Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainIndianapolis is home to 12 colleges, with about 121,000 students on campus
Ivy Tech Community College (84,289 students on campus) and Indiana University-Indianapolis (22,343) are inside the city. About 6% of Indianapolis’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Indiana State (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Indianapolis. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Indianapolis
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Indianapolis
10 private colleges within 10.5 miles, one public college within 1.4 miles, and Ivy Tech Community College 1.9 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Indianapolis’ median household income ($66,307) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Indianapolis: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Marian University (2); Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Indianapolis (3); Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis (8); Chamberlain University-Indiana (15); Fortis College-Indianapolis (3).
What students study in Indianapolis
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Indianapolis’ 10 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Indianapolis
Is Indianapolis a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Indianapolis residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Indiana State (6). The largest campus in the city, Ivy Tech Community College, has 84,289 students on campus.
What colleges are in Indianapolis?
Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana University-Indianapolis, Butler University, the University of Indianapolis and 8 more are inside the city.
What is the closest community college to Indianapolis, and what does it cost?
Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, 1.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,154 a year for Indiana State residents; the federal net price, $7,258, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Indiana University-Indianapolis cost if we live in Indiana State?
Tuition and fees are $10,762 a year in-state and $34,891 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $5,701 (under $30,000 income) to $20,680 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Indianapolis. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →