About

The ideal college experience

Indiana University students get it all—the storybook experience of what college should be like, and the endless opportunities that come with it. Top-ranked academics. Awe-inspiring faculty. Dynamic campus life. International culture. Phenomenal music and arts events. The excitement of IU Hoosier sports. And a jaw-droppingly beautiful campus.

Founded in 1820, Indiana University Bloomington is the flagship campus of IU’s seven campuses and two regional centers statewide. Innovation, creativity, and academic freedom are hallmarks of our world-class contributions in research and the arts.

Two IU students smiling in a classroom

A legacy of preparing leaders

We’ve nurtured doers and leaders over our past two centuries by creating an academic atmosphere where revolutionary ideas and unexpected collaborations rule the day. IU educational experiences change the lives of our graduates—and the lives of the communities they serve as experts and professionals.

There are larger universities in America. There are older universities in America. There are none, however, more typical of the American ideal of educational opportunity.

Herman B Wells, Past IU President and Chancellor

From African history to analytical chemistry

Environmental policy, social psychology, music, nuclear physics, foreign languages—our diverse academic programs are among the best, with several ranking #1 and in the top 10 nationally. We’re also known for innovation and firsts like the nation’s first informatics school.

On podiums around the world

IU faculty, students, and alumni aspire to the highest standards of their fields, bringing home prestigious national and international awards: Tonys, Oscars, Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes, Emmys, Grammys, Olympic medals, Guggenheims, and Fulbrights. You’ll find us on podiums and stages of all kinds—performing, accepting honors, standing up for human rights, and presenting our research.

A mecca of music and fine arts

The top-ranked IU Jacobs School of Music and our fine arts, theatre, and entertainment offerings rival much larger cities. IU stages more than 1,000 performances every year, in venues that are artistic experiences in themselves. The Musical Arts Center—which we call “the MAC”—is one of the grandest arts venues in the United States, seating 1,460 and featuring a 90′ x 60′ main stage.

Trekking the globe with open minds and big hearts

We extend our famous IU “Hoosier hospitality” to ideas as well as people. With open-mindedness and kindheartedness, we support a diverse, international environment that seeks out all perspectives and draws on our global experiences. IU consistently earns accolades for overseas study programs and worldwide philanthropic ventures—and for a forward-thinking campus climate.