Indiana University--Bloomington

Statistics

Rankings & Lists

Students Say - Academics
Indiana University is a "Big Ten research university that offers a huge variety of classes and majors (even allowing students to create their own) with a surprisingly diverse student body that allows anybody to fit in regardless of whether they enjoy partying or are interested in the Greek system. " Although some think of IU as "a party school with an active Greek population"-an image students reinforce when they insist that IU is "about going to massive parties...and getting the job done, but not being defined by schoolwork." Most students appreciate both the academic and social aspects of the school, telling us that IU offers "the best combination of academics and extracurriculars one could ask for in a school." IU's "world renowned" business school is taught by professors who "are at the top of their respective fields of expertise. They have a lot to teach us, and they are almost universally excellent at doing so." An equally acclaimed music school and a language department that "has everything from the romance languages to Urdu, Haitian Creole, and Tibetan" also draw students' attention. Many majors require students to hold an internship before graduating, so "you really have to be self-motivated, since IUB is one hour away from a metropolitan area. Although being in this town has its social benefits, it definitely makes it tougher as you prepare for life after college."

Students Say - Campus Life
Every day is a new and exciting experience at Indiana University, where "there is too much going on all of the time." The campus is alive with lectures, art exhibits, theatrical and musical shows, and the school's beloved intercollegiate athletics. "We spend a lot of time thinking about basketball and football, depending obviously on the season," students tell us. You don't have to look hard to find a party here, and "a lot of people tend to get drunk as entertainment," but that's hardly the only option, and many pass four happy years here outside the party scene. Undergrads love hometown Bloomington, "a great city to live in" with "amazing cultural events, such as the Lotus World Music Festival and Chocolate Fest" along with "lots of little stores demonstrating their own niches and a wide range of different authentic-ish ethnic restaurants." Campus- wide traditions such as Little 500, a party "at the end of the year when the whole campus stops what they're doing to attend concerts, parties, and the men's and women's bike races," help cement a strong sense of school spirit.

Students Say - Student Body
While "most IU students are white and come from a middle-class background," the school's "international and minority student populations are growing, and there are a lot of services available to help minority students feel comfortable on campus." Those who aren't native Hoosiers are most often Chicagoans or East Coasters from New York and New Jersey, although IU attracts students from all 50 states and 136 countries. The school is big enough to accommodate many personality types: "some Greeks, some who are academically oriented, some who enjoy and actively pursue the arts, and others who enjoy sports such as IU basketball...small cultures exist within the larger IU culture." There are "a lot of students who come to IU with the intention of partying all the time, and rarely studying," but most don't last long; those who "work hard all week and worship the weekends," on the other hand, can and often do thrive here.

Other Schools To Consider Top Programs