15 Military Friendly Colleges in Indiana

1Purdue University Global
9000 Keystone Crossing, Suite 800, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0000

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $26.36M

Purdue University Global offers online programs. Many of these cater to servicemembers and veterans of the Army, Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force.

To make your studies more affordable, Purdue extends a tuition reduction (55% for active duty/38% for veterans) for specific programs. Veterans and military students could also receive credit for military training. There are also several start dates during the year and competency based learning which may speed up time to graduation.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $5,993
Grad: $5,861

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 3,661
Grad: 755

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 100%
Part Time: 30%

2Indiana University-Bloomington
107 South Indiana Ave | Bloomington, IN 47405

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $4.72M

Indiana University Bloomington is the first military friendly college in Indiana with over 470 students who receive GI Bill benefits. The school’s connections to the US military date back to the school’s founding in 1820. Many of IU’s first students, faculty members, and trustees had military ties, like those who served in the War of 1812.

The school has a Center for Veteran and Military Students on campus as well as a chapter of Student Veterans of America.

IU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program by offering an unlimited number of students an unlimited max contribution per year, per student.

IU offers credit for military training. Retention rates for students who receive military benefits are 87% for full time and 100% for part time attendees.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $9,498
Grad: $16,730

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 182
Grad: 179

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 90%
Part Time: 87%

4Purdue University-Main Campus
Hovde Hall of Administration | West Lafayette, IN 47907

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $3.474895M

Purdue University Main Campus’ Veterans Success Center houses Veterans Certifying Officials, the Director, VA Work study students, the offices for the PSVO, and study and lounge space for all vet and military students, as well as their family members. Those using the GI Bill benefit may be eligible for VA Work Study. Each semester there are openings in the Veterans Success Center and the Military Family Research Institute. 

Purdue University Main Campus participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program by offering 50 students up to $7,000 in grants per student, per year.

The school offers credit for military training. The retention rate for full time students who receive military benefits is 94%, while the rate for part time students in 50%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $8,933
Grad: $9,196

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 249
Grad: 136

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 91%
Part Time: 74%

5Ivy Tech Community College
50 W. Fall Creek Parkway N. Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208-5752

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $2.51M

Ivy Tech Community College offers flexible scheduling. You could earn an associate degree or build credentials in one of their certificate programs.

Apart from being able to use your VA education benefits, you could submit your Official Military Transcript for evaluation to see if credit for prior military experience can be awarded.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $1,747
Grad: N/A

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 1,440
Grad: N/A

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 53%
Part Time: 40%

6 Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies
1600 E Washington Blvd | Fort Wayne, IN 46803

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $2.04M

The Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne’s Warrior Veterans Organization (WVO) is a student organization that provides support to veterans and service members inside and outside of school. In cooperation with WVO, the school also maintains a special Blackboard area for current students called MIL 1000. Both the WVO and the Blackboard area for veterans are assets in helping Indiana Tech student vets succeed.

Indiana Tech offers an unlimited number of undergrad and grad students a $5,000 max contribution per year, per student. The Law School offers PhD students a $10,000 max contribution per year, per student.

The school offers credit for military training. Retention rates are 91% for full time and 100% for part time students.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $7,563
Grad: $3,289

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 252
Grad: 41

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 43%
Part Time: 21%

7Ball State University
2000 University Ave | Muncie, IN 47306

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $1.67M

Ball State University (BSU) provides comprehensive resources to vets, reservists, guardsmen, and family members to aid in their success as students. Ball State’s Student Veterans Organization (SVO) provides information, assistance, and social activities to vets within the Ball State community.

BSU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program by offering 30 students up to $2,000 in grants per student, per year.

The school offers credit for military training. Retention rates for students receiving military benefits are 91% for full time students and 67% for part time students.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $7,775
Grad: $5,940

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 169
Grad: 61

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 75%
Part Time: 50%

8Indiana State University
210 N 7th St | Terre Haute, IN 47809

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: 1.38M

Indiana State University (ISU) offers free assistance with vets’ educational benefits programs through their Veterans Service Coordinator. ISU has both a Veterans Resource Center and a Student Veterans Association (SVA) on campus. The school offers a Student Counseling Center and a therapist from the Veterans Administration is available on campus at selected times.

ISU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program by offering 20 students up to $1,000 in grants per student, per year.

The school offers credit for military training. The retention rate for full time students who receive military benefits is 89%, while the retention rate for part time students is 33%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $6,268
Grad: $5,991

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 204
Grad: 17

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 65%
Part Time: 27%

9 University of Indianapolis
1400 E Hanna Ave | Indianapolis, IN 46227

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $1.04M

University of Indianapolis has both a veterans’ affairs representative and a Student Veterans Organization (SVO) on campus. The school offers the UIndy Freedom Award grant to recognize service men and women for their exemplary and heroic service to our country.

U of Indianapolis takes part in the Yellow Ribbon Program by offering an unlimited number of undergrad students an unlimited max contribution per year, per student.

The school offers credit for military training. The retention rate for students receiving military benefits is 71% for full time students and 100% for part time students.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $16,158
Grad: $9,929

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 52
Grad: 21

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 73%
Part Time: 27%

10Vincennes University
1002 N First St, Vincennes, Indiana 47591

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $0.83M

Vincennes University has a Veterans Support Services office on campus. VSS is there to assist veterans, dependents, National Guard/Reserve and Active Duty students to obtain their educational benefits.

Other than on campus programs, you could pursue a degree online. The school also features an Aviation Technology Center, Logistics Training Center, Gibson Center, Indiana Military Program, and American Sign Language Program.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $6,536
Grad: $N/A

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 127
Grad: N/A

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 32%
Part Time: 50%

11Marian University
3200 Cold Spring Rd | Indianapolis, IN 46222

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $0.79M

Marian participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program by offering 100 undergrads in each of its schools/divisions a grant of up to $8,000 per student, per year.

The school offers credit for military training. The retention rates for students receiving military education benefits are 100% for full time students and 100% for part time students.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $18,426
Grad: $N/A

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 43
Grad: N/A

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 83%
Part Time: 100%

12Purdue University Northwest
2200 169th Street, Hammond, Indiana 46323

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $0.68M

Purdue University Northwest offers Veteran Services. Any active-duty service member, veteran or veteran dependent could tap into their resources to help with the transition from the military to college. The services include help on how to use benefits for your educational goals. Also, veteran peer support, student advocacy, events, free printing and veteran lounges.

You could also turn to VS for help with finding scholarships. Other features may include payment assistance, fee deferment, and priority registration.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $5,407
Grad: $2,646

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 123
Grad: 6

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 67%
Part Time: 41%

13Indiana University-Southeast
4201 Grant Line Rd, New Albany, Indiana 47150

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $0.65M

IU Southeast is proud to welcome veterans of our nation’s armed forces. The school offers several benefits and services to make veterans, active-duty military, and their family members feel at home on campus. I

In the past, IU Southeast has also been named a “Best Colleges for Veterans” school by the Military Times, and have ranked number 4 among Indiana “Top Colleges for Future Service Members” by The College Database.

Any student called to active duty, specialized training or as part of disaster relief efforts may withdraw from all courses and receive a 100% refund of tuition and fees. Or, with the permission of the instructor(s), may receive an incomplete or a final grade in some or all of the courses taken. 

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $4,997
Grad: 4,254

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 120
Grad: 12

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 61%
Part Time: 31%

14Purdue University Fort Wayne
2101 E Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805-1499

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $0.65M

Purdue University Fort Wayne set up the Office of Military Student Services in October 2010 to provide reintegration and transition assistance to student service members, veterans and their families. The goal of these services is to help service members and veterans graduate from their chosen program.

The school offers a broad range of services and programs to students. And, has a trained faculty and staff there to accomplish this mission. Services and programs include federal financial aid, and help with applications for GI Bill education benefits ®. PU also coordinates for services with the Students with Disabilities office and provides transition advice and courses of action.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $5,344
Grad: $7,330

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 110
Grad: 5

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 57%
Part Time: 28%

15 University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Blvd | Evansville, IN 47712

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $0.58M

University of Southern Indiana (USI) welcomes all who have served or are currently serving our country as well as the spouses and dependents of service members. The University’s Veteran, Military & Family Resource Center assists students with applying for and utilizing Department of Veterans Affairs Education benefits. The Veteran Talon is a military and vet newsletter at the university to keep VA Education Benefit recipients current on events and dates for priority registration, healthcare, counseling, parades, and more.

USI takes part in the Yellow Ribbon Program by offering 10 students up to $1,000 per year, per student.

The University offers academic credit for learning acquired in the military. The retention rate for students receiving military education benefits is 70% for full time students and 100% for part time students.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $5,294
Grad: $3,890

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 102
Grad: 12

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 67%
Part Time: 59%