Business/Commerce at Indiana University-South Bend

IU South Bend's business program keeps debt manageable—graduates owe $20,500, well below both state and national medians—but earnings trail what you'd see from other Indiana options. Starting at $48,238, graduates earn slightly above the national median but rank 60th percentile within Indiana, where several regional IU campuses deliver meaningfully higher returns. The gap is stark when you look up the ladder: Notre Dame and IU Bloomington graduates start around $70,000, and even IU Southeast beats this program by nearly $10,000 annually.

The modest 6% earnings growth to year four suggests this degree opens doors to stable employment rather than rapidly advancing careers. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 means graduates can realistically manage their loans, which matters given that 41% of students receive Pell grants. The accessible admissions (86% acceptance rate) and lower debt burden make this a viable path for students who need to stay local or keep costs down.

For families weighing options, this program represents financial safety—you won't get crushed by debt—but not optimal career positioning within Indiana's business landscape. If your student has the credentials and can manage the logistics of attending IU Bloomington or even IU Indianapolis, the earnings premium would likely justify the effort. If staying in South Bend is essential, just understand you're trading some earning potential for proximity and affordability.