Undergraduate Division
Admission Requirements
Indiana University Bloomington Requirements for Incoming Freshmen
The standards listed below represent the minimum levels of preparation and achievement necessary to be considered for admission. Most admitted students exceed these minimum levels. Each application is reviewed individually. When making admission decisions, the university is primarily concerned with the breadth and depth of the college-preparatory program including the student’s cumulative grade point average, SAT/ACT scores, academic curriculum and the grades received in those academic courses, grade trends in college-preparatory subjects, class rank, and other additional factors.
High School Graduation
Applicants must earn a diploma from an accredited high school (or must have completed the Indiana High School Equivalency Diploma) to be eligible for admission consideration. 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
- 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.
Alternative college-preparatory courses may be substituted for courses that are not available in the applicant's high school.
Grades in Academic Classes
Cumulative GPA, as well as the grades earned in the 34 courses required for admission, is an important part of the application review process. Weighted GPA is also part of the review, if included on transcript.
Application Essay
An IU-specific essay of 200-400 words is required.
Standardized Test Scores
ACT or SAT scores are accepted as either official or self-reported scores. Self-reported scores can be entered in the Indiana University application. If offered admission, the offer will be contingent upon receipt of official test scores from testing agencies, which must match or be higher than those self-reported during the admissions process.
IU's test-optional admissions policy allows students to choose at the point of application whether to have an SAT or ACT test scores considered as part of the admissions review. For applicants who choose not to have test scores considered, a greater emphasis will be placed on grades in academic courses and grade trends in the admissions review. Applicants receive equal consideration for admission and scholarship to the Jacobs School of Music, regardless of whether or not they applied under the test-optional policy.
There are several groups of students who will be required to provide SAT or ACT scores. Homeschooled students, students who have attended a school with non-traditional evaluation methods where traditional alpha or numerical grades are not assigned, and student athletes subject to NCAA eligibility standards will be required to submit a standardized test score.
Applicants who are at least 21 years old or have been out of high school for three or more years may be considered for admission without standardized SAT and/or ACT test scores.
Information
For additional information, contact the Office of Admissions, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405; (812) 855-0661; iuadmit@indiana.edu.
International Students
To be admitted, international students must complete above-average work in their supporting programs. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 560 (paper-based) or 84 (Internet-based) is necessary for regular admission to a degree program. Applicants who submit score reports from several TOEFL tests within the last two years may satisfy the minimum score by adding the result from each of the sections of the TOEFL (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing) to reach a new total (a.k.a. “Superscore” or "My Best Score").
The test-optional procedures for SAT and ACT scores are also available to undergraduate international applicants, who may choose not to have these test scores considered.
International students are also required to take the Indiana University English Proficiency Examination and must register for any supplemental English courses prescribed based on the results of this examination or, if necessary, enroll in the intensive English language program.
For additional information, contact the Office of International Services, Indiana University, Poplars 221, 400 E. Seventh Street, Bloomington, IN 47405; newtoiu@indiana.edu; (812) 855-9086; http://ois.iu.edu/admissions/index.html.