When enrolling in an online college program, students can find it hard to find a program that will give them the most bang for their buck. We’ve ranked Indiana’s top online universities to help make that selection process a little bit easier. Below you’ll find a list of non-profit colleges with affordable tuition and large selections of online programming.
Ranking the Best Online Colleges in Indiana
#1. Taylor University
One of the oldest Christian universities in the country, Taylor University is a private Christian university located in Upland, Indiana. Founded on the motto “Light and Faith”, Taylor University was established in 1846. Originally known as the Fort Wayne Female Bible College, Taylor University was initially located in Fort Wayne. Founded and operated by a local Baptist church, Fort Wayne Female Bible College remained an all-women school for its first four years of operation. Beginning to admit men in 1850, the school was renamed to Fort Wayne College. In 1890, the school moved into the facilities once occupied by Fort Wayne Medical College. After moving to this new campus the school was renamed to Taylor University in honor of Bishop William Taylor. Three years later, it was decided that the school was to be relocated to Upland, Indiana. By moving to this new location, Taylor University was given the space it needed to continue to grow as it entered into the 20th Century. Over the course or the coming decades, Taylor University would continue to grow its academic offerings and student enrollment. Today, Taylor University is home to a student body of almost 2,600 students.
Featured Programs
Students at Taylor University are afforded the opportunity to choose from a large selection of academic programs offered at the school. Currently, students at Taylor University can choose from over ninety different undergraduate degree programs as well as a variety of different graduate offerings including Master’s degrees. Many of these programs are also offered to students entirely online helping Taylor University to earn a place among our top online universities and colleges in Indiana. Taylor University is a private institution and one of the best online colleges in Indiana.
Accreditation: Taylor University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $400/credit
Click here for a list of Taylor University‘s online programs.
#2. Indiana State University
Established in 1865, Indiana State University is a public university. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, Indiana State University was originally created as the Indiana State Normal School. Called into creation by the Indiana General Assembly, the Indiana State Normal School was founded in order to provide a place that teachers could be trained to enter into the workforce as public educators within the state. Wanting to bolster the education of the young people of Indiana, the Indiana State Normal School hoped to create an intelligent workforce of teachers. In 1908, the Indiana State Normal School began to offer students its first Bachelor’s degrees. Attracting more students to its programs with this change, Indiana State Normal School soon began to offer students Master’s degrees in 1928. With the addition of these graduate and undergraduate programs into its curriculum, Indiana State Normal School was renamed to Indiana State Teachers College in 1929. A little over thirty years later the school was renamed to Indiana State College in order to better reflect the school’s ambitions as being more than a teacher’s college. In 1965, the school’s name was changed once more to Indiana State University. Today, Indiana State University enrolls over 12,500 students.
Indiana State University offers students a wide selection of academic programs from which to enroll in. Currently, students at Indiana State University can choose from over 100 different undergraduate programs as well as over seventy-five different graduate degree programs. A selection of these programs is also offered to students entirely online earning Indiana State University its place among the top online universities and colleges in Indiana. Indiana State University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Indiana State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $412/credit
Click here for a list of Indiana State University‘s online programs.
#3. Marian University
A private Roman Catholic school, Marian University is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded on the motto “Seats of Wisdom, Marian University was established in 1851. Established by the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana, Marian University was originally created as St. Francis Normal. The vision for the school was to create a place that would be a liberal arts school as well as a training facility for teachers. At the time, St. Francis Normal predated any state-run normal school. Soon after its founding, St. Francis Normal merged with the nearby Immaculate Conception Junior College. This merger led to the school being renamed to Marian College. Soon after, the school was located to an estate located in the city of Indianapolis. After moving to Indianapolis, Marian College began to thrive as its enrollment numbers expanded. Over the course of the coming decades, Marian College would continue to expand as it attracted students from across the state as well as the country. By 2009, Marian College had expanded its curriculum so much that the school was renamed to Marian University in order to better reflect the updated curriculum available at the school. Currently, Marian University enrolls almost 3,500 students.
Students at Marian University are able to choose from a large selection of academic programs offered to students at the school. At this time, students at Marian University can choose from over forty different undergraduate degree programs as well as dozens of graduate degree programs. Marian University also offers many of these programs to students entirely online, earning the school a place among our top online universities and colleges in Indiana. Marian University is a private institution and one of the best online colleges in Indiana.
Accreditation: Marian University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $450/credit
Click here for a list of Marian University‘s online programs.
#4. Ball State University
Located in Muncie, Indiana, Ball State University is a public research university. Founded in 1918, Ball State University was established with the motto “We Fly”. While established in 1918, Ball State University’s current location campus dates back to 1899. Home of the Eastern Indiana Normal School, this campus would eventually reopen as Palmer University in 1902 and then be renamed to Indiana Normal College from 1905 to 1917. It was at this point that the campus would be purchased by the Ball brothers. Two local entrepreneurs the Ball brothers were the Ball Corporation. Partnering with the state of Indiana, the Ball brothers provided part of the funding to help establish the Indiana State Normal School – East Division. Helping to provide the school with the initial funding, the school was soon officially renamed to Ball Teachers College in 1922 to honor the Ball brothers. During an effort to modernize the curriculum of the public schools within the state, Ball Teachers College was renamed to Ball State Teachers College as its curriculum was adapted to meet the needs of 20th-century students. In 1961, the school was renamed to Ball State College and then to Ball State University in 1965. Today, Ball State University’s student body has grown to over 22,000 students.
Ball State University currently maintains a large catalog of academic programs for students to enroll in. At this time, Ball State University offers over 190 different undergraduate degree programs as well as over 140 different graduate programs including Masters and Doctoral programs. A large selection of these programs is also offered to students entirely online. By offering these programs online, Ball State University has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Indiana.
Accreditation: Ball State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $510/credit
Click here for a list of Ball State University‘s online programs.
#5. Indiana University Bloomington
A public research university, Indiana University Bloomington is the flagship of the Indiana University system. Founded in 1820, Indiana University Bloomington was established with the motto “Light and Truth”. Originally known as the State Seminary, Indiana University Bloomington was involved in a decades-long battle between Vincennes University to determine which school was the actual state university. Eventually decided in Indian University Bloomington’s favor, the school’s name was changed to Indiana College in 1829. Ten years later the school was renamed to Indiana University. In its early years, Indiana University’s growth was slow-going. In 1867, Indiana University began admitting female students making it the fourth public university in the country to do so. As the school entered into the 20th century, plans were set in motion in order to modernize the school and attract new students. By modernizing the school’s academic offerings, Indiana University continued to attract more and more students. Soon, Indiana University began to established extension campuses throughout the state that eventually grew into schools all their own. This led to the school being renamed to Indiana University Bloomington. Today, Indiana University Bloomington enrolls a student body of almost 44,000 students.
Students at Indiana University Bloomington can select from a large catalog of academic programs made available by the school. Currently, students at Indiana University Bloomington can choose from over 550 different academic programs of which 200 are undergraduate degrees. Many of these programs are also offered to students entirely online helping Indiana University Bloomington to rank among our top online universities and colleges in Indiana. Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution.
Accreditation: Indiana University Bloomington is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $585/credit
#6. Anderson University
Located in Anderson, Indiana, Anderson University was founded on the motto “Academic and Christian Discovery”. Established in 1917, Anderson University was originally known as the Anderson Bible Training School. Founded by the Church of God movement, Anderson Bible Training School was designed to provide Christians with a biblical education. Over time, the school’s focus began to drift from that of a bible school to a more fleshed out higher education. Adding more and more academic programs as the years progressed, the Anderson Bible Training School was soon renamed to Anderson College and Theological Seminary. The “Theological Seminary” was later dropped from the name and then the school was renamed one last time to Anderson University. While still closely linked with its religious history, Anderson University has grown to become a nondenominational institution that is welcoming of students from all backgrounds. Today, Anderson University now enrolls a student body of almost 2,000 students known as the Ravens.
Anderson University provides students with the opportunity to select from a wide range of academic programs at the school. Currently, Anderson University offers students over sixty different undergraduate programs to choose from as well as a variety of different graduate degrees. A large selection of these programs is also offered to students entirely online, earning Anderson University a place among our top online universities and colleges in Indiana. Anderson University is a private institution.
Accreditation: Anderson University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $625/credit
Click here for a list of Anderson University‘s online programs.
#7. Purdue University
A public research university, Purdue University is located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The flagship of the Purdue University System, Purdue University was founded in 1869. Established with the motto “Education, Research, Service”, Purdue University was created in order to take advantage of the funding being doled out by the federal government through the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act. The plan was to create an engineering and agriculture school for the state of Indiana. Searching for the right location for the new school, various towns and cities from across the state began assembling packages designed to attract the state. However, it was the financial package spearheaded by John Purdue who managed to convince the state government to found the new school in the city of West Lafayette. Donating $50,000 of his own money to the founding of the new school, the school was named Purdue University to honor his generosity. In 1875, Purdue University began to enroll its first class of students. Since then, Purdue University has grown to become one of the premier universities in the state of Indiana. Today, Purdue University is home to a student body of just under 42,000 students.
Students at Purdue University are able to choose from a large catalog of academic programs available at the school. At this time, Purdue University offers over 200 different undergraduate degree programs as well as almost seventy Masters and doctoral programs. A large portion of these programs is also offered to students entirely online. Through this online offering, Purdue University has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Indiana. Purdue University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Purdue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $948/credit
Click here for a list of Purdue University‘s online programs.
#8. Indiana Wesleyan University
A private Christian university, Indiana Wesleyan University was founded on the motto “Character. Scholarship. Leadership.” Established in 1920, Indiana Wesleyan University is located in Marion, Indiana. Originally known as the Marion Normal College, Indiana Wesleyan University was created in order to provide training to teachers in the state of Indiana. Twenty-two years after its founding, the school was renamed to the Marion Institute. After being renamed, the Marion Institute soon relocated to Muncie, Indiana where it merged with the Indiana Normal Institute. This merger was short-lived and the school soon relocated back to a new location within the town of Marion. It was at this point that the school was officially incorporated as a college and was named Marion College. Offering Bachelor’s programs and soon adding Master’s degrees, Marion College began to grow quickly. As the school continued to grow its student body, Marion College began to add more and more programs to its offerings. By 1988 it was determined that the school was to be renamed to Indiana Wesleyan University in order to better reflect the scope of its influence on education throughout the state. Today, Indiana Wesleyan University enrolls almost 16,000 students.
Home of the Wildcats, Indiana Wesleyan University offers its students a large selection of academic programs to choose from. Currently, Indiana Wesleyan University offers nearly ninety different undergraduate degree programs as well as a dozen graduate programs. Indiana Wesleyan University makes a selection of these academic programs available to students entirely online earning it a place among our top online universities and colleges in Indiana. Indiana Wesleyan University is a private institution.
Accreditation: Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $952/credit
Click here for a list of Indiana Wesleyan University‘s online programs.
#9. Wabash College
Established on the motto “For Knowledge and Virtue”, Wabash College is a private men’s college. Located in Crawfordville, Indiana, Wabash College was established in 1832. Originally known as The Wabash Teachers Seminary and Manual College, the school’s name was quickly shortened to Wabash College in 1851. Founded by a group of Presbyterian ministers, Wabash College was founded to be independent and non-sectarian. The school’s curriculum was modeled after the liberal colleges of the Northeast. Originally only offering high school courses, Wabash College soon expanded its curriculum to offer that of a traditional college. Remaining a focused institution, Wabash College expanded slowly as it attracted students from across the state. Being selective with the students admitted, Wabash College also was selective in which types of academic programs to add to its offerings in order to ensure that they remained the highest-quality. Today, Wabash College has grown to be highly-regarded and now enrolls over 800 students.
Students at Wabash College are afforded the opportunity to choose from a large quantity of different academic programs offered to students at the school. Currently, students at Wabash College can choose from a selection of over two-dozen different academic programs offered at the college. A portion of these programs is also offered to students entirely online. By offering a selection of academic programs online, Wabash College has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Indiana. Wabash College is a private institution.
Accreditation: Wabash College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $1,188/credit
Click here for a list of Wabash College‘s online programs.
#10. University of Indianapolis
Located in Indianapolis, the University of Indianapolis is a private university. Founded in 1902, the motto of the University of Indianapolis is “Education for Service”. Originally named Indiana Central University, the University of Indianapolis was founded in close affiliation with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. The land was given to the church by a real estate developer who traded the land in exchange for help selling land surrounding the school. Chartered in 1902, Indiana Central University did not enroll its first class of students until 1905. Operating as the Indiana Central University for the next sixteen years, the school was then renamed to Indiana Central College. Soon after this name changed, Indiana Central College came under the control of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. This change in affiliation resulted in another name change to the Indiana Central University and then finally to the University of Indianapolis. Today, the University of Indianapolis is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and enrolls a student body approximately 7,200 students.
Home of the Greyhounds, the University of Indianapolis provides students with a wide range of academic programs for students to choose from. At this time, students at the University of Indianapolis can choose from over eighty different undergraduate degree programs as well as almost thirty Master’s degree programs and five different Doctorates. The University of Indianapolis makes a selection of these programs available to students entirely online helping the school to earn a place among our top online universities and colleges in Indiana. University of Indianapolis is a private institution.
Accreditation: University of Indianapolis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $1,200/credit
Click here for a list of University of Indianapolis‘s online programs.
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