Indiana University-South Bend — ROI, Cost & Payback
Indiana University-South Bend charges a net price of $8,653/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $34,612. Median earnings ten years after entry are $44,947, 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-South Bend does not clear its cost — it ranks #38 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) | $8,653/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $34,612 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $44,947 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$3,413/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,355 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$102,872 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Indiana University-South Bend's own numbers. Net price $8,653 × 4 years = $34,612 total. Median earnings $44,947 fall $3,413 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 $34,612 bill in about 3.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Indiana University-South Bend students graduate with?
A median $21,355 in federal loans among completers, or 48% of the $44,947 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Indiana University-South Bend students graduate?
40% finish their degree — 60% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $34,612 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $86,530 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Indiana University-South Bend expensive compared with other Indiana colleges?
Its $8,653 net price runs $11,045 below the $19,698 median across the 56 Indiana colleges we profile, and $44,178 less across the full degree.