An alternative to the traditional four-year program is the community college. In Indiana, Ivy Tech Community College is part of the state community college system and has tuition costs far below other institutions. Ivy Tech offers two-year degrees in a number of programs, including accounting and business administration, electrical engineering technology and practical nursing. These programs can help students enter the workplace faster or prepare them for a four-year institution.
Western Governors University Indiana is an Internet-based university that offers over 50 degree programs in teaching, business, technology and health-related careers. The university was established through a partnership with with Western Governors University in order to provide higher education access to Indiana residents. Western Governors University was founded by 19 United States governors in 1997. The university uses a competency-based education model that measures learning instead of credit hours. Students advance in a degree program based on demonstration of knowledge and skill in their field of study.
The University of Southern Indiana in Evansville offers four-year degrees across many fields of study at a tuition approximately two-thirds the rate of other traditional four-year institutions in Indiana. The university was established in 1970 and boasts that approximately 75 percent of 29,000 university graduates have stayed in Indiana. The University of Southern Indiana works in partnership with local businesses with education and workforce development. The university has also implemented research initiatives with the introduction of the Center for Applied Research. According to the university, the center has identified over 80 research projects in its first two years of operation.
Founded in 1801 by William Henry Harrison, Vincennes University was the first college in Indiana and one of the oldest in the United States. Located in southern Indiana between Evansville and Terre Haute, Vincennes offers certificates, associate degrees, transfer programs and some bachelors degrees in approximately 200 major programs. The academic areas at Vincennes include business, health sciences, humanities, science, math, technology, the social sciences and art. Vincennes has long been recognized as a source of education for students who wish future transfer to four-year schools and programs.