Office of Admissions

Admission to IU is selective, and we review each application for its individual merits and qualities. In particular, we consider factors that emphasize academic performance and preparation, the strength and quality of the high school curriculum, recent grade trends, class rank, and results of the SAT or ACT.

Our admission standards for U.S. public and private high school students are listed below and should help you assess your credentials for admission. It’s important to note that these are minimums—most students will need to go well beyond these expectations in order to be most competitive for admission—and we do not use formulas to make our decisions.

In general, we encourage you to apply to IU if you have been taking four to five academic classes each year and have earned above-average grades in those classes. If we decide you aren’t ready for IU’s academic challenges yet, you will be given options to consider, including the possibility of transferring to IU in the future.

If applicable, be sure to review the additional admission standards for homeschooled students.

Admission Standards through 2010

High School Graduation

You must earn a diploma from an accredited high school (or have a General Equivalency Diploma) to be eligible for admission. Students who are homeschooled or attend an alternative school should submit credentials that demonstrate equivalent levels of achievement and ability.

High School Curriculum

Admitted freshmen generally have completed 18 or 19 yearlong college-preparatory courses in high school. Each year’s program should include courses representing at least three of the following academic areas: English, math, social science, and natural science.

You must complete the following curriculum in high school:

• 8 credits (semesters) of English (literature, grammar, composition, journalism)
• 6 credits (semesters) of math (algebra, geometry, advanced algebra)
• 4 credits (semesters) of social science (history, government, economics, psychology, sociology)
• 2 credits (semesters) of natural science (biology, chemistry, physics)

Students from Indiana are also expected to complete the Core 40 requirements, the state’s mandated education expectations for high school students.

If you are not from Indiana, you are expected to complete a minimum of 32 semesters of college-preparatory courses. That includes the course work listed above plus 12 semesters of some combination of math, natural science, social science, and/or foreign language.

Class Rank

Of the admitted freshmen who have a high school rank, more than 70 percent are ranked in the top 25 percent of their high school class. More than 30 percent are in the top 10 percent. If you’re an Indiana resident, you should rank in at least the upper half of your class. Nonresidents generally rank in the upper third.

Standardized Test Scores

IU requires scores from either the SAT or the ACT. IU Bloomington’s SAT code is 1324 and our ACT code is 1210.

If you submit more than one set of scores, we’ll consider the highest critical reading and math component scores for the SAT or the highest ACT composite. In fall 2009, the middle 50 percent range of SAT scores for admitted freshman was 1100–1290, and the middle 50 percent range of ACT scores was 24–28.

Other Factors

Essays, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, community service, work experience, as well as dual-credit, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and/or Advance College Project (ACP) courses may be considered as evidence of academic motivation and maturity. An admission decision may take into account the known strengths and weaknesses of an applicant’s college preparation program, the trend of an applicant’s grades in college-preparatory courses, and the applicant’s potential contribution to a diverse educational environment.

Admission Standards Beginning in 2011

IU has new admission standards for students entering in the fall of 2011. Even though these requirements don’t go into effect immediately, we encourage you to continue a strong, balanced curriculum that includes at least two years of world language and math through high school.

High School Graduation

You must earn a diploma from an accredited high school (or have a General Equivalency Diploma) to be eligible for admission. Students who are homeschooled or attend an alternative school should submit credentials that demonstrate equivalent levels of achievement and ability.

Academic Preparation

Applicants should complete at least 34 credits (or semesters) of college-preparatory courses, advanced placement courses, and/or college courses in high school, including:

• 8 credits (semesters) of English, such as literature, grammar, composition, and journalism
• 7 credits (semesters) of mathematics, including 4 credits of algebra and 2 credits of geometry (or an equivalent 6 credits of integrated algebra and geometry), and 1 credit of pre-calculus, trigonometry, or calculus
• 6 credits (semesters) of social sciences, including 2 credits of U.S. history, 2 credits of world history/civilization/geography, and 2 additional credits in government, economics, sociology, history, or similar topics
• 6 credits (semesters) of sciences, including at least 4 credits of laboratory sciences—biology, chemistry, or physics
• 4 credits (semesters) of world languages—this is a new subject requirement
• 3 or more credits (semesters) of additional college-preparatory courses. Additional mathematics credits are recommended for students intending to pursue a science degree and additional world language credits are recommended for all students.

If your high school does not offer the courses needed to meet one or more of these course requirements, then alternative college-preparatory courses may be substituted for the courses that are not available.

Indiana residents must be on track to complete a Core 40 curriculum, a Core 40 Academic Honors curriculum, or the equivalent as a condition of being offered admission.

Grades in Academic Classes

Preference will be given to applicants who have a grade point average of B or better (3.0 or higher on a 4.0-point scale) in their college-preparatory courses.

Class Rank

Preference will be given to Indiana residents who are in the top 40 percent of their graduating class and to nonresidents who are in the top 30 percent of their graduating class.

Standardized Test Scores

IU requires scores from either the SAT or the ACT. Preference will be given to Indiana residents who score above the state average and to nonresidents who score above the national average.

IU Bloomington’s SAT code is 1324 and our ACT code is 1210. If you submit more than one set of scores, we’ll consider the highest critical reading and math component scores for the SAT or the highest ACT composite. In fall 2009, the middle 50 percent range of SAT scores for admitted freshman was 1100–1290, and the middle 50 percent range of ACT scores was 24–28.

Other Factors

Essays, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, community service, work experience, as well as dual-credit, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and/or Advance College Project (ACP) courses may be considered as evidence of academic motivation and maturity. An admission decision may take into account the known strengths and weaknesses of an applicant’s college preparation program, the trend of an applicant’s grades in college-preparatory courses, and the applicant’s potential contribution to a diverse educational environment.