 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $68K ($51K–$83K)
Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)

9 Programs

Business

Business $68K ($48K–$95K)
Business $68K ($48K–$95K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

4 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)

5 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)

5 Programs

English

English $49K ($34K–$64K)
English $49K ($34K–$64K)
English $49K ($34K–$64K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Indiana University-Northwest is 14:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

14:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$9,784

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$17M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$66,400

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

119 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	24	20%	$83,264
Associate Professors	42	35%	$68,354
Assistant Professors	34	29%	$61,758
Lecturers	19	16%	$49,087

Pros & Cons of Indiana University-Northwest

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Indiana University-Northwest tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention

Best for: Based on the data, Indiana University-Northwest is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about Indiana University-Northwest

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Indiana University-Northwest.

Is Indiana University-Northwest hard to get into?

Admissions at Indiana University-Northwest are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 73.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Indiana University-Northwest?

Indiana University-Northwest has an acceptance rate of 73.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Indiana University-Northwest?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Indiana University-Northwest scored between 910 and 1180 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Indiana University-Northwest?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Indiana University-Northwest scored between 18 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Indiana University-Northwest cost?

The average net price after aid at Indiana University-Northwest is $5,130 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Indiana University-Northwest worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,361 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,130 per year. That's roughly 8.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Indiana University-Northwest known for?

Indiana University-Northwest is best known for its programs in Nursing, Liberal Arts, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Indiana University-Northwest graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Indiana University-Northwest are $43,361, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Indiana University-Northwest accredited?

Yes. Indiana University-Northwest is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Indiana University-Northwest?

Indiana University-Northwest enrolls 2,661 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Indiana University-Northwest?

Indiana University-Northwest graduates 31% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Indiana University-Northwest a public or private college?

Indiana University-Northwest is a Public institution.

Where is Indiana University-Northwest located?

Indiana University-Northwest is located in Gary, Indiana.

What programs does Indiana University-Northwest offer?

Indiana University-Northwest offers 61 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Liberal Arts, Business.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Indiana University-Northwest?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Indiana University-Northwest is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.