Indiana University-South Bend is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in South Bend, Indiana. It enrolls 3,933 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.
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.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes17
Value92
Affordability84
Selectivity28
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83.8%, Indiana University-South Bend is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
950 – 1190
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
21 – 23
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized 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-South Bend is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
8.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Indiana University-South Bend 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 $8,653 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,653
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
43%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
35%
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 (on-campus)
$10,184
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,972
Books & Supplies
$1,166
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,618
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,736
Total Cost of Attendance
$17,364
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
$4,637
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,926
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,195
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,968
Over $110,000
$15,825
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.
$2,65010%percentile
$5,23225%percentile
$21,355Medianpercentile
$25,50075%percentile
$38,80690%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 $13,194
↓ $8,161
No Pell $10,519
↓ $10,836
Dependent students $10,927
↓ $10,428
Independent students $16,116
↓ $5,239
Female students $12,500
↓ $8,855
Male students $11,000
↓ $10,355
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,080, less than completers ($21,355), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
36% of full-time students who enrolled at Indiana University-South Bend graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
36%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
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-South Bend earn a median of $44,947 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,947
Earning > $25K
73%
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
$33,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$45,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,100, about 26% 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 ↑
14.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Indiana University-South Bend is home to 3,933 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,933
Part-Time
22%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.1%2,284
Hispanic 23.0%904
Black 8.6%339
Other 6.1%238
Asian 2.0%80
International 1.6%63
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Indiana University-South Bend. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CitySouth Bend, Indiana
Housing
Limited on-campus housing386 beds
Adult Learners
20%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Indiana University-South Bend offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
61 distinct programs across
20 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Indiana University-South Bend is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,683
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$36M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$61,681
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
198 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
63
32%
$70,167
Associate Professors
55
28%
$65,792
Assistant Professors
43
22%
$57,215
Lecturers
37
19%
$46,310
Pros & Cons of Indiana University-South Bend
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Indiana University-South Bend tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
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
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Indiana University-South Bend is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about Indiana University-South Bend
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Indiana University-South Bend.
Is Indiana University-South Bend hard to get into?
Indiana University-South Bend has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Indiana University-South Bend?
Indiana University-South Bend has an acceptance rate of 83.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Indiana University-South Bend?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Indiana University-South Bend scored between 950 and 1190 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-South Bend?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Indiana University-South Bend scored between 21 and 23 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Indiana University-South Bend cost?
The average net price after aid at Indiana University-South Bend is $8,653 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Indiana University-South Bend worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,947 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,653 per year. That's roughly 5.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Indiana University-South Bend known for?
Indiana University-South Bend is best known for its programs in Business, Nursing, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Indiana University-South Bend graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Indiana University-South Bend are $44,947, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Indiana University-South Bend accredited?
Yes. Indiana University-South Bend is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Indiana University-South Bend?
Indiana University-South Bend enrolls 3,933 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Indiana University-South Bend?
Indiana University-South Bend graduates 36% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Indiana University-South Bend a public or private college?
Indiana University-South Bend is a Public institution.
Where is Indiana University-South Bend located?
Indiana University-South Bend is located in South Bend, Indiana.
What programs does Indiana University-South Bend offer?
Indiana University-South Bend offers 61 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Nursing, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Indiana University-South Bend?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Indiana University-South Bend is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Indiana
Other colleges in Indiana share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature Indiana University-South Bend
Indiana University-South Bend appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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