Similar colleges

Colleges like Indiana University-Indianapolis: 10 similar schools

The 10 colleges most similar to Indiana University-Indianapolis, ranked by shared features and how close their published figures are.

Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

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Bars show each admit rate on a 0–100% scale.

The colleges most similar to Indiana University-Indianapolis are Ball State University (enrollment 13,988 students, close to 13,830); Indiana State University (average net price $10,103, close to $9,479); and Purdue University Northwest (acceptance rate 72%, close to 76%). Indiana University-Indianapolis admits 76% of applicants and has an average net price of $9,479 a year; 2 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 6 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.

These matches are closest to Indiana University-Indianapolis on acceptance rate. The score is profile closeness out of 100; the order also counts shared features and location. How matches are scored

Indiana University-Indianapolis vs. its top 10 alternatives

Acceptance rate, average net price per year after grants, six-year graduation rate, median earnings ten years after entry and profile match score for Indiana University-Indianapolis and its closest alternatives.
College	State	Acceptance rate	Net price	Graduation rate	Median earnings	Match score
Indiana University-Indianapolis	IN	76.4%	$9,479	54.3%	$58,990	This college
Ball State University	IN	85.5%	$13,877	61.6%	$56,674	87/100
Indiana State University	IN	80.8%	$10,103	44.5%	$52,316	79/100
Purdue University Northwest	IN	72.4%	$6,223	44.3%	$58,620	72/100
University of Southern Indiana	IN	95.8%	$13,373	51.7%	$52,206	72/100
Purdue University Fort Wayne	IN	83.9%	$12,471	40%	$51,617	65/100
Purdue University Global	IN	Not reported	$5,956	37.5%	$42,322	61/100
Indiana University-Bloomington Main Campus	IN	78.2%	$16,003	80%	$70,105	59/100
Vincennes University	IN	Not reported	$10,093	38.2%	$44,999	51/100
Purdue University-Main Campus	IN	49.9%	$14,851	84%	$80,082	48/100
Eastern Kentucky University	KY	77.6%	$11,925	50.9%	$50,885	91/100

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants; graduation rate is within six years; earnings are ten years after entry. Match score is profile closeness out of 100. “Not reported” means the college sent no figure to the U.S. Department of Education.

Top 10 alternatives to Indiana University-Indianapolis

Ranked by similarity. Each card lists what the college shares with Indiana University-Indianapolis and where it differs.

Match #1

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

Profile closeness87/100

Admit rate86%

13,988 students
Public
City: Small

Enrollment 13,988 students, close to 13,830
Graduation rate 62%, close to 54%

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Match #2

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, IN

Profile closeness79/100

Admit rate81%

6,188 students
Public
City: Small

Average net price $10,103, close to $9,479
Acceptance rate 81%, close to 76%

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Match #3

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, IN

Profile closeness72/100

Admit rate72%

5,671 students
Public
Suburb: Large

Acceptance rate 72%, close to 76%
Same control type (public)

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Match #4

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, IN

Profile closeness72/100

Admit rate96%

5,292 students
Public
Suburb: Midsize

Graduation rate 52%, close to 54%
Same control type (public)

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Match #5

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN

Profile closeness65/100

Admit rate84%

5,484 students
Public
City: Large

Acceptance rate 84%, close to 76%
Average net price $12,471, close to $9,479
Differs: Different Carnegie classification

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Match #6

Purdue University Global

West Lafayette, IN

Profile closeness61/100

Admit rate—

30,828 students
Public
City: Small

Same control type (public)

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Match #7

Indiana University-Bloomington Main Campus

Bloomington, IN

Profile closeness59/100

Admit rate78%

37,806 students
Public
City: Small

Acceptance rate 78%, close to 76%
Same control type (public)
Differs: Graduation rate 80%, well above 54%

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Match #8

Vincennes University

Vincennes, IN

Profile closeness51/100

Admit rate—

3,657 students
Public
Town: Remote

Average net price $10,093, close to $9,479
Same control type (public)
Differs: Enrollment 3,657 students, much smaller than 13,830

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Match #9

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

Profile closeness48/100

Admit rate50%

44,503 students
Public
City: Small

Same control type (public)
Differs: Graduation rate 84%, well above 54%

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Match #10

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY

Profile closeness91/100

Admit rate78%

12,318 students
Public
Town: Distant

Graduation rate 51%, close to 54%
Enrollment 12,318 students, close to 13,830

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How the matches differ from Indiana University-Indianapolis

Graduation rates across the matches run from 38% (Purdue University Global) to 84% (Purdue University-Main Campus), against 54% at Indiana University-Indianapolis; 3 of 10 graduate a larger share of students.
Median earnings ten years after entry across the matches run from $42,322 (Purdue University Global) to $80,082 (Purdue University-Main Campus), against $58,990 at Indiana University-Indianapolis; 2 of 10 report higher earnings.
Enrollment sizes across the matches run from 3,657 students (Vincennes University) to 44,503 students (Purdue University-Main Campus), against 13,830 students at Indiana University-Indianapolis; 4 of 10 are larger.
9 of 10 matches are in Indiana; the others are in KY.

Questions about Indiana University-Indianapolis alternatives

What colleges are similar to Indiana University-Indianapolis?

The closest matches to Indiana University-Indianapolis are Ball State University, Indiana State University, Purdue University Northwest, University of Southern Indiana, and Purdue University Fort Wayne. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.

Is Indiana University-Indianapolis hard to get into?

Indiana University-Indianapolis admitted 76% of applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 6 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.

Which Indiana University-Indianapolis alternatives cost less?

2 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Indiana University-Indianapolis ($9,479 a year), including Purdue University Global ($5,956) and Purdue University Northwest ($6,223). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.