Online colleges in Indiana are especially important to those busy adults trying to balance a demanding career and family life. According to 2012 Census data, only 34.4 percent of working-age Indiana residents hold a college degree. To close that gap, Indiana has made it their goal to raise that number to 60 percent by 2025.
Numerous colleges and universities in Indiana have stepped up to the challenge by offering an online degrees that are flexible and convenient, helping Hoosiers obtain the degrees they need to stay competitive.
Four reasons to find an online college in your state:
- Guaranteed in-state tuition saves you money
- Be a part of a university or college you know and love
- Get a degree from a school employers know and trust
- Be close enough to easily visit when desired
Ranking guidelines for the best online colleges in Indiana:
We selected the online colleges and universities here based on the quality of their programs, types of courses and degrees offered, faculty strengths, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation, including a strong reputation for online degree programs.
Note: In ranking the best online colleges in Indiana, giving attention to the variety of degree programs available at the institutions is of utmost importance. For this reason, a more prestigious school in Indiana may offer one, or a few online degrees, but that may not be enough for that school rank highly among the best online colleges in the state. In this ranking, we are dedicated to showing who’s leading the way in delivering quality online degree programs in Indiana.
- See who ranks as the best college and university in Indiana today.
- Purdue University ranks among The 100 Best Universities in the World.
The Best Online Colleges in Indiana
1Indiana University
(Bloomington, IN)
Indiana University, a multi-campus public university system, has more than 110,000 students.
Indiana University offers an impressive variety of associate’s, baccalaureate, master, doctoral and certificate programs through IU Online. The Indiana University Office of Online Education administers IU Online.
Available associate’s degrees include histotechnology and labor studies. Bachelor’s degrees online include psychology and criminal justice. Master’s degree options include finance and music therapy. Doctoral degree offerings include nursing, while certifications include business analytics and clinical informatics.
Resources online students can benefit from include technical support and a massive online library with online databases in a plethora of subjects and librarian live chat.
Indiana University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
2Ball State University
(Muncie, IN)
Ball State University’s alumni span 48 states and 43 countries around the world, a major step up from its modest founding in 1876. The university gets its present name from the Ball Brothers, a pair of businessmen who saved the school from foreclosure. The university contains 7 academic colleges, over 20,000 students and 300+ degree programs.
Ball State University offers many associate, baccalaureate, master, doctoral and certificate programs online. Undergraduate degrees include associate’s degrees in general arts and baccalaureate degrees in criminal justice and education. Graduate-level offerings include master’s degrees in journalism and interior design and doctoral degrees in nursing. Certificate programs include information technology and apartment management.
Resources for online students include online tutoring, an online writing center, live online technical support, online job boards, disability services and an online library with librarian live chat and extensive scholarly databases, including a collection on the Civil War.
Ball State University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
3Huntington University
(Huntington, IN)
Huntington University, a Christian university has an affiliation with the United Brethren in Christ. It first opened its doors over a century ago in 1897 as Central College. In 2005, the college grew into a full-fledged university. The school offers more than 70 academic programs in total.
Huntington University requires all students to attend chapel services, bible studies and other religious activities at one of the 30 chapels on campus as part of their curriculum.
Huntington University provides a variety of available master’s degrees. The university offers master’s degrees primarily in education, including elementary, adolescent and TESOL education.
The university provides several online resources, including technical support over the phone and an online library with scholarly article databases.
Huntington University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
4Indiana Wesleyan University
(Marion, IN)
Indiana Wesleyan University is among the largest private universities in the state and is one of the largest members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. The school has over 15,000 students in attendance and offers more than 80 undergraduate degree programs. The strong enrollment numbers led to the establishment of the university’s nursing school in 2009.
Indiana Wesleyan University offers numerous online degrees. Associate’s degrees include criminal justice and education. Bachelor’s degrees available include healthcare administration and addiction counseling. Master’s degree options include athletic training and nursing. Doctoral degree offerings include organizational leadership and occupational therapy. Certifications include human services and financial planning.
The university provides technical support over the phone and access to several scholarly article and ebook databases through its library.
Indiana Wesleyan University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
5Indiana State University
(Terre Haute, IN)
Indiana State University, a public university offers more than 100 degree programs and teaches over 10,000 students. This university is a College Consortium of Western Indiana member.
Indiana State University has an excellent variety of baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs available online. Baccalaureate degrees include technology and psychology. Master’s degree options include criminology and nursing. Doctoral degree offerings include educational administration and athletic training. Certifications available include genomic advocacy and public administration.
The university also gives students access to many online resources, including an online student employment program, technical support over the phone and various services offered through the online library, including math and writing assistance as well as access to journal, video and government databases.
Indiana State University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
6Trine University
(Angola, IN)
Trine University, founded in 1884, was originally Tri-State University due to its location at the crossroads of Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. The university changed its name in 2008 to honor Dr. Ralph Trine, a university alumnus and contributor. The university is home to the Zollner Golf Course, which has been the site of the National Collegiate Golf Championships and multiple PGA tournaments.
Trine University has several associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees available online. Associate’s degrees include accounting and engineering. Bachelor’s degree options include psychology and criminal justice. Master’s degree offerings include sport management and public administration.
Resources for online students include an online job board, technical support over the phone and an online library with scholarly article, video and ebook databases.
Trine University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
7Indiana University East
(Richmond, IN)
Indiana University East, founded in 1971, is a public university and part of the Indiana University system. The school teaches over 4,000 students, offers over 50 degree programs and is comprised of the following academic schools: business and economics, education, humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics, nursing, social work, informatics and general studies.
Indiana University East provides a variety of baccalaureate degrees and graduate certificates through its online platform. Bachelor’s degree offerings include natural science and technical communication, while certifications include mathematics and composition studies.
Online student resources include an online job board, online writing and math tutoring and an online library with scholarly article databases.
Indiana University East is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
8Grace College Online
(Winona Lake, IN)
Grace College Online is a Christian school which grew out of the Grace Theological Seminary, which established Grace College in 1948. The college offers almost 10 programs of study completely online and offers three-year accelerated degrees in every one of its majors. For especially dedicated students, the university also offers a four-year program which simultaneously awards a baccalaureate and master’s degree.
Grace College Online offers a number of baccalaureate and master’s degrees online. Online bachelor’s degree options include human services and business administration, while online master’s degree offerings include counseling and nonprofit management.
Online student resources include a writing lab via email evaluation and an online library with librarian live chat and various scholarly journals, videos and music databases.
Grace College Online is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
9Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
(St. Mary’s, IN)
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, an originally all-female Roman Catholic college founded in 1840, is renowned for its School of Equine Studies. It keeps more than 50 horses on campus as part of its veterinary program and is one of a few universities in America that offers a baccalaureate degree in equine studies. Pope Benedict canonized the college’s founder, Mother Theodore Guerin, as a saint in 2006, making her Indiana’s first saint.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College taught correspondence courses in the 1970s and began offering online programs in 2010 through Woods Online. Among other subjects, it currently offers associate’s degrees in accounting and education, baccalaureate degrees in professional writing and psychology and certificates in paralegal studies and music therapy.
Resources for online students include online technical support, career services, math tutoring, writing assistance and an online library with librarian assistance over the phone, online or via text messages.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
10Oakland City University
(Oakland City, IN)
Oakland City University, a Baptist university founded in 1885, did not begin classes until 1891 due to difficulties obtaining funds to complete initial construction. The university almost shut its doors multiple times throughout its history due to the Great Depression and the Vietnam War and did not become a university until the 1990s. Today the university contains 6 academic colleges, offers over 45 degree programs and teaches more than 2,000 students.
Oakland City University continues to grow as an online university, offering a number of associate’s, baccalaureate, master and doctoral programs fully online. Online associate’s degrees include general studies and religious studies. Online bachelor’s degrees available include business administration and criminal justice. Online master’s degree options include strategic management, while online doctoral degree offerings include education.
Online student resources include an extensive online library with access to a number of research databases including JSTOR and LitFinder.
Oakland City University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).