Head-to-head comparison
Indiana State University vs Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: which has better ROI?
Option A Terre Haute, IN
Indiana State University
- Net price / year
- $10,873
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,387
- Payback
- 1610.8 yrs
Option B Terre Haute, IN
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
- Net price / year
- $42,513
- Earnings, 10 years
- $101,253
- Payback
- 3.2 yrs
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $170,052 in 3.2 years versus 1610.8 years at Indiana State University, on median earnings of $101,253 vs $48,387 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Indiana State University | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,873 | $42,513 |
| Total net cost | $43,492 | $170,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,387 | $101,253 |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 1610.8 yrs | 3.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$42,952 | $887,808 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Indiana State University or Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology?
Indiana State University, at $10,873 a year after aid versus $42,513 — a gap of $31,640 a year, or $126,560 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Indiana State University or Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology graduates report a median $101,253 ten years after entry, $52,866 more than the $48,387 at Indiana State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Indiana State University or Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology?
Indiana State University: its completers carry a median $24,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
78% of students finish at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, against 43% at Indiana State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.