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Evansville, INprivate nonprofitevansville.edu
Admit rate has ranged 64%–78% 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.
The University of Evansville (UE) carves out a distinct identity as a small, private liberal arts university in southern Indiana that prioritizes a hands-on, personalized education. With a notably accessible admissions process, it delivers a high-touch academic environment—evident in its 10:1 student-faculty ratio—and a strong emphasis on career outcomes, boasting a 98% placement rate for recent graduates. The campus culture is active and residential, with a majority of students living on-campus and engaging in over 100 student organizations, fostering a tight-knit community focused on practical experience and individual growth.
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
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.
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.
Compare on earnings: best colleges for Mechanical Engineering · best colleges for Business · best colleges for Nursing
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.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
The University of Evansville operates with a moderately selective, accessible admissions process. The is 78%, meaning the majority of applicants are offered admission. Admitted students typically present strong academic credentials, with an average high school GPA of 3.79. Standardized test scores are considered but not universally required; the middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1040-1300, and the ACT range is 22-29, with average scores reported around 1190 SAT and 25 ACT. The university provides a Calculator for prospective students to estimate their individual after factoring in financial aid. While the provided sources discuss the importance of the for understanding admissions factors like demonstrated interest, no specific UE Common Data Set document is included in the source list to confirm its policy on tracking applicant interest.
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.
UE offers an intimate, hands-on academic environment centered on bringing learning to life through real-world challenges. The university provides over 100 majors and programs, with popular choices including Business Administration and Management, Psychology, Biology, and Finance. A defining feature is the exceptionally low student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, which facilitates personalized support and mentorship from professors. The academic philosophy emphasizes experiential learning through undergraduate research, immersive internships, and hands-on projects. This practical approach is embedded across disciplines, from the arts and sciences to professional fields like the direct-entry option in Athletic Training and an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Life at UE is predominantly residential and highly engaged. Approximately 70% of students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, creating a cohesive on-campus community. The Center for Student Engagement is the hub of campus activity, offering "countless opportunities" to connect through more than 100 student organizations. These groups span academic clubs, Greek life, sports, cultural organizations, and community service initiatives, providing avenues for every student to build lifelong connections. This active, organization-driven campus life complements the university's caring culture, where students are seen as individuals and encouraged to grow through both academic and co-curricular involvement.
The University of Evansville demonstrates a strong commitment to graduate success, with career outcomes serving as a clear point of institutional pride. For the Class of 2024, UE reported a remarkable 98% career outcome rate, which includes graduates employed full-time, enrolled in graduate school, or engaged in military or service programs. For those employed full-time from the Class of 2024, the median starting salary was $55,000. This represents a significant increase from earlier classes; for instance, the Class of 2017 had a median salary of $47,750. The university also tracks retention and graduation rates, with a first-year retention rate of 83.5% for the Fall 2018 cohort and a six-year graduation rate of 64.5% for the same group.
The University of Evansville is a private institution with a published tuition and fees cost of $46,014 and a total estimated of $64,670. However, the university emphasizes the importance of —the cost after grants and scholarships are applied. UE provides multiple tools, including a Net Price Calculator and an Estimated Cost Calculator, to help families gauge their actual financial commitment. The university awards determined by the family's ability to contribute, as calculated by the FAFSA. Its financial aid packaging policy states that aid must not exceed demonstrated financial need and is typically assembled in a specific order: loans, work-study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and finally, University of Evansville grants. The provided sources do not indicate that UE has a "no-loan" policy or that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.
The University of Evansville stands out for its potent combination of accessibility, intimate scale, and a fiercely practical orientation toward outcomes. It is not an ultra-selective institution, but it leverages its open door to deliver a high-value, high-touch education where students are known by name. The 10:1 student-faculty ratio is more than a statistic; it's the engine for the hands-on projects, research, and internships the university champions. This environment directly fuels its exceptional career outcome rates—a staggering 98% of recent graduates landed jobs or advanced studies, with strong median salaries. UE is for the student who wants the close-knit community and professor access of a small liberal arts college but insists that their education translate directly into a career launchpad. It’s a place where personalized support meets professional preparation, all within an active, residential campus life in Evansville.