Admit rate has ranged 79%–84% over the last 5 years, though the latest figure above (76%) falls outside that window. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Indiana University Indianapolis is a sprawling, urban public research university where the city is the campus and the campus is the city. It’s an institution built for pragmatists—a place where over 330 academic programs, particularly in health professions and business, funnel directly into the professional heart of the Midwest. With a 76% acceptance rate and a student body where one in five entered with a perfect 4.0+ GPA, it’s an accessible yet academically serious environment defined by its deep integration with Indianapolis and its focus on tangible career outcomes.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
13,830
In-state tuition
$10,762
Out-of-state tuition
$34,891
Graduation Rate
54%
Student Organizations
325+
Median Earnings (10yr)
$55,198
Positive Career Outcomes Rate
83.7%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$55,198
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
4.7×
Median debt at graduation
$20,000
Graduation rate
54%
First-year retention
72%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
55%
Pell (lower-income) share
37%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
35%
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Engineering$69,338
Engineering, Other$68,379
Mechanical Engineering$67,660
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$66,461
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
86
Summer high
84°F
Winter low
26°F
Annual rain
44.8"
Annual snow
17.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
161
Scholarly works
4,034
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Indiana University-Indianapolis?
Indiana University-Indianapolis's acceptance rate is approximately 76% (Indianapolis, IN), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Indiana University-Indianapolis?
Admitted students at Indiana University-Indianapolis typically score 1030–1240 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Indiana University-Indianapolis cost?
At Indiana University-Indianapolis, the average net price (after aid) is about $11,668 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Indiana University-Indianapolis?
Indiana University-Indianapolis enrolls approximately 13,830 undergraduate students.
Where is Indiana University-Indianapolis located?
Indiana University-Indianapolis is located in Indianapolis, IN.
Admissions
Indiana University Indianapolis operates with a high-access admissions philosophy, admitting about three-quarters of its applicants. The process is , though a majority of admitted students still submit scores. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1030–1240, with an average composite score of 1162, while the middle 50% ACT range is 21–29. Academic preparation is a clear priority; the average unweighted high school GPA is 3.53, with a middle 50% range of 3.22 to 3.92, and a notable 20.2% of admitted students had a GPA of 4.0 or higher. While the overall rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is reported as medium at 24%, the university maintains an active waitlist, with historical data showing a waitlist averaging 49.1%. The admissions office can be reached at 812-855-0661 or via email at [email protected], with detailed information available on its admissions website.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians$63,005
Computer Science$61,020
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
The academic experience at IU Indianapolis is defined by scale, choice, and a powerful orientation toward professional fields. Students can choose from more than 330 undergraduate and graduate programs. The curriculum is designed to empower exploration, allowing students to start with their interests—from business to technology and everything in between—to find an ideal major. This vast catalog is particularly strong in applied, career-focused disciplines. The most popular majors cluster in Health Professions and Related Programs and Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services. The campus is home to approximately 100 research centers, integrating scholarly inquiry with the urban environment. Academics are framed not just as classes and credits, but as pathways to owning a business, practicing medicine, teaching children, or pursuing other concrete career goals.
Life at IU Indianapolis is inextricably linked to its location in the heart of Indiana's capital city. The university prides itself on cultivating a diverse, welcoming, and safe environment for a large and varied student body. Campus life is active, supported by a Division of Student Affairs that offers more than 250 student employment and internship opportunities. Students can dive into a thriving scene with more than 325 student organizations. The vibe is often described as commuter-heavy and professionally focused, with a social scene that leverages the city's amenities—students are as likely to be found at a downtown event as at a campus gathering. The institution explicitly connects campus life to personal and professional development, encouraging students to live their best 'Jaguar Life' through organizations, traditions, events, and housing.
The return on investment narrative at IU Indianapolis is strong and clearly communicated. According to the university's own career services data, 83.7% of graduates report positive career outcomes, meaning they are employed or pursuing further education shortly after graduation. Salary reports are broken down by school and major, providing transparency; for example, graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education report a median salary of $61,000. Federal data supports solid earnings potential, with a median salary of $49,273 reported by one source. The four-year graduation rate is 39%, while the overall graduation rate is 54%. This profile paints a picture of a university whose graduates are successfully launching into the workforce, particularly in the professional fields for which the campus is known.
Affordability is a central part of IU Indianapolis's value proposition. The average —the cost after grants and scholarships are applied—is $11,668. The university provides tools like a net price calculator to help families estimate their out-of-pocket expenses, though it cautions that these are estimates and do not guarantee actual aid. Financial aid packages are a mix of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study options, and students receive a Financial Aid Notification (FAN) outlining their award. Need-based scholarships or grants average $13,737. The university has standard policies for maintaining aid, such as requiring full-time undergraduate status (12 credit hours) for some grants. There is also an International Student Financial Assistance Program that offers grant or loan assistance to eligible F-1 or J-1 visa holders. The institution does not advertise a 'no-loan' policy or a commitment to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans.
IU Indianapolis distinguishes itself as the ultimate urban public university for the pragmatically ambitious. It’s not a cloistered collegiate enclave; it’s a permeable network of classrooms, labs, and offices woven directly into the fabric of a major state capital. This deep integration is its superpower: academic programs in health, business, and technology aren't just studied—they're practiced in real time through the more than 250 employment and internship opportunities facilitated on a campus that's also home to 100 research centers. The student body is notably academically prepared (20% entered with a 4.0+ GPA) yet the admissions gate is wide, creating a dynamic mix of high achievers and strivers. The outcome is clear and compelling: over 83% of graduates land jobs or continue their education, often in the very fields that dominate the Indianapolis economy. It’s a university that trades traditional rah-rah for a straightforward promise: come here, work hard, and leave ready to work.
Indiana University-Indianapolis seal · sourceIU Indianapolis - Your First Step to Your Ideal Future - Bring On Tomorrow · sourceOnline Campus Tours of IU Indianapolis - Take the Photo Tour · sourceVirtual College Tours - Visit IU Indianapolis from Anywhere · source
