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Downtown South BendPhoto: Scott Palmer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near South Bend

South Bend is home to two colleges, with 4,143 students on campus

Indiana University-South Bend (3,778 students on campus) and John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences (365) are inside the city, and the University of Notre Dame (12,910) is 2.4 miles from the center, just over the line in Portage Township. About 6% of South Bend’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Indiana (6%).

Saint Mary's CollegeUniversity of Notre DameIndiana University-South Bend

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 South Bend. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
20,039 students on campus
Nearest college
1 mi
John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
Residents in college
6%
About the same as IN (6%)
Nearest community college
129.5 mi
Ivy Tech · $5,154 tuition
Nearest public university
2.5 mi
Indiana University-South Bend · $8,424 in-state
Median household income
$56K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in South Bend

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Three colleges within 2.5 milesSaint Mary's College admits 76% of applicants; University of Notre Dame admits 11%; Indiana University-South Bend admits 84%. Together they have 18,155 students on campus.In-state price at Indiana University-South BendLiving in Indiana, Indiana University-South Bend charges $8,424 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,811. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 129.5 miles awayIvy Tech Community College in Indianapolis: tuition and fees $5,154 a year for Indiana residents.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Indiana (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of South Bend

Five private colleges within 3.8 miles, and one public college within 2.5 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Notre DameIndiana University-South BendSaint Mary's CollegeSouth Bend
University or collegeCommunity college
John Patrick University of Health and Applied SciencesUniversity or college · For-profit · 365 on campus · In South Bend82%admitted$38knet priceHoly Cross CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 547 on campus · 1.7 mi · Notre Dame75%admitted$27knet price73%graduate$50kearningsSaint Mary's CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,467 on campus · 2.2 mi · Notre Dame76%admitted$25knet price69%graduate$59kearningsUniversity of Notre DameUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 12,910 on campus · 2.4 mi · Notre Dame11%admitted$27knet price95%graduate$100kearningsIndiana University-South BendUniversity or college · Public · 3,778 on campus · In South Bend84%admitted$9knet price40%graduate$45kearningsBethel UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 972 on campus · 3.8 mi · Mishawaka98%admitted$19knet price53%graduate$49kearnings

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where South Bend’s median household income ($55,786) falls.

Indiana University-South BendIn South Bend · sticker $17,364$8,195a year
University of Notre Dame2.4 mi · Notre Dame · sticker $83,271$11,432a year
Bethel University3.8 mi · Mishawaka · sticker $43,885$12,673a year
Holy Cross College1.7 mi · Notre Dame · sticker $50,881$17,036a year
Saint Mary's College2.2 mi · Notre Dame · sticker $66,478$21,014a year
John Patrick University of Health and Applied SciencesIn South Bend · sticker $44,115$38,980a year

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.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of South Bend: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Holy Cross CollegeSaint Mary's CollegeUniversity of Notre DameIndiana University-South BendBethel University
University of Notre Dame95% graduate$100k earnings$19k typical debt
Indiana University-South Bend40% graduate$45k earnings$21k typical debt
Saint Mary's College69% graduate$59k earnings$27k typical debt
Bethel University53% graduate$49k earnings$25k typical debt
Holy Cross College73% graduate$50k earnings$24k typical debt

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.

Majors

What students study in South Bend

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across South Bend’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 35%Business 17%Liberal arts 7%Education 6%Biology 5%Public administration 5%Everything else 25%

Biggest programs

Business/Commerce, GeneralIndiana University-South Bend · 117 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingIndiana University-South Bend · 73 graduates a year
$85k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesIndiana University-South Bend · 59 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsJohn Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences · 44 graduates a year
$122k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsIndiana University-South Bend · 36 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Social WorkIndiana University-South Bend · 29 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralIndiana University-South Bend · 26 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralIndiana University-South Bend · 23 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out

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 South Bend

Is South Bend a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 South Bend residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Indiana (6). The largest campus in the city, Indiana University-South Bend, has 3,778 students on campus.

What colleges are in South Bend?

Indiana University-South Bend and John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences are inside the city. the University of Notre Dame is 2.4 miles from the center, in Portage Township, Saint Mary's College is 2.2 miles from the center, in Portage Township, and Ivy Tech Community College is 129.5 miles away in Indianapolis.

What is the closest community college to South Bend, and what does it cost?

Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, 129.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,154 a year for Indiana residents; the federal net price, $7,258, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Indiana University-South Bend cost if we live in Indiana?

Tuition and fees are $8,424 a year in-state and $22,811 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $4,637 (under $30,000 income) to $15,825 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 South Bend. 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 →