South Bend, INpublicsouthbend.iu.edu
Admit rate has ranged 78%–89% 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.
Indiana University-South Bend offers a pragmatic, affordable path to a respected IU degree with the intimacy of a regional campus. Known for its high acceptance rate (84%) and strong business, nursing, and liberal arts programs, IUSB caters to commuters and non-traditional students seeking value. While graduation rates lag (36-40%), its $8,000-$11,738 net price and median alumni earnings of $41,388-$55,103 make it a practical choice for cost-conscious Hoosiers.
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.
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Outcomes & value
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.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
IUSB is one of Indiana's most accessible public universities, with an 84% acceptance rate and early Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. of 92.7% (US News). The middle 50% of admitted students score between 960-1190 on the SAT or 21-23 on the ACT, with 17% of enrollees holding GPAs of 3.75+ (BigFuture, PrepScholar). Applications can be submitted via the Common App or IUSB's online portal, with no strict deadline noted (First Year Applicants page). The school emphasizes accessibility over selectivity, aligning with its regional mission.
IUSB delivers the Indiana University brand at a smaller scale, with popular majors including Business (especially Accounting), Nursing, and Social Work (US News, College Raptor). The campus offers 100+ undergraduate and graduate programs, including fully online options like Actuarial Science and hybrid master's degrees in Education and Health Sciences (Degrees and Majors page, Graduate Programs page). Faculty attention is a selling point, with the university highlighting 'personalized attention from dedicated faculty' (Academics page). The curriculum leans practical, with professional programs dominating enrollment.
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.
With 70+ student organizations and Titan Productions (a student event-planning group), IUSB fosters engagement despite its commuter-heavy population (Titan Life page). The Office of Student Life promotes campus involvement, though the vibe leans more functional than vibrant (Student Life page). The riverside campus offers scenic study spots (Instagram), while the School of Education touts 100+ clubs including academic and recreational options (Get Involved page). Greek life isn't prominent, and the social scene reflects the school's mix of traditional undergraduates and working adults.
IUSB's four-year graduation rate is 36-40% (College Scorecard, Niche), below the national average for four-year schools. However, median alumni earnings six years post-graduation range from $41,388 to $55,103, with Business and Nursing graduates likely pulling averages up (US News, College Scorecard). About 58% of 2018-19 graduates reported employment outcomes, with an average early-career monthly income of $4,103 (Undergraduate Post-Graduation Outcomes PDF). The outcomes reflect the student body's mix of career-focused and First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. learners.
IUSB markets itself as 'a prestigious IU degree for around $8,000' (Academics page), though Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. vary. The average net price after aid is $8,785-$11,738, with 63% of students receiving financial aid (BigFuture, US News). The Net Price Calculator helps estimate costs, though the Financial Aid Office notes results aren't guarantees (Cost and Calculations page, ShoppingSheet). Online and graduate students also qualify for aid, including scholarships (Online Education page). For Indiana residents especially, IUSB delivers the IU system's credibility at near-community college prices.
IUSB is the only comprehensive public university in North Central Indiana (Instagram), offering a rare blend of IU-branded academics, accessibility (84% acceptance), and affordability ($8K net price). Its strengths are pragmatic: Business and Nursing programs feed regional employers, while online options serve working adults. The campus lacks Big Ten frills, but students gain small classes and faculty access without the Bloomington price tag. Ideal for commuters, career-changers, and cost-conscious learners who want the IU name without the debt.