Is Indiana University a Good School? A Comprehensive Evaluation

As one of the largest public university systems in the United States, Indiana University (IU) is renowned for its academic prowess and Division I athletics. But what is IU really like for students? Is it worth attending and considered a "good" school?

In short – yes, Indiana University is widely regarded as an excellent public university. IU offers top-ranked programs, vibrant student life, school spirit through sports, and great value, especially for in-state residents.

While no university is perfect, IU competes with the best public schools nationally and provides exceptional academics alongside the classic college experience.

Background on the Renowned Indiana University System

• Indiana University was founded in 1820 in Bloomington and is one of the oldest universities in the Midwest. Over nearly 200 years, IU has established itself as a world-class institution.

• Today, Indiana University educates over 90,000 students across 9 campuses and 3 regional centers around the state. The residential campus in Bloomington serves over 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 169 countries.

• The university offers over 550 bachelor‘s, master‘s, and doctoral degree programs in 18 different schools specializing across disciplines like business, education, informatics, nursing, public health and more.

With such an extensive legacy and footprint across Indiana, IU has cemented its reputation as the state‘s preeminent public research university.

Indiana University Sets the Bar for Academic Excellence

When evaluating any university, academics should be the top priority. By numerous measures, Indiana University demonstrates a strong commitment to academic excellence:

• Prestigious Rankings: IU is consistently ranked among the top public universities nationwide – #49 in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report rankings. Many of its specialized schools and programs rank even higher, like the #1 School of Education, #7 College of Arts and Sciences, #11 School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and the #15 Kelley School of Business.

• Elite Degree Programs: IU offers elite degrees spanning from Juris Doctorate at #32 Maurer Law School to Masters in Fine Arts at #16 School of Art, Design, and Architecture. Many undergraduate degrees like Finance, Accounting, Media and Public Affairs also crack the top 25 nationally (U.S. News).

• Cutting-Edge Research: IU‘s annual research expenditures reached $592 million in 2021, including millions in prestigious NSF and NIH medical grants. Over 75 interdisciplinary research centers push discoveries on topics from genomics to HIV prevention and more. Students can dive into groundbreaking research as early as freshman year.

• Acclaimed Professors: 96% of IU‘s 6,000+ faculty hold the highest degree in their field. Many are internationally-recognized National Academy members, Nobel laureates, Fulbright scholars and thought leaders influencing public discourse. Their passion shines in small class discussions and dedicated mentorship for both grad and undergrad students.

With such credentials plus centuries-old history and Big Ten conference status, an IU degree holds weight among graduate schools and employers worldwide.

A Degree for Every Interest

With over 550 bachelor‘s programs, it‘s impossible to not find something suited to your interests and strengths at Indiana University:

Most Popular Undergraduate Majors:

• Business (19% of students)
• Social Sciences (11%)
• Communications/Journalism (6%)
• Biology (5%)
• Psychology (5%)

Unique Program Options:

• Informatics & Computing Tech
• Neuroscience
• Tourism, Conventions & Event Management
• Apparel Merchandising
• Music Composition
• Arts Administration
• Many more niche focuses!

Combine any major with specializations like Data Science, International Studies or Sustainability to maximize career opportunities post-graduation.

"I started in Biology but switched to Medical Neuroscience, combining my interests while getting great research experience leading to my top choice Med School program." – Sarah L., Class of 2025

An Unbeatable Campus Experience

While academics are Indiana University‘s foundation, the campus experience solidifies IU as a top contender for prospective students.

• Inclusive Campus Communities: Over 750 student organizations ensure everyone can find their tribe – whether that‘s Quidditch enthusiasts, fashionistas, or indie music fans. 30% of students join Greek life and 60% live on campus at least one year – both higher than the national average indicating a highly-engaged student community.

• **Legendary Athletics:***Home to 24 NCAA National Championships and 160+ Big Ten titles, IU leaves an impression with sports. Basketball games at the iconic Assembly Hall are can’t-miss events with 17,000 screaming fans. The Hoosiers field 35 total men‘s and women‘s teams across all major sports.

• Endless Extracurriculars: Guest lectures, theater productions, art exhibits – every week brings new opportunities for entertainment and personal growth. The acclaimed IU Auditorium also attracts Broadway musicals and other big events often at student discounts.

• Supporting Wellness: Recognizing wellbeing fuels student success, IU offers one of the country’s most comprehensive recreational sports programs including group fitness, intramural sports, aquatics and more in state-of-the-art facilities. Health center clinics, mindfulness programs and 24/7 crisis services provide complete physical and mental health support.

Between the lively residence halls, packed stadiums, endless on-campus activities and focus on wellness resources, IU helps every student thrive inside and outside the classroom.

"I was worried about making friends but between my sorority sisters and soccer team, I found my people right away. There‘s always something super fun happening on campus from Waffle Wednesdays to midnight Zumba dance parties!" – Priya T., Class of 2024

An Unbeatable Value

While the academics and experience outshine expectations, Indiana University also offers an incredible value, especially for in-state students.

• Indiana residents pay very competitive tuition rates compared to other large state schools nearby. For context, here‘s how standard undergraduate tuition and fees stack up annually:

University	Annual In-State Tuition + Fees	Annual Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
Indiana University (IU)	$11,000	$37,7400
University of Michigan	$17,522	$54,074
University of Illinois	$13,264	$36,352
Purdue University	$10,002	$31,992
Michigan State	$15,060	$43,376

• Over $400 million in financial aid and merit-based scholarships are awarded annually. The specific scholarships and grants available to both in-state and out-of-state students are phenomenal!

• Graduates report early career salaries averaging $59,500 along with strong lifelong earning potential and job growth – a testament to the fantastic ROI of an IU education.

By providing an exceptional "dollar-for-dollar" value, IU makes a world-class education accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. 56% of students receive some form of need or merit-based aid helping fund their degrees.

"Between my state awards and additional scholarships I qualified for, I‘m completing my degree 100% tuition-covered allowing me to focus fully on my education." – Chris A., Class of 2024

Post-Graduation Outcomes Prove the Power of an IU Degree

Indiana University not only delivers an incredible 4-year experience but also empowers students for career success after tossing their caps at graduation.

• IU enjoys strong job placement rates across Schools and Colleges. For example, 96% of 2021 Kelley School of Business grads received at least one job offer within three months.

• Average early career salaries range from $45,800 for College of Arts and Sciences graduates to $69,100 for Informatics grads, demonstrating the earnings potential of various degree programs.

• Major national and international employers actively recruit graduates across disciplines. Top recruiters include Deloitte, Eli Lilly, Amazon, Epic Systems, Cummins, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

• Within the vast, 150,000+ strong alumni network, IU grads find mentors and contacts to further their post-college goals from New York City to Singapore and beyond.

• The quality programs and dedicated career coaching ensures Hoosiers leave prepared to excel in wide-ranging fields. Many even pursue advanced degrees at institutions like Harvard Medical School, Stanford Law, Columbia Journalism School and more.

"My professors and career center counselors worked closely with me on my resume, interview prep and LinkedIn profile positioning me for success. I had three great job offers at graduation thanks to those efforts." – Kyle M., Class of 2021 Graduate

Some Important Considerations

While Indiana University outperforms on numerous fronts, there are a few considerations to weigh if you‘re an admitted student:

Navigating the Large Student Population

• Indiana University is one of the nation’s largest schools with over 90,000 students. The main Bloomington campus alone serves over 40,000 students each year.

• With such size, freshman intro classes can be quite big – think 500+ students packed in a lecture hall. Smaller discussion and lab sections supplement lectures however. By junior and senior year, major-specific classes have 25 students or less.

• While it may seem overwhelming initially, students point to the diverse course catalog allowing specialized focuses. And the endless clubs and activities make the campus feel smaller where you can find your crowd.

Managing Competitive Admissions

• Certain selective schools like the #8 Kelley Business School (21% admit rate) have highly competitive admissions, even for existing IU students. Popular majors like Biology and Informatics are also getting more applicants than ever before amid enrollment growth trends.

• Freshman direct admit rates to IU-Bloomington reached an all-time low for Fall 2022 at just 59% meaning standards continue rising across the board. That means prospective students need to emphasize academics alongside rigorous course loads and test scores in their applications.

• For highly-selective programs, having strategic alternative majors as backup plans can help ensure admission to IU even if your first choice school proves too competitive in a given year.

Balancing Affordability as an Out-of-State Student

• Out-of-state students unfortunately don‘t qualify for in-state tuition or as many state scholarship opportunities as Indiana residents. Thus financing college may be more challenging.

• Non-resident tuition is nearly triple base tuition meaning out-of-state students pay between $35,000-$40,000 annually for undergraduate degrees. Those from the Midwest can alleviate costs through the Midwest Student Exchange Program however.

• IU aims to ensure college access for all admitted students though. The Alumni Association connects students with scholarships and financial planning support to help make degrees possible regardless of residency.

How Does IU Compare to Peer Public Universities?

As Indiana‘s original public institution since 1820, IU has had centuries to refine the world-class education it provides generation after generation of Hoosier students. But how does it stack up to its Big Ten and other peer public universities on key benchmarks?

|| Indiana University | University of Michigan | University of Wisconsin – Madison |
|-|:-:|:-:|:-:|
|USNWR National University Ranking | #49 | #24 | #52 |
|Acceptance Rate | 59% | 23% | 52% |
|Graduation Rate | 80% | 91% | 83% |
|Student-Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 | 17:1 |
|Research Expenditures | $592 million | $1.62 billion | $1.14 billion |
|Campus Life Grade A- to A+ | A | A+ | A |
|Athletics NCAA Championships | 24 | 9 | 28 |

Indiana University generally scores very comparably – if not higher – to these prestigious peer institutions on the metrics that matter most to students today including campus culture, value, and outcomes post-graduation!

Boasting a legacy spanning over 175+ years, Indiana University has emerged as a world-class public institution providing top academics, research, student experiences and outcomes for its Hoosiers.

While no university excels equally across all areas, IU impresses year over year as a:

• Top-50 nationally ranked public research institution
• Intimate undergraduate focus – "Major specific with a personal touch"
• Highly spirited campus culture rooted in thriving Greek life and basketball
• Pathway to career, graduate school and life success for over 540,000+ living alumni

As demand for an IU degree continues with applications reaching all-time highs in 2023, one thing remains constant – Indiana University offers tremendous value and experiences to make a college student‘s journey fulfilling at every turn.

Prospective students would be remiss not to strongly consider Indiana University – especially valued in-state residents – as offering one of the best overall packages nationally for public higher education today. Over 90,000 students a year and growing can‘t be wrong!

Want to learn more about Indiana University and see if IU is the right fit for your college goals? Check out their admissions site today at admissions.indiana.edu.