2023 Best Online Colleges in Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus (PU) in West Lafayette is one of 15 campuses in the Purdue University system located throughout the state. It’s a public institution offering online degrees at all undergraduate and graduate levels, certificate programs, and professional development programs. While only 2% of undergrads attend exclusively online, about a third of graduate students do. Fields of study include business & economics, education, engineering, health & human sciences, nursing, and psychology, among others. PU has a 69% acceptance rate and a high 77% graduation rate.

PU uses Brightspace to deliver online coursework and instruction to its distance learners. It has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1. PU is known for being affordable. The average annual cost is just over $9,000, about half of what it costs to attend comparable schools. Median earnings for graduates are also higher than average at $68,400 compared to approximately $50,400 for other four-year schools.

Indiana University - Bloomington (IU) is a public institution offering online degrees at all undergraduate and graduate levels and certificates — just over 200 online programs are available. Approximately a third of graduate students and a nominal amount of undergrads attend solely online. Fields of study include business, education, health, technology, and science. Notable degrees include business administration degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Other online programs include bachelor’s degrees in health information administration and artificial intelligence and online master’s degrees in EF/ESL teaching and social work. It’s important to note that some degrees may require some on-campus work. IU accepts 85% of applicants, and 79% graduate, about 30% higher than average.

IU distance learners access Canvas to log into and participate in classes. It has a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Online student support services are extensive and include remote access to success coaching and academic advising, onboarding for students new to the online learning environment, math and writing help, career development, tutoring, peer mentoring, IT support, and library research.

Fort Wayne’s Indiana Institute of Technology (IIT) is a private, nonprofit institution that offers a broad range of online degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. According to federal data, 88% of IIT’s graduate students participate in distance-only education. Popular online bachelor’s degrees include engineering, cybersecurity, criminal justice, organizational leadership, and sport management. Online master’s degrees are offered in similar fields as well as global health leadership, project management, and business analytics. Online degrees are standard in length, taking about four years to complete a bachelor’s degree and two for a master’s. IIT has a 65% acceptance rate and a 16% graduation rate, significantly lower than the 58% average.

IIT delivers online coursework and instruction via Blackboard. It has a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes. IIT offers adult and online scholarships, including merit scholarships for undergraduate transfer students and military scholarships to active military member and their spouses. Scholarships may also be available from private resources, including the Hispanic College Fund, the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, and the Indiana Women’s Education Foundation.

The University of Indianapolis (UINDY) is a private, nonprofit, United Methodist institution offering online degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels and several graduate certificates. Federal data shows that 19% of UI’s graduate students enroll exclusively online for master’s degrees, such as education, public health, and nursing, and online doctoral degrees in Doctor of Nursing Practice and family nurse practitioner. While these degrees are traditional in length, UINDY offers an accelerated online master’s in management degree that enables students to earn their undergraduate and graduate degrees simultaneously, taking about five years to complete.

UINDY uses Brightspace to deliver its online programming to remote learners. It has a low 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes that allow individualized instruction. UINDY is known for its healthcare curriculum. Its largest programs include nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Students in its graduate nursing programs may be eligible for a $3,000 annual assistantship to help cover tuition costs.

Ball State University (BSU) is a public university with a variety of online bachelor's degrees on offer. The customizable Bachelor of General Studies degree has the highest enrollment among online programs, followed by degrees in early childhood education and business administration. This school accepts 87% of bachelor's degree candidates, and 61% of them end up completing their degrees here.

Online students at BSU complete their courses using the Canvas platform. Very few students — 6% — enroll on a part-time basis. The same percentage of the student population studies entirely online; it's more common for BSU students to opt for a mixture of online and in-person learning (44%).

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) is a public school that offers several dozen online bachelor's degree programs. Among the most popular online degrees are the school's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree, the interdisciplinary Bachelor of General Studies degree, and the Bachelor of Science in Psychology program. The university accepts 79% of bachelor's applicants and eventually grants a degree to 51% of them.

IUPUI uses the Canvas LMS to deliver online courses. The university is a collaboration between Indiana University and Purdue University, both public institutions in Indiana. Ten percent of IUPUI students are exclusively online learners, and 15% of the student body studies part time.

Indiana University - East (IUE) is a public institution featuring several dozen online bachelor's degrees. These include some of the university's most sought-after programs, such as the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree for current registered nurses. This school has a 67% acceptance rate for bachelor's degree candidates, 45% of whom graduate with their degrees.

IUE's online learners sign in to the Canvas learning management system (LMS) to complete coursework. Two-thirds of enrollees take online-only programs, and only 15% are exclusively in-person learners. More than one-third of students are enrolled part time.

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) in suburban Hammond is part of the Purdue four-year public institution system. It offers a limited selection of online degrees, mainly at the graduate level, and one online bachelor’s completion program in nursing. Online master’s degrees include special education, nurse executive, nurse educator, and technology. Full-time students can generally finish these degrees in a year. About one-third of PNW’s graduate students participate in distance-only education.

PNW delivers its online curriculum via Brightspace. It has a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. PNW is known for being inclusive, welcoming, and diverse. While 57% of its student body identifies as White, 24% identify as Hispanic, and 10% as Black. It’s also known for being an affordable institution at $9,500 annually, about half what it costs to attend similar schools.

The public Indiana State University (ISU) provides a choice of two dozen online bachelor's degrees. The school's most popular degree is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which is available online in a track designed for current licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses. Other popular offerings are the Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice and the Bachelor of Science in Psychology. ISU's acceptance rate is 92%, and its graduation rate is 44%.

The university hosts online courses on the Canvas digital learning platform. Most ISU students study full time. About 25% of undergraduates are enrolled in online-only education, with another 34% taking at least some distance courses.

Purdue Global (PG) is the exclusive distance learning arm of the Purdue University system. It offers 88 online degree programs at all undergraduate and graduate levels. Popular areas of study include business, criminal justice, education, health sciences, information technology, health care administration, and psychology. Most degrees are semester-based. However, PU’s ExcelTrack degrees — such as information technology, nursing, and analytics — allow students to control and quicken their pace. PG’s open admission policy allows it to accept all applicants. It has a 27% graduation rate.

Like other campuses in the Purdue system, PG uses Brightspace to deliver its online content. Its student-to-faculty ratio is 27:1. Prospective students at PG are invited to a three-week free trial to see if online learning is the right fit before fully committing.

Trine University Online (TrineOnline) in Angola is a private, nonprofit institution offering online degrees so students can learn at their own pace. Online degrees are available at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Notable fields of study include business administration, criminal justice, engineering management, healthcare administration, and psychology. Since courses only last eight weeks, full-time students may be able to finish faster than students in semester-based programs. Trine University has a 79% acceptance rate and a 63% graduation rate.

Online students use Moodle to gain access to coursework and instruction remotely. TrineOnline is known for trying to make higher education accessible and affordable. For example, online students enrolling in combined bachelor’s and master’s programs can save about $8,600 by finishing both degrees in four years. Some courses provide free textbooks; students can also take their first TrineOnline course for free, an introduction to online learning class.

Indiana Wesleyan University Online (IWU) is a private, Wesleyan institution in rural Marion offering numerous online degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Popular areas of study for online bachelor’s degrees include Christian ministry leadership, criminal justice, cybersecurity, healthcare administration, and social work. Online master’s degrees include business administration, divinity, nursing, project management, psychology, and secondary teaching. Some online bachelor’s degrees are accelerated, helping full-time students finish in as little as two years. Online master’s degrees generally take two years to complete. IWU’s generous open admission policy allows it to accept all applicants, and if with this generous policy, over half — 54% — of students graduate.

IWU uses Brightspace to deliver its online coursework and instruction to distance learners. It has a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. As a faith-based school, IWU is the largest member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the largest private college in Indiana. The Wesleyan faith is conservative. For example, the Articles of Religion that IWU follows state it believes that marriage is a “lifelong relationship between one man and one woman.”

New Albany’s Indiana University - Southeast (IU Southeast) is a public institution offering a small selection of online degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. About a third of IU students attend solely online. Online bachelor’s degrees are available in majors such as health administration, business administration, informatics, and nursing. Online master’s degrees include criminal justice and public safety, political science, and mathematics for teachers. Online courses are available throughout the entire year to help students finish quickly. IU Southeast has a 90% acceptance rate, and 39% of students graduate.

IU Southeast uses Canvas for online curriculum delivery. It has a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes that allow students and instructors to get to know each other and develop working relationships. Some of IU Southeast’s schools, such as the School of Business, offer scholarships and awards to help students pay for college. These are offered and awarded through outside organizations and private benefactors/alumni.

Roman Catholic Marian University (MU) is a private institution in Indianapolis offering accelerated online degrees designed for working adults through Marian’s Adult Programs. Online degrees are at the bachelor’s level and include business administration, health and human services, nursing, and paralegal studies — about one-third of undergrads attend entirely online. Full-time students may complete accelerated online bachelor’s degrees in under two years. MU does offer one online master’s degree in teaching. MU has a 73% acceptance rate and a 59% graduation rate.

MU uses Canvas to deliver online coursework and instruction to distance learners. It has a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small classes that allow educators to tailor instruction to meet student needs. MU’s mission aligns with the Franciscan and liberal arts traditions. It values individual dignity, peace and justice, reconciliation, and responsible stewardship.

Indiana University - South Bend (IUSB) is another one of many campuses in the state’s public university system. It offers online degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels and online certificates. Just over 15% of students enroll in distance-only learning. Fields of study include business and economics, education, health sciences, and liberal arts. Notable programs include online bachelor’s degrees in business administration, nursing, and sustainability. Online master’s degrees include educational leadership, chemistry, and political science. Online programs follow standard semester-based schedules. IUSB accepts 89% of applicants, and 37% of students graduate with degrees.

Like other schools in this system, IUSB uses Canvas for online program delivery. Its student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1, and classes are small. IUSB is known for being affordable. It costs approximately $8,500 to attend annually, about 75% less than average.

The University of Saint Francis (USF) is a private, Roman Catholic institution in Fort Wayne. It offers limited online master’s degrees and graduate certificates in business, healthcare, and education. This includes business administration, healthcare administration, and special education. These online degrees are designed to be completed in as little as a year for full-time students. Overall, 70% of USF graduate students attend exclusively online.

Canvas is the learning management system USF utilizes so its distance learners can log into their classes to receive instruction. It has a low 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and class sizes that don’t exceed 17 students. This helps students build working relationships with instructors and peers while building community. USF is known for being military-friendly. It’s recognized by the Department of Defense’s Voluntary Education program and aligns with the DOD’s Principles of Excellence.

Indiana University - Northwest (IUN) offers online degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, except for one online associate degree in labor studies. About 20% of IUM students participate in online-only education. This includes enrollment in online bachelor’s degree majors, such as business administration, medical imaging technology, and nursing. Some online master’s degrees at IUN are in political science, liberal studies, and educational leadership. IUN has an 85% acceptance rate and a 34% graduation rate.

IUN’s distance learners use Canvas to access coursework and instruction. Classes are small, and it has a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio. IUN offers student services, such as tech support, peer mentorship, and success coaching that online students can access remotely. As with other IU campuses, IUN is affordable, with a $6,700 annual cost that’s 95% less than average. It’s also diverse, with less than half of students identifying as white, 28% as Hispanic, and 16% as Black.

With adult learners and working professionals in mind, Indiana University - Kokomo (IUK) offers online degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels and several online non-degree-granting graduate certificates. On average, 18% of undergrads and twice as many graduate students attend IUK solely online. Popular fields of study include business administration, communication, criminal justice, nursing, political science, and sustainability. IUK accepts 90% of applicants and 43% graduate with degrees.

Distance learners use Canvas to participate in classes, engage in virtual classroom discussions, and complete projects. IUK has a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes, which enables educators to deliver individualized instruction based on student needs and interests. Its affordable $4,800 annual costs help make higher education accessible while minimizing excessive student debt. IUK keeps up with industry trends, continually adding and revising programs to meet employer demands.

Affordable Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) is another Purdue public university system branch. It offers online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in areas of study such as business administration, marketing, education, information systems, and sociology. A small percentage of students — 8% of undergrads and 12% of graduate students — enroll in these 100% online degree programs. PFW accepts 83% of applicants. It has a 39% graduation rate.

PFW delivers its online curriculum via Brightspace as part of the Purdue system. It has a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Online student support services include tech help, access to library resources, tutoring, writing assistance, and speech and presentation help. PFW is known for supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion through established departments, including its Multicultural Center, Q Center, and Women’s Center.

The University of Southern Indiana (USI) is a public institution offering several bachelor's degrees online, including several in the healthcare field. The university has degree-completion degrees in respiratory therapy, nursing, and electrical engineering for students with an associate degree in those fields. Other students might choose a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration or Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology degree. USI's acceptance rate is 94% for bachelor's applicants, and its graduation rate is 46%.

Online learners work on courses in the Blackboard LMS. Only 9% of USI students are enrolled exclusively online, but another 46% take at least some distance classes. Fourteen percent of students take a part-time course load.

Vincennes University (VU) is a public, two-year institution offering over 27 online degrees at the associate and bachelor’s levels and certificates of graduation and completion that help students develop job-readiness skills. Areas of study include technology, education, business, healthcare, and Homeland Security. Notable degrees include an online bachelor’s degree in nursing (RN to BSN completion) and online associate degrees in software development and psychology. It generally takes two years to complete online associate degrees and four years for bachelor’s degrees. VU accepts all applicants who apply, and 27% of students graduate with degrees on average.

Distance learners at VU use Blackboard to complete their online education. It has a 22:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Classes are small so that instructors can provide individualized student support. Founded in 1801 by U.S. President William Henry Harrison, VU was Indiana’s first college. Therefore, it has a rich history, and employers wildly recognize its online degrees.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) in rural Indiana is a private, Roman Catholic institution focusing on the liberal arts. It offers online degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Approximately one-third of SMWC’s undergrads and 11% of graduate students participate in online learning. Undergraduate distance learners may enroll in online bachelor’s degrees in majors such as business administration, criminology, human services, and psychology. Online graduate students may choose majors such as business administration and healthcare administration, which full-time students may complete in a year. SMWC has a 70% acceptance rate and a 49% graduation rate.

Moodle is SMWC’s learning management system for distance learning. SMWC is a small school with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and it's proud of its Catholic heritage and values as the oldest Catholic college in Indiana. Founded initially as a women’s-only college in 1840, men were finally welcomed in 2005.

Veritas Baptist College (VBC) in rural Lawrenceburg is a private institution offering distance-only education. As a bible college, all its online degrees are in ministry, Christian education, biblical education, and divinity at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Specializations are available so students can hone their skills to suit their career interests. VBC also offers a one-year bible certificate in order to help students learn to minister more effectively. It accepts all applicants due to its open admission policy that increases access to higher education, and 34% of students graduate with degrees.

VBC uses Canvas to deliver its online programming to distance learners. It has small class sizes and a low 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. This learning environment enables students to get to know their peers and instructors and build a community around a common faith and goals. As a Baptist bible school, VBC holds conservative beliefs and values. For example, students must sign a Standard of Conduct denouncing homosexuality, same-sex marriage, alcohol, and dancing.

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart is a very small, private, graduate-level institution. It offers online master’s and doctoral degrees in ministry, divinity, Christian formation, theology and global Anabaptism, and theology and peace studies, and two online non-degree-granting certificates. Online master’s degrees are designed to take about two years of full-time study.

Online students use Moodle to access course materials, join class discussions, and submit assignments to instructors. AMBS has a student body of 122 and therefore has small class sizes. Distance learners can access the library, writing help, and textbook ordering remotely. AMBS awards scholarships to eligible online students for up to 75% of tuition to help make college more affordable and accessible. AMBS is dedicated to fostering intercultural competence and ending racism.