Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana's 1820-founded flagship, home to the Kelley School of Business and the Jacobs School of Music, with flat-rate tuition.
- Acceptance rate
- 76%
- First-years who entered in fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
- Students
- 48,626
- 38,463 undergraduates
- Student–faculty
- 17:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $44,339
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1820
About IU Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington, founded in 1820, is the flagship campus of Indiana University, with 48,626 students in fall 2025, 38,463 of them undergraduates. Its 1,937-acre campus, which rests on a bed of Indiana limestone, is in Bloomington in southern Indiana. The College of Arts and Sciences sits alongside professional schools including the Kelley School of Business, the Jacobs School of Music, the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, the Media School, the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and the Maurer School of Law.
IU is best known for business, music and public affairs, and the Kinsey Institute, founded at IU in 1945, remains a well-known research centre. Faculty member Elinor Ostrom became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2009. IU uses flat-rate tuition that covers up to 40 credit hours across fall, spring and intersessions.
Admission is broadly accessible but selective by programme: 56,218 of 74,077 first-year applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (75.9%), and some schools offer direct admission with extra requirements, such as auditions for Jacobs. IU is test-optional but prefers that applicants share scores. It suits students who want a classic Big Ten college town, strong pre-professional schools and a huge range of activities.
Lux et Veritas
“Light and Truth” — university motto
Why students choose IU Bloomington
Signature professional schools, including the Kelley School of Business and the Jacobs School of Music, with direct admission paths for some programmes.
Flat-rate tuition lets undergraduates take up to 40 credit hours across fall, spring and intersessions for the same price.
Applying by the November 1 early action deadline puts you in line for IU Excellence Scholarships, with or without test scores.
A classic Big Ten campus and college town, famous for the Little 500 bicycle race each April.
Admissions
First-years who entered in fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
56,218 admitted from 74,077 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Admit rates by residency in fall 2025: 12,612 of 17,458 Indiana applicants (72%), 39,841 of 50,700 out-of-state applicants (79%) and 3,765 of 5,919 international applicants (64%). 10,127 freshmen enrolled. Indiana students earning the Enrollment Honors Plus Seal diploma are guaranteed admission. Programmes such as Kelley and Jacobs have additional direct-admission requirements.
Typical entry requirements
| High school coursework | At least 34 college-preparatory credits (semesters): 8 English, 7 mathematics (including algebra, geometry and an advanced course such as precalculus), 6 social sciences, 6 sciences (4 lab), 4 world languages and 3 or more additional college-prep courses |
|---|---|
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 Minimums for admission: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115, PTE 53, Cambridge English 176, SAT EBRW 560 or ACT English 21; also met through IB HL English A (4+), A-level English (C+), AP English (3+) or three years of secondary school in an English-speaking country. Admitted students must show a further level of proficiency before starting classes. |
Deadlines
- Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Non-binding. Highest admission and scholarship consideration, including automatic review for IU Excellence Scholarships. Decisions January 15.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~4 monthsFebruary 1, 2027
Decisions March 15. After February 1, applications are considered on a space-available basis. Enrollment deposit ($100) due May 1.
IU Bloomington's deadlines page lists November 1 (early action) and February 1 (regular decision) without a year. Some scholarships require test scores by January 15.
How to apply
Apply IU application or Common App (no preference); $65 fee (waivers available); one essay (Common App prompt or the IU-specific essay on Apply IU); official high school transcript plus full senior-year schedule; optional SAT/ACT/CLT; recommendations not required (one counselor and one teacher letter accepted); extra steps such as auditions for direct-admission programmes.
What admissions looks for
- Grades in rigorous academic coursework, which IU says carry the greatest weight in its review.
- Completion of the 34-credit college-preparatory curriculum and your cumulative (including weighted) GPA.
- Standardized test scores when available, which IU says may strengthen an application.
- Your application essay, plus supplemental information such as leadership, activities, community service and work experience.
Tips for applying to IU Bloomington
- 1 Submit a complete application, including transcript and essay, by November 1 to be considered for IU Excellence Scholarships and hear back on January 15.
- 2 If you have solid SAT, ACT or CLT scores, share them: IU states a preference for scores, and you can change your test-optional choice in the admissions portal after applying.
- 3 Check the admission paths page early if you want Kelley, Jacobs or another direct-admission programme, since some require extra steps like auditions.
- 4 Indiana residents on track for the Enrollment Honors Plus Seal diploma are guaranteed admission.
- 5 International applicants need proof of funds for about $61,156 for nine months as part of the admissions process.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for Indiana University Bloomington
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Domestic students apply for need-based aid with the FAFSA; merit awards include IU Excellence Scholarships, for which every complete early action applicant is considered with or without test scores. IU gave institutional aid to 785 international (nonresident) undergraduates in 2025-26, averaging $13,865, but international students must document funds for a full year to receive a visa.
- $30,574 Indiana residents; $62,956 non-residents; about $61,156 for nine months for international students
- Cost of attendance 2026-27 (estimate)
- 65.1%
- Average need met for aid recipients (CDS 2025-26)
- $15,719
- Average need-based grant, first-year students (CDS 2025-26)
- 785 students, average $13,865
- Nonresident (international) undergraduates receiving institutional aid (CDS 2025-26)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Kelley School of Business
IU's best-known professional school, with direct admission for qualified freshmen and a $100 million gift in 2026 for its graduate programmes.
Jacobs School of Music
A major conservatory inside a research university; direct admission requires an audition.
O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
IU's school for public affairs, policy and environmental studies at Bloomington.
Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies
IU's dedicated school of international affairs and languages.
Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
Houses computer science, informatics and intelligent systems engineering at Bloomington.
Research
- The Kinsey Institute for sexual research was established at IU in 1945.
- IU professor Elinor Ostrom became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2009.
- The Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies and the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs anchor IU's work in international and public affairs.
Schools & faculties
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Kelley School of Business
- Jacobs School of Music
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
- Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
- The Media School
- Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies
- Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
- School of Education
- School of Public Health-Bloomington
- Maurer School of Law
- School of Optometry
College Scorecard: median earnings of $63,742 ten years after entry (and $53,417 six years after entry) for federally aided students.
Student life
IU Bloomington is a classic Big Ten campus: the Hoosiers compete in NCAA Division I in the Big Ten Conference, and the Sample Gates at the end of Kirkwood Avenue mark the campus entrance. Its best-known tradition is the Little 500, a track cycling race held on the third weekend of April at Bill Armstrong Stadium. With more than 38,000 undergraduates and a freshman class of over 10,000, students from all 92 Indiana counties and 118 countries find their niche through clubs, music performances at the Jacobs School and a busy college-town scene.
- The Little 500 bicycle race, held every April at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
- Indiana Hoosiers athletics in NCAA Division I, Big Ten Conference.
- The Sample Gates at the end of Kirkwood Avenue mark the historic entrance to campus.
- 83% of the 2025 freshman class arrived with some college credit.
Location
Bloomington is a small city in southern Indiana where the university shapes daily life. Kirkwood Avenue leads to the Sample Gates at the edge of campus, and Indianapolis, the state capital, is the nearest major city and airport.
Nearest airport: Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Notable alumni
- MC Mark CubanBillionaire investor and entrepreneur
- SC Suzanne CollinsAuthor of The Hunger Games series
- JW Jimmy WalesCo-founder of Wikipedia; studied in IU Bloomington's finance PhD program
- RG Robert Gates22nd US Secretary of Defense
- HC Hoagy CarmichaelComposer and songwriter; Maurer School of Law graduate
- BC Bob ChapekFormer CEO of Disney
- JT Jeri TaylorScreenwriter and co-creator of Star Trek: Voyager
Frequently asked questions
What is IU Bloomington's acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, IU admitted 56,218 of 74,077 first-year applicants, about 76%. Some programmes, such as Kelley and Jacobs, have additional direct-admission requirements.
Is IU test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes, but IU prefers that you share available SAT, ACT or CLT scores. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years who submitted scores was 1200-1410 on the SAT and 28-33 on the ACT.
What are IU Bloomington's application deadlines?
Early action (non-binding) is November 1, 2026, with decisions on January 15, and regular decision is February 1, 2027, with decisions on March 15.
How much does IU Bloomington cost?
For 2026-27, the estimated cost of attendance is $30,574 for Indiana residents and $62,956 for non-residents; tuition and fees are $12,142 and $42,702. International students should plan for about $61,156 for nine months.
Does IU require letters of recommendation?
No. Recommendations are not required, though IU will accept one counselor and one teacher recommendation if you choose to send them.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- IU Bloomington Admissions: Freshman application process
- IU Bloomington Admissions: Key freshman application deadlines
- IU Bloomington Admissions: Test-optional admissions
- IU Bloomington Admissions: Freshman admission standards
- IU Bloomington Admissions: Class profile (2025 freshman class)
- IU Bloomington Admissions: English proficiency for international applicants
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