Indiana University is the largest public university system in the state and one of the largest in the world. The main campus in that system is the one in Bloomington, Indiana, which has an enrollment of nearly 50,000 students. Founded in 1820 as the State Seminary, it became Indiana College before the end of the decade. The college slowly added more degree programs to its curriculum and introduced advanced programs that awarded students master's and later doctoral degrees. Organizations and publications that rank IU within the top schools in the country include Washington Monthly and Forbes. Both U.S. News & World Report and ARWU rank IU on both a national and global scale.
Though many think of the Bloomington campus when thinking of IU, it has a second flagship campus in Indianapolis that is a combination campus that both IU and Purdue operate. The university also established regional campuses in seven cities across the state, including South Bend, Gary and Richmond. These campuses offer fewer choices for students but allow them to take lower level classes for less than it would cost to take classes on the main campus. Some campuses, including the one in South Bend, have housing available for students too.
More than 110,000 students make up the total enrollment across all IU campuses. This figure also includes a large number of online students. Some of the more famous alumni of the university include Mike Pence and Suzanne Collins. Collins is a popular author who wrote "The Hunger Games" series, and Pence is a politician who became Vice President under Donald Trump.
Indiana University Accreditation Details
As the largest public university in Indiana, IU has more accreditation than other schools do. Its primary accreditation, which most call institutional accreditation, comes from the Higher Learning Commission. More than 30 of the degree programs that this university offers have accreditation too, including accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design that accredited all its programs in music, art and dance. Some of the other organizations that accredited IU programs include:
- Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration
- Liaison Committee on Medical Education
- Commission on Opticianary Accreditation
- Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
- American Optometric Association
- Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
Indiana University Application Requirements
Even if you want to take online classes instead of enrolling in an IU campus, you will still need to complete the same application requirements. If you apply by February 1, you will get a response by March 15, and those who apply at the beginning of November will get a response in the middle of January. Though the university will accept applications past November, it will only admit students if it still has space available. Those who submit an application after the beginning of May will need to put down an immediate enrollment deposit.
Students applying for the freshmen class must complete 34 credits of college prep classes that include eight semesters of English, six semesters of social studies and four semesters of foreign language classes. You also need a GPA in the 3.0 to 4.0 range and score high on one of the standardized tests. Students can use the Common Application, the Coalition Application or the university's own website to apply. IU charges a $60 application fee and requires an official test score, official high school transcript and a personal essay statement. When applying for one of the IU graduate program, you will need to submit an online application and provide the university with a test score and a college transcript. IU may ask for your resume, a writing sample or other information too.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The basic cost of attending IU is around $10,500 per year as a full-time Indiana resident and around $34,800 as a nonresident. IU considers a nonresident as any student who did not live in the state for the last full calendar year. The university also charges a distance education fee for all online students that is between $20 and $30 per credit hour. You'll need to check with the university that you want to attend to find out the exact cost of your classes. Each regional campus charges different tuition rates. Graduate classes are a little more expensive and require that you pay the same distance education fee.
Online students at all levels have financial aid options too. The exact amount that you get and the types of aid available to you depend on both your status in school and your overall need. Those with a lower family contribution qualify for more aid. Financial aid can include grants, loans and scholarships.
Online Degrees Available
Indiana University offers associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees online and some certificate programs for both undergrads and graduate students. Of the 21 undergrad programs available, some are available through select regional campus. The general studies program is available through five of its regional campuses and allows you to study different areas at the same time. This is the IU version of an interdisciplinary studies program. IU offers a BS in Psychology too that includes courses on statistics, research methods, social psychology, abnormal psychology and other subjects. Many of these programs allow undergrads to do internships in their own cities too.
As a prospective graduate student, you may have an interest in a subject like social work or marketing. The IU social work program awards graduates an MSW, which will qualify them to work as licensed social workers in Indiana. This program includes a practicum component that helps you gain field experience before you graduate. It also includes courses on group dynamics, how environment affects individuals and research methods. Though the university doesn't offer an online MBA, it does have an MS in Marketing program that looks at many of the same topics.
Instead of enrolling in IU to earn a full college degree, you might sign up for a certificate program. These programs are also available to students enrolled in a full degree program. Undergrads can study cultural heritage tourism, applied math, business foundations, sports tourism and other fields. Indiana University offers graduate certificate programs in subjects like data science, business management, nonprofit management and teaching in nursing.