Indiana University-Northwest — ROI, Cost & Payback
Indiana University-Northwest charges a net price of $5,130/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $20,520. Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,361, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Indiana University-Northwest does not clear its cost — it ranks #42 of 56 Indiana colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $5,130/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $20,520 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $43,361 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$4,999/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,710 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$120,500 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Indiana University-Northwest's own numbers. Net price $5,130 × 4 years = $20,520 total. Median earnings $43,361 fall $4,999 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $20,520 bill in about 2.1 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Indiana University-Northwest students graduate with?
A median $21,710 in federal loans among completers, or 50% of the $43,361 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Indiana University-Northwest students graduate?
37% finish their degree — 63% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $20,520 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $55,459 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Indiana University-Northwest expensive compared with other Indiana colleges?
Its $5,130 net price runs $14,568 below the $19,698 median across the 56 Indiana colleges we profile, and $58,270 less across the full degree.