Indiana University Bloomington
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.
See how Indiana compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
Indiana admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Action
Indiana offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
Indiana is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Indiana's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
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.
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.
Out-of-state students pay $29,747 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Writing your Indiana application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at Indiana and beyond.
Frequently asked questions about Indiana admissions
What GPA do you need to get into Indiana University Bloomington?＋
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.
What is Indiana University's acceptance rate, and is it hard to get into?＋
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.
What are my chances of getting into IU Bloomington out of state?＋
Out-of-state applicants are actually admitted at a slightly higher rate than Indiana residents. In the most recent cycle, IU Bloomington admitted 80.8% of out-of-state applicants (36,497 of 45,191) compared with 75.2% of in-state applicants (12,697 of 16,894). International applicants saw a 66.8% admit rate (3,724 of 5,573). 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.
Is Indiana University test-optional, and what SAT or ACT scores do you need?＋
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.
Is a 1400 SAT good enough for Indiana University?＋
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.
How much does Indiana University cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees are about $12,144 for Indiana residents and $41,891 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.
What are the most popular majors at Indiana University Bloomington?＋
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.
Does the application essay matter at IU Bloomington?＋
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.
Source: Indiana University Bloomington Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-08. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Indiana. Banner photo by SUZUKI Hironobu, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).