Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Indiana
Catholic colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Indiana5 schools
5 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Indiana.
- Catholic undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 12, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 2.1 years
- Earnings $99,980 ten years out
- 2Tie
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 9.2 years
- Earnings $59,354 ten years out
- 2Tie
Marian University
Indianapolis, IN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 9.2 years
- Earnings $58,759 ten years out
- 4
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 10.4 years
- Earnings $55,362 ten years out
- 5
Holy Cross College
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 52.0 years
- Earnings $50,416 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame | $26,780 | $19,000 | $99,980 | 95% |
| Saint Mary's College | $25,292 | $27,000 | $59,354 | 69% |
| Marian University | $24,018 | $27,000 | $58,759 | 67% |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | $18,196 | $25,976 | $55,362 | 55% |
| Holy Cross College | $26,728 | $24,000 | $50,416 | 73% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.