2024 Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Indiana

If you're looking for an academically strong school in the Hoosier State, find out the hardest colleges to get into in Indiana.

2024 Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Indiana
Andrew DePietro

The Hoosier State is home to more than 50 four-year public and private, not-for-profit colleges that award, at a minimum, bachelor’s degrees. Indeed, Indiana ranks among the states with the most colleges in the country. With so many colleges to choose from in Indiana, it can be very difficult to decide on which schools to apply to. 

While there are different criteria when researching colleges that you should consider, if you have a strong academic record in high school as well as other critical factors going for you, such as good SAT or ACT scores, participation in extracurricular activities, and demonstrated leadership skills, then you might want to apply to more selective colleges in Indiana. And out of Indiana’s vast number of schools, there are several colleges and universities that are very competitive in their acceptance rates due to their well-established academic rigor and programs.

Thus, in order to find out the hardest colleges to get into in Indiana, BrokeScholar analyzed all the schools in the state that are four-year institutions, including both public colleges and private, not for-profit colleges, that award bachelor’s degrees or higher. Sourcing the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as well as from individual college websites, we analyzed and ranked all colleges in Indiana in terms of how difficult they are to gain acceptance to. 

Read on to find out the answer to what are the hardest colleges to get into in Indiana.

Table of Contents

What Are the Hardest Colleges to Get into in Indiana?

The top-10 list of the hardest colleges to get into in Indiana is dominated by private, not-for-profit colleges, though there are two colleges that are public, state institutions. Perhaps not surprisingly, the hardest colleges to get into in Indiana also tend to have higher-than-average graduation rates.

Of the top-10 hardest colleges to get into in the Hoosier State, the one with the highest admission rate is still only 69%, well below the average undergraduate acceptance rate for Indiana as a whole.

Below you’ll find a list of the 10 hardest colleges to get into in Indiana, listed in order of lowest acceptance rate to highest acceptance rate. Also included in the breakdown below are the costs of tuition and required fees (though required fees do not include room and board).

College

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate

Percent Admitted Who Enrolled

Undergraduate Population

In-State Tuition and Required Fees

Out-of-State Tuition and Required Fees

University of Notre Dame

13%

60%

8,971

$60,301

$60,301

Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses

24%

55%

470

$9,576

$9,576

Anderson University

52%

12%

1,129

$34,080

$34,080

Purdue University-Main Campus

53%

26%

38,593

$9,992

$28,794

Oakland City University

56%

26%

699

$26,400

$26,400

Wabash College

61%

22%

835

$47,475

$47,475

Indiana Institute of Technology

65%

15%

1,490

$29,560

$29,560

DePauw University

66%

14%

1,752

$55,410

$55,410

Manchester University

66%

13%

942

$35,772

$35,772

Ball State University

69%

22%

14,416

$10,440

$27,924

The very well-known — chiefly for its football team — school of the University of Notre Dame turns out to be the hardest college to get into in Indiana. Its undergraduate acceptance rate is a mere 13%, which isn’t far off from the acceptance rates for some Ivy League schools. Notre Dame also boasts the highest graduation rate out of the 10 schools, at 96%.

The Bottom Line on the Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Indiana

In the realm of higher education, the prestige and competitiveness of Indiana's top institutions can't be understated. Earning a spot in one of these esteemed colleges is a testament to a student's dedication, academic prowess, and extracurricular achievements. However, once that acceptance letter is in hand, the reality of tuition, room and board, and other expenses can become a daunting prospect for many families. This underscores the vital importance of scholarships in today's educational landscape. Scholarships not only provide the financial relief many students need, but they also recognize and reward academic and personal accomplishments.

Moreover, in an era where every penny counts, student discounts offer another avenue to ease the burden of college costs. From textbooks to transportation and from dining to digital services, student discounts can significantly reduce the out-of-pocket expenses that quickly add up. As students aspire to join the ranks of Indiana's hardest colleges to get into, it's essential they also arm themselves with the knowledge of financial aid and discounts available. By combining academic ambition with financial savvy, students can truly make the most of their college experience in the Hoosier State.

Andrew DePietro

Author: Andrew DePietro

Senior Researcher, and Content Strategist

Andrew DePietro is a finance writer covering topics such as entrepreneurship, investing, real estate and college for BrokeScholar, Forbes, CreditKarma, and more.