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Indiana University Bloomington

Bloomington, INPublicOfficial siteCompiled by Esslo

Indiana University Bloomington is the public flagship of the IU system, set on a wooded limestone campus in southern Indiana and home to roughly 38,500 undergraduates. Admission is selective but accessible for a school its size — about 76% of more than 74,000 applicants are admitted, and enrolled first-years average a 3.8 high school GPA with middle-50% SAT scores of 1200–1410. The Kelley School of Business anchors the university, and business and marketing is by far the most popular field at roughly a third of bachelor's degrees, followed by the life sciences, public affairs, and the Media School. With strong first-year retention and low in-state tuition, IU remains one of the better values among major public research universities.

Average GPA3.8
Middle 50% SAT1200–1410
Middle 50% ACT28–33
Overall Acceptance Rate75.9%
Student-Faculty Ratio17 : 1
Undergrad Enrollment38,463
In-State Tuition & Fees$12,144
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees$42,295

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Indiana admissions statistics

Acceptance rate

Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.

75.9%acceptance rate
Applied
74,077
Admitted
56,218
Enrolled
10,127

Admit rate by residency

% admitted
In-state72.2%
12,612 admitted of 17,458 applicants
Out-of-state78.6%
39,841 admitted of 50,700 applicants
International63.6%
3,765 admitted of 5,919 applicants

Early action

Indiana offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.

Early Decision
Not offered
Early Action
Non-binding
Restrictive EA
Not offered

Standardized tests

Indiana is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.

SAT Accepted?

ACT Accepted?

Test Optional?

SAT Scores

4001600
25th Percentile
1200
50th Percentile
1310
75th Percentile
1410

ACT Scores

136
25th Percentile
28
50th Percentile
31
75th Percentile
33

Indiana application deadlines — Fall 2027

Last checked August 19, 2026. If you are applying, you should verify deadlines on Indiana’s site.

  • Early Action

    For highest admission and scholarship consideration

    November 1, 2026
  • Regular Decision

    After February 1, applications will only be accepted on a space-available basis

    February 1, 2027

Source: Indiana’s admissions dates page · checked August 19, 2026

Indiana supplemental essays

Indiana requires no supplemental essay for the 2026-2027 cycle — your Common App personal statement is the only essay they read.

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Class rank

Where Indiana's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.

Top tenth of class31.1%
Top quarter of class62.7%
Top half of class92.9%

Based on the 27% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Indiana does not publish an average GPA.

Admissions factors

How Indiana weighs each part of your application.

→ Importance

Rigor of High School Record

Academic GPA

Standardized Test Scores

Application Essay

Recommendations

Extracurricular Activities

Character / Personal Qualities

Talent / Ability

First Generation

Level of Applicant's Interest

Class Rank

Volunteer Work

Work Experience

Geographical Residence

State Residency

Alumni Relation

Racial / Ethnic Status

Religious Affiliation

Cost of attendance

Estimated full-time annual cost from Indiana's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.

$30,922
In-State
$61,073
Out-of-State
In-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees
$12,144$42,295
Room & Board
$14,160$14,160
Other Expenses
$4,618$4,618
Total
$30,922$61,073

What families actually pay

$0–30k~$6k
$30–48k~$8k
$48–75k~$12k
$75–110k~$20k
$110k+~$25k

Average net price — what was left to pay after grant aid — for students receiving federal financial aid, covering in-state students only.

% of undergrads with Pell grants16.8%

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Financial aid

Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.

Receiving Aid
36%
Avg. Package
$17,195
Avg. Need Met
65%

Frequently asked questions about Indiana admissions

Enrolled first-years at IU Bloomington average about a 3.8 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale. There is no hard cutoff, but academic GPA, class rank, and the rigor of your course load are all weighed as very important factors, so competitive applicants carry strong grades in a challenging schedule.

IU Bloomington admitted about 75.9% of applicants in the most recent cycle, receiving roughly 74,000 applications and enrolling around 10,100 first-years. It is selective but accessible for its size, though admission to high-demand programs can be more competitive than the overall rate suggests.

Out-of-state applicants are actually admitted at a slightly higher rate than Indiana residents. In the most recent cycle, IU Bloomington admitted 78.6% of out-of-state applicants (39,841 of 50,700) compared with 72.2% of in-state applicants (12,612 of 17,458). International applicants saw a 63.6% admit rate (3,765 of 5,919). State residency is rated only a considered factor, and the numbers reflect that out-of-state students face no meaningful disadvantage in the overall pool.

IU Bloomington is test-optional, so you can apply without scores. Among enrolled first-years who submitted them, the middle 50% scored 1200 to 1410 on the SAT and 28 to 33 on the ACT; standardized test scores are treated as an important factor in the review.

Yes, a 1400 is competitive at IU Bloomington. It sits near the 75th percentile of enrolled first-years, whose middle 50% scored 1200 to 1410 on the SAT. Because IU is test-optional, a strong score helps but is not required to apply.

Annual tuition and required fees are about $12,144 for Indiana residents and $42,295 for out-of-state students. Roughly 36% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average package near $17,195, and IU meets about 65% of demonstrated need on average.

Business and marketing is by far the largest area at about 34% of bachelor's degrees, reflecting the prominence of the Kelley School of Business. The biological and life sciences, parks and recreation, communication and journalism, and computer and information sciences round out the most popular fields.

Yes. IU Bloomington rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review, on par with standardized test scores and just below academics like GPA, class rank, and course rigor. A specific, well-revised essay is a meaningful way to strengthen your application.

Esslo gives free line-by-line feedback on your draft. Try it now

Popular majors

Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.

Business & Marketing
Biological & Life Sciences
Parks & Recreation
Communication & Journalism
Computer & Info Sciences
Public & Social Services
Psychology
Other
Business
34%
Life Sci
9%
Parks & Rec
8%
Comm
7%
Computing
6%
Public Svc
5%
Psychology
5%
Other
26%

Student-faculty ratio

The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.

17:1

Student outcomes

First-years who return90%
Graduate within six years80%
Median earnings, 4 yrs after graduation~$75k
Median federal loan debt at graduation~$20k

Median yearly income of former students who received federal aid, across every major, measured four years after graduating (2017–18 and 2018–19 graduates, earnings measured 2022–2023). Debt covers federal loans of students who completed.

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Programs

Indiana’s most popular programs and median pay after graduation. Income data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

  • Kinesiology & Exercise Science

    410 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$69kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$19k median debt
  • Communication & Media Studies

    348 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$64kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Computer & Information Sciences

    271 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$99kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Biology

    264 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$65kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Public Health

    184 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$68kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
Show all 27 programs
  • Computer Science

    172 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$114kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$19k median debt
  • Music

    133 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$29kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Neuroscience

    110 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$74kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$23k median debt
  • Journalism

    105 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$59kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$19k median debt
  • Political Science

    86 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$70kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$18k median debt
  • Criminal Justice

    85 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$58kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$17k median debt
  • Environmental Science & Natural Resources

    76 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$56kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$18k median debt
  • Economics

    62 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$100kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Fine & Studio Arts

    56 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$44kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$18k median debt
  • History

    51 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$58kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • English

    49 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$56kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$16k median debt
  • Chemistry

    44 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$61kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$17k median debt
  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

    43 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$79kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$23k median debt
  • General EngineeringNot ABET-accredited

    34 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Mathematics

    33 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$89kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Linguistics & Language Studies

    17 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$42kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$19k median debt
  • Philosophy

    16 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Physics

    13 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation~$22k median debt
  • Area Studies

    5 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Earth & Geological Sciences

    4 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Psychology

    Degrees conferred not published (2023-24)

    ~$54kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Nursing

    Degrees conferred not published (2023-24)

    ~$82kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$22k median debt

Median pay data is measured from graduates who received federal student aid.

Source: College Scorecard (2026) · IPEDS (2023-24) · ABET

Campus life

On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.

First-Years On Campus
97%
In Fraternities
23%
In Sororities
22%

Place

How the federal government classifies the area around the campus, and what a normal year of weather looks like there.

Setting
Small city
Location
Bloomington, IN

Average temperature

Monthly high and low, °F
3721J
4223F
5232M
6442A
7453M
8262J
8565J
8564A
7956S
6644O
5334N
4126D
Snow a year
18 in
Precipitation a year
49 in
Days at 90°F or above
21
Days below 32°F
109

Thirty-year averages, measured at the nearest weather station rather than on campus — they describe the area, not the campus.

Source: IPEDS (HD2024) · NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, BLOOMINGTON INDIANA UNIV, IN US station, 0.6 mi from campus

Enrollment by gender

50%
50%
Male
19,276
Female
19,182

Student diversity

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.

White63.4%
Asian and Pacific Islander11.7%
Other11.1%
Hispanic9%
Black4.7%
Native American<1%

Source: Indiana University Bloomington Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-26. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Indiana. Banner photo by SUZUKI Hironobu, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Cite this page as: Esslo College Explorer, “Indiana University Bloomington admissions statistics, transcribed from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set,” https://www.esslo.org/colleges/indiana-bloomington (retrieved 2026-06-26).