
Anderson, INprivate nonprofitanderson.edu
Admit rate has ranged 52%–67% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Anderson University, a Christian liberal arts institution in Indiana, blends moderate selectivity with a robust academic portfolio spanning 92 majors and 30 graduate programs. Known for its tight-knit campus life (86% of students live on campus) and strong health sciences focus, it delivers middling graduation rates (49-66%) but solid mid-career earnings ($46k+). Its $25k net price and 72% aid rate make it accessible for students seeking a faith-based education with practical outcomes.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Anderson University operates with moderate selectivity, admitting 55-79% of applicants depending on the reporting source. Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. since at least 2024, it reports middle-range SAT scores (1110-1270) and ACT scores (22-29) for admitted students. The university emphasizes a minimum 3.0 GPA but considers the highest reported GPA on transcripts. Notably, its Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. varies significantly between sources—CollegeData reports 55% while DataUSA claims 79.3%, suggesting fluctuations in selectivity year-to-year or differences between campuses (Indiana vs. South Carolina).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Anderson offers a comprehensive curriculum with 92 majors, 61 minors, and 68 embedded concentrations, plus 30 master’s and 16 doctoral programs. Its academic identity balances liberal arts with professional training, particularly in:
Experiential learning is emphasized—71% of students participate in first-year experiences, 68% in service learning, and 37% in undergraduate research. The English department receives particular praise on Reddit for its quality, suggesting uneven strengths across disciplines.
Campus life revolves around residential engagement (86% live on campus) and Christian community-building. Key features include:
The 14% off-campus population suggests some commuter presence, but the university promotes an all-inclusive 'home' environment through curated social and spiritual events.
Graduation rates are middling (49-66% within 6 years), but alumni earnings outpace state averages:
Pell Grant recipients graduate at 57%, slightly below the overall rate (65%), indicating modest socioeconomic mobility support.
With a net price of $25,594 after aid, Anderson is moderately priced for private education:
The $25k net cost aligns with national 4-year college averages ($20-25k), though aid packages vary widely.
Anderson carves a niche as a faith-forward institution with practical strengths in health sciences and education. Its 100% PT program outcomes and nursing dominance (78 grads/year) contrast with uneven graduation rates, making it ideal for students prioritizing:
The campus’s residential intensity (86% on-campus) fosters tight bonds, though academic rigor appears department-dependent.