Indiana University: University Insights

About the University

Indiana University is a major multicampus public research institution grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and a world leader in professional, medical, and technological education. IU's mission is to provide broad access to undergraduate and graduate education for students throughout Indiana, the United States, and the world, as well as outstanding academic and cultural programs and student services.

Overview

Location: Bloomington, Indiana, United States

Type: Public University

Founded: 1820

Tuition: $66,206/year

Fun Facts

First State University to Admit Women

After classes began in 1825, with an enrollment of 10 men, IU demonstrated a progressive commitment to inclusion and diversity.

• 1867: IU became one of the first state universities to admit women.

• 1869: Sarah Parke Morrison became the first woman to graduate from IU.

• 1895: Marcellus Neal became IU's first African American graduate.

• 1919: Frances Marshall became IU's first female African American graduate.

IUSF Little 500 Men's Race 2017

Little 500

Billed as "The World's Greatest College Weekend," the Little 500 is the largest collegiate bike race in the United States. Modeled after the Indianapolis 500, riders compete in four-person teams around a quarter-mile cinder track at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The men's race is 200 laps (50 miles), and the women's race is 100 laps (25 miles).

Beautiful Campus

Landscape artist Thomas Gaines named Indiana University's main Bloomington, Indiana, campus one of the five most beautiful in the nation in his 1991 book The Campus as a Work of Art

IU Dance Marathon

Each November, students gather to stay awake and dance for 36 hours straight to raise funds for Indianapolis's Riley Hospital for Children. Students have raised more than $7 million for Riley since the IUDM inception in 1991.

Crest Toothpaste

IU faculty members Harry Day, Josephy Muhler, and William Nebergall created a fluoride toothpaste, contributing to reductions in tooth decay worldwide. Patents were acquired, and Proctor & Gamble paid royalties for an exclusive contract to use stannous fluoride in its Crest, the world's first fluoride toothpaste, launched in 1955.

IU Opera

In 1981, Students from then IU School of Music became the first university company to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

Admissions

Average SAT	1150-1360
Average ACT	26-32
Average TOEFL	550 (Paper), 79 (iBT)
College Board Code	1324
Application Deadline	February

Academics

Graduation Rate: 79%

Retention Rate: 90%

Students-to-Faculty Ratio: 17:1

Application Process

Apply as a freshman if you have never attended college or university before. You must earn a diploma from an accredited high school before you enroll at IU. You would require the following for the application:

• Secondary school academic records

• Demonstration of English proficiency

• SAT or ACT exam scores (optional)

• Letters of recommendation (optional)

• Supplemental Essay

Rankings

Indiana University Bloomington is one of the top public universities in Bloomington, United States. It is ranked #339 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and #72 in National Universities by US News.

Essay Prompt Breakdown

Prompt: Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. Also, if you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. (Response required in 200-400 words.)

This prompt is essentially another "Why this major or university?" essay. The central idea of this essay is to understand which of IU's programs and opportunities you will take advantage of to further your career.

You can approach this prompt by discussing your academic and career interests and goals and explaining how Indiana University specifically would help you reach these aspirations.

The essay's first half can be about your future aspirations and present a cohesive picture of your passion for a specific academic field. For example, you can start with a personal anecdote showcasing your interest in a single course of study or future career.

Next, you can detail your accomplishments and experience in this field and provide instances and examples to back those accomplishments up. This paragraph is also a chance to portray your ability to grow and conquer challenges in your given field.

Lastly, connect your aspirations to Indiana University. Research and learn about the qualities and programs that make Indiana University unique and special to your needs. Try to avoid generic responses that could apply to any other university.

Majors Available

A

Accounting

Accounting and Business/Management

Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching

African Studies

African-American/Black Studies

American/United States Studies/Civilization

Anatomy

Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature

Animal Behavior and Ethology

Anthropology

Apparel and Textiles, General

Architecture

Art History, Criticism and Conservation

Art Teacher Education

Art/Art Studies, General

Artificial Intelligence

Astronomy

Astrophysics

Athletic Training/Trainer

Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General

Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist

B

Ballet

Behavioral Aspects of Health

Bible/Biblical Studies

Biochemistry

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Bioinformatics

Biology Teacher Education

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Biophysics

Biostatistics

Biotechnology

Brass Instruments

Business/Commerce, General

C

Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology

Chemical Physics

Chemistry Teacher Education

Chemistry, General

Children's and Adolescent Literature

Chinese Language and Literature

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General

Cognitive Science, General

College Student Counseling and Personnel Services

Community Health and Preventive Medicine

Comparative Literature

Computational Science

Computer Science

Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance

Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services

Creative Writing

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration

Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

Curriculum and Instruction

Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism

Cyber/Electronic Operations and Warfare

D

Dance, General

Design and Visual Communications, General

Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia

Drama and Dramatics/Theater Arts, General

E

E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce

Early Childhood Education and Teaching

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General

East Asian Studies

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Economics, General

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism

Educational Evaluation and Research

Educational Leadership and Administration, General

Educational Psychology

Educational/Instructional Technology

Elementary Education and Teaching

Engineering, General

English Language and Literature, General

English/Language Arts Teacher Education

Environmental Health

Environmental Science

Environmental Studies

Epidemiology

Exercise Science and Kinesiology

F

Fashion/Apparel Design

Fine and Studio Arts Management

Fine/Studio Arts, General

Folklore Studies

French Language and Literature

G

Game and Interactive Media Design

General Literature

Geography

Geology/Earth Science, General

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General

Gerontology

H

Hazardous Materials Management and Waste Technology/Technician

Health Services Administration

Health Teacher Education

Health/Medical Physics

Higher Education/Higher Education Administration

History and Philosophy of Science and Technology

History, General

Human Computer Interaction

I

Informatics

Information Resources Management

Information Technology Project Management

Interior Design

International Business/Trade/Commerce

International Relations and Affairs

International and Comparative Education

Italian Language and Literature

J

Japanese Language and Literature

Jewish/Judaic Studies

Journalism

K

Keyboard Instruments

L

Labor Studies

Language Interpretation and Translation

Latin American Studies

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies

Library and Information Science

Linguistics

M

Mass Communication/Media Studies

Mathematical Statistics and Probability

Mathematics Teacher Education

Mathematics, General

Mental Health Counseling/Counselor

Microbiology, General

Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General

Museology/Museum Studies

Music Pedagogy

Music Performance, General

Music Teacher Education

Music, General

Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair

Musical Theatre

Musicology and Ethnomusicology

N

Neuroscience

Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management

O

Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician

Optometric Technician/Assistant

Organizational Behavior Studies

P

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies

Pathology/Experimental Pathology

Percussion Instruments

Pharmacology

Philosophy

Physics Teacher Education

Physics, General

Physiology, General

Political Science and Government, General

Portuguese Language and Literature

Public Administration

Public Health Education and Promotion

Public Policy Analysis

R

Recording Arts Technology/Technician

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

Religion/Religious Studies

Russian Studies

S

School Psychology

Secondary Education and Teaching

Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General

Social Sciences, General

Social Studies Teacher Education

Social Work

Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education

Sociology

South Asian Studies

Spanish Language and Literature

Special Education and Teaching, General

Speech Communication and Rhetoric

Speech Teacher Education

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General

Statistics, General

Stringed Instruments

Structural Biology

Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling

T

Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor

Telecommunications Management

Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

U

Ural-Altaic and Central Asian Studies

V

Vision Science/Physiological Optics

Voice and Opera

W

Western European Studies

Woodwind Instruments

Writing, General

Famous Alumni

• Meg Cabot: Author, The Princess Diaries

• John Chambers: President and CEO of Cisco Systems

• Bob Chapek: CEO of The Walt Disney Company

• Michael D. Higgins: President of Ireland

• Ryan Murphy: Actor, best known for American Horror Story

• Ranveer Singh: Actor

• Jason Beckfield: Professor of Sociology at Harvard University

• Angelin Chang: Grammy Award-winning classical pianist

• Silas Warner: Game developer, creator of Wolfenstein

• Donald Fehr: Managing director, Major League Baseball Players Association

Source

"Home." IU at a Glance: About: Indiana University. Web. 29 Oct. 2022.

Lindley, Jolie. "Friday Five: Five Fun Facts about Indiana University." MAGAZINE. 23 Aug. 2016. Web. 29 Oct. 2022

Mercedes, Christina. "20 Facts to Celebrate the IU Bicentennial." We Are IU. 19 Jan. 2020. Web. 29 Oct. 2022.

"What Is Little 500." IU Student Foundation. Web. 29 Oct. 2022.