Indiana in-state tuition freeze continues for second year

Hoosier college students returning to campus this fall will pay the same tuition and fees as last school year and the year before thanks to a two-year tuition freeze at Indiana’s public colleges and universities.

Gov. Mike Braun asked public institutions last summer to freeze in-state undergraduate tuition rates and mandatory fees for two years.

All 15 of Indiana’s public colleges and universities agreed then to keep tuition flat at 2024-25 rates through the 2026-27 academic year — the first time in state history all state flagship and regional campuses agreed to a tuition freeze at the same time.

“Indiana’s public institutions answered my call to find efficiencies and put students and their families first,” Braun said in a statement. “In Indiana, your higher education dollar stretches further.”

The tuition freeze applies to Ball State University; Indiana State University; Indiana University’s Bloomington, East, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Northwest, South Bend and Southeast campuses; Ivy Tech Community College; Purdue University’s West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Northwest campuses; University of Southern Indiana; and Vincennes University.

Universities typically set tuition schedules for approval by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, but the commission parted from this practice last year when it unanimously endorsed Braun’s tuition freeze recommendation.

Schools agreed to the freeze despite cuts in higher education funding prompted by a dire financial forecast as lawmakers were writing the state budget. State cash reserves instead grew by nearly 60% to about $4 billion as of June.

Schools can still raise rates for room and board, however, and some institutions will additionally raise attendance costs for out-of-state and international students.