How should I compare the value of Indiana University and UCLA?

Start with your net price, not the published tuition.

UCLA tends to fit students who want a highly selective, research-intensive environment with broad strength across disciplines and proximity to industries such as entertainment, technology, healthcare, design, public policy, and startups. Los Angeles offers exceptional experiential opportunities, but transportation, housing costs, and the effort required to navigate a huge city should be part of the value calculation.

Indiana is especially compelling for a student seeking a more traditional college-town experience and a defined professional path, particularly in business. Bloomington has a strong campus-centered social and cultural life, including major athletics, music, and student organizations. An admitted business student should compare actual career reports for their intended field, including internship access, employers, job locations, and typical starting outcomes, rather than relying on the university name alone.

Examine opportunities specific to your major: required courses and access to them, undergraduate research, study abroad, internship pipelines, and whether you can realistically graduate in four years.

The better value is the school that leaves you with manageable debt while placing you in the academic program, recruiting ecosystem, and day-to-day setting where you will actually take advantage of its resources.