Indiana has many strengths as a state, but it is outstanding in the field of post-secondary education. An Indiana bachelor's degree is one to be proud of. Students cross state lines to attend the University of Indiana, clamor for a Notre Dame Degree, and are thrilled to attend Purdue. Those are only three examples of the educational titans that live in the Hoosier State.
The state has a well-deserved reputation for University excellence and students from the state's colleges and universities go on to power the economies in Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland, among many other important Midwestern cities. When you study hard in an Indiana university, you are sure to graduate with recruiters and hiring executives knocking at your door.
What are the most popular bachelor's degrees offered in Indiana?
Since Indiana has so many top universities, you can study nearly any field you are interested in. These days, some of the hottest growth areas are in healthcare, business, and engineering. Indiana has those fields, and many more, covered. Below you'll find the most popular majors, but each university offers many variations on them and even various departments you might not even be considering at the moment. Make sure that your educational experience involves ample exploration so that you are sure to find the major that interests you.
The Indiana labor market is showing signs of cooling off these days, but that is not a sign for alarm. Rather, take it as a call to study harder and to find your best version of success. Though the state's unemployment rate, 3.6%, is lower than the national average, experts are forecasting higher rates to come. Given that Indiana's unemployment rates have been lower than national averages for the past five years or so, your future is secure in Indiana – especially with a bachelor's degree under your belt.
Find Your Online Indiana Program
Top Accounting Careers and Salaries
CAREER NAME
CURRENTLY EMPLOYED
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Tax Preparer
1,250
$45,000
IRS Agent
600
$77,500
Financial Adviser
4,090
$59,700
Risk Management
8,330
$87,500
Accountant
20,910
$51,600
Tax Preparer: you choose to become a Tax Preparer, you will likely have a reliable source of income for your lifetime. Your knowledge of deductions and the ever-evolving tax code will endear you to clients and employers who desire to minimize their tax exposure. You can also consult with businesses or individuals so that they can make the decisions that help allay taxation in the future.
IRS Agent: If you study Accounting, this is a fantastic position to pursue. Not only will you defer student loans by working for the federal government, but you will gain special insights into the workings of the IRS. Once you have discharged your loans, you can work for businesses and individuals as a tax accountant.
Financial Adviser: When people make money, they wish to save and grow it into real wealth. That's where you come in as a Financial Adviser. With an accounting background and a Series 7 license, you can help them purchase equities on the stock market, discover ways to shelter their funds from taxes, and truly build for the future.
Accountants: Accountants help manage the finances of a business with an acocunting ledger and balance sheet managing outgoing xpenses and incoming revenues.
Best Indiana Schools for Accounting
University of Notre Dame
Butler University
Perdue University
Indiana University
Ball State University
Top Business Careers and Salaries
CAREER NAME
CURRENTLY EMPLOYED
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Marketing
10,600
$65,900
Logistician
2,330
$58,500
Management
10,220
$87,700
Management Information Systems
5,080
$80,600
Bookkeeper
26,650
$43,500
Marketing: Companies employ marketing professionals to help them determine the ideal targets for their wares. As a marketing professional, you will study the data and determine exactly where and how to sell those products.
Logistician: In this global economy, finished goods and raw materials are shipping farther and faster than ever. It's thus important to have logisticians, sometimes called Supply Chain Managers, to determine exactly the best methods for delivering those goods to their destination.
Business Management: Whether you are working in a high-tech software development firm or a four-employee food cart, you need management skills. When you understand how to prioritize workers on a schedule, order precisely the inventory you need, and tweak every other aspect of a business, profits are sure to come.
Management Information Systems: This is an interdisciplinary field that asks you to determine what people need versus the technology used to deliver it. Thus, you will arrive at solutions that don't overwhelm workers with too much data, protects sensitive information, and yet provides the informational tools needed to get the job done in a timely fashion.
Bookkeeper: Every business needs a bookkeeper to ensure that every incoming and outgoing payment is accurately recorded. In fact, you might take a bookkeeping position as way to make a little money part-time while you complete your bachelor's degree. The experience will be invaluable and will show employers that you are eager to work and willing to pay your dues.
Civil Engineer: Whether they know it or not, everybody is familiar with the work of civil engineers. They build the roads, bridges, and buildings that we use every single day. Their work also dovetails with other fields, such as environmental engineers or architects.
Chemical Engineer: Chemical engineers might spend their careers in the laboratory, devising new pharmaceuticals, solvents, or even plastics that we will use every single day. If you pursue this profession, you might also work in a more industrial setting.
Industrial Engineer: To make sure everything in an industrial organization runs smoothly, businesses hire Industrial Engineers. You could take on this profession and spend your time designing new systems that will be implemented in factories, or you could work to retrofit an operation for maximum, modern efficiency.
Environmental Engineer: In the past, Environmental Engineers have done things like reversing the course of rivers, raising buildings above unstable soil, and routing waterways into urban centers to ensure growth and long-term sustainability.
Cad Technician: Engineers and architects all use Computer Assisted Design software, or CAD, to create the plans construction professionals use to build things. CAD Technicians have arisen to specialize in this area, doing the detailed work of turning an engineer's ideas into working plans.
Best Indiana Schools for Engineering
University of Notre Dame
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Purdue University
Valparaiso University
Indiana University
Top Health Administration Careers and Salaries
CAREER NAME
CURRENTLY EMPLOYED
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Medical and Health Services Managers
7,960
$69,400
Financial Analyst
5,470
$61,400
Healthcare Informatics
5,770
$68,400
Communications
-
$52,900
Medical Equipment Sales
6,900
$59,500
Medical and Health Services Managers: If you have both a desire to study business but you also have a passion for healthcare and medicine, this is the field for you. If you study Healthcare Administration, you will be steeped in knowledge related directly to medicine, but in the context of management, finance, computer science, or communications.
Financial Analyst: Every industry has its peculiarities, but none more than healthcare. Where financial analysts are hired to cut the slack and make an organization run more efficiently, in healthcare you also need to consider how to deliver optimum patient care.
Healthcare Informatics: This multi-disciplinary field bridges the gap between healthcare providers, patients, and the data that bind them. To succeed in this field, you will need ample knowledge of medical terminology, computer science, and database administration.
Communications: To broadcast the success of a healthcare organization, they need communications experts. Thus, you might work with a star doctor whose research or surgical achievements need a powerful microphone. This profession sits at the nexus of journalism, public relations, and technical writing.
Medical Equipment Sales: With ample medical knowledge, you can sell prosthetic limbs, artificial hearts, assistive equipment such as wheelchairs, or something as simple as gross orders of tongue depressors. This is a sales job that makes a real difference in people's lives.
Best Indiana Schools for Health Administration
Indiana Institute of Technology
Indiana University
Valparaiso University
Earlham College
Top Health Sciences Careers and Salaries
CAREER NAME
CURRENTLY EMPLOYED
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Occupational Therapist
3,310
$66,600
Physical Therapist
5,050
$71,500
Radiologist
4,550
$309,700
Medical Assistant
16,120
$34,300
Nurse Practitioner
5,330
$97,500
Occupational Therapist: As an OT, you'll be able to work with a wide range of patients. You might work on mental health wards, with geriatric patients battling dementia, or teenagers who are struggling with health issues, on top of adolescence.
Physical Therapist: When people have trouble moving, they need a physical therapist. Your patients might have something as simple as tennis elbow, or they might be retraining themselves to walk after a stroke.
Radiologist: Technology is a large part of the diagnostic process in contemporary medicine. As a Radiologist, you will perform examinations using MRI machines, CT scanners, and PETs. Your attention to detail and finely calibrated machines will help doctors make timely diagnoses.
Medical Assistant: Every doctor and nurse rely on medical assistants to help with examinations, do office work, and generally help a practice, clinic, or even hospital run like a well-oiled machine. For yourself, you will be able to work on both the administrative and clinical side of medicine.
The best two-year associate degree programs in Indiana are available through an extensive network of over 40 community college campus locations with over 100 certificate and degree programs available. Many schools in the state offer popular two-year programs that can help you get into a career quickly or provide you with a stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree. These include business and management, marketing, computer and information sciences, education, criminal justice and corrections, and health professions.
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis
College Type 2-year, Private for-profit
Campus Housing No
Student Population 940
Graduation Rate 53%
Net Price $21,747
Grads Salary $42,700
Ivy Tech Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Campus Housing No
Student Population 72,689
Graduation Rate 28%
Net Price $7,208
Grads Salary $33,300
Vincennes University
College Type 4-year, primarily associate's, Public
In Indiana, the most notable bachelor’s degrees are available from some particularly well known, four-year higher learning institutions, such as Notre Dame. However, no matter which of the following schools you attend, you are guaranteed to have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education in a wide variety of majors. The bachelor’s degree options vary greatly from one school to another but include economics, digital communication, media, multimedia, psychology, nursing, business, education, criminal justice, and many others.
Individuals in search of the best graduate degrees in Indiana have the option to consider various fields such as English, psychology, small business development and entrepreneurship, communication, social work, business, and more. No matter your focus, whether you want to make your way into academia, need to earn continuing education credits, or if you are looking to expand your career horizons and earn promotions and a higher salary, these master's degree schools and programs have you covered. Learn more about MBA programs in Indiana.
When you decide that pursuing an Indiana bachelor's degree is the path for you, you should perform a cost analysis to square away some practical details. For starters, consider the overall cost of education versus your long-term earnings. It's almost certain that you will have some outstanding student loans upon graduation and that you will also be entering the job market with an entry-level salary. To help defray these costs, look into the student loan deferment program that allows you to work for either a non-profit organization, state, or federal government for a period of time without paying the loans. While your paychecks might not add up to those of your peers, your lack of student loan debt will more than make up for the shortfall.
You should also try to find an in-state public college or university. These schools are generally more affordable than private or out-of-state schools. In fact, sometimes out-of-state students pay as much as three times the tuition of their fellows. Thus, only consider out-of-state programs if they offer something truly unique that will make a significant difference in your long-term earnings.
You can also reduce the cost of your Indiana bachelor's degree by taking core courses from a local community college. Community college instructors are frequently just as well-trained as their University colleagues and they generally lead smaller classes. Thus, you can get the same or better instruction for less money. However, make sure that your community college credits will transfer to your destination university. Even when you attend an in-state community college, the credits don't always transfer, and you might end up re-taking courses or making up a shortfall in some other way.
Finally, when considering the cost of an Indiana bachelor's degree, seek out grants and scholarships. You can often receive grants via your FAFSA application, which don't need to be repaid. Then, seek out other forms of financing that don't come with interest-bearing debt. Further, even if a scholarship only pays for a fraction of your costs, it is an achievement to win and you can add that to your resume.
Search Programs Offering Indiana Majors
College Cost Analysis - Indiana vs National
Average Indiana Tuition & Fees at 4 Year Public Schools
In-State Tuition - $9,225
National Average – $9,580
Out-of-State – $43,762
National Average – $27,437
Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Indiana
Nationally
Received Federal Grants
59%
37.7%
Average $ per Recipient
$9,686
$10,927
* Institutional aid represents grant and scholarship funds directly awarded by a post-secondary institution.
* Financial aid data represents 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.
Best Scholarships for Indiana
To make your Indiana college education more affordable, consider applying for grants and scholarships. These can help you pay for books, tuition, and sometimes your room and board. Though many won't cover a full year of tuition, much less your other expenses, it is worth it to apply. For one thing, the money won't hurt, another benefit is that they look great on your resume. If you recruit your family members in the task of researching and applying, you might be able to put a significant dent in your expenses and avoid many student loan payments later on. Do your future-self a favor and apply for as many scholarships as you possibly can.
IUDS
Indiana University's Dean's Scholarships
https://scholarships.indiana.edu/scholarships/achievement/index.html Amount: $1,000-$11,000 Deadline: November 1 First time first-year students are encouraged to apply for this prestigious scholarship. To qualify, you must demonstrate high academic achievement and likely you will stand out if you also have outstanding extra-curricular activities as well. For instance, you might have a 3.5 GPA and a list of volunteer positions, sporting activities, or even awards from scouting. Awards range from $1-11,000.
PS
Provost's Scholarship
https://scholarships.indiana.edu/scholarships/achievement/index.html Amount: $1,000-$8,000 Deadline: November 1 This award is also for first-year students at Indiana University. You must demonstrate high academic performance, stellar extra-curricular activities, and impeccable character. While the stated standards only indicate academic performance, if you can show all three you will stand out over others who only have good grades. This scholarship will cover $1-8,000 of your college costs.
FADS
Freshmen Art & Design Scholarship
https://www.usi.edu/liberal-arts/art/scholarships-and-aid/freshman/ Amount: $2,500 Deadline: May 7 This scholarship is for the University of Southern Indiana and is for incoming first-year students wishing to major in Art or Education. To qualify you must submit a portfolio of 8-12 photographs compiled in a single pdf. This scholarship pays $2,500 and is the sort of award that will distinguish your resume for years to come.
HASP
Horatio Alger State Scholarship – Indiana
https://scholars.horatioalger.org/about-our-scholarship-programs/state-scholarships/ Amount: $10,000 Deadline: October 25 or March 15 If you have overcome significant hardships, can demonstrate financial need, and are a good student, you could win this scholarship. The award is $10,000, which would cover most of a year in an Indiana state university.
FWISP
Ft. Wayne Indiana Scholarship Program
https://scholarships.uncf.org/Program/Details/2e7baffe-27ba-4311-9a1a-fb3dc50523f6 Amount: Up to $3,000 Deadline: October 27 If you a resident of the state of Indiana, enrolled as a full-time student in one of the state's four-year institutions, and are preferably studying natural sciences, a business-related field, or high technology, you could win this $3,000 award. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 2.5 and your application should include academic transcripts, an essay, and a letter of recommendation.
