IU admissions program bringing in more Indianapolis students
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Thousands of Marion County students have been accepted to IU's Indianapolis campus through its expanded seamless admissions program.
Why it matters: The program aims to pave the way to college for underrepresented populations, key to upward mobility and achieving the state's workforce goals.
- "Seamless admissions is about removing unnecessary barriers and making college feel attainable," Jordan Stevenson, vice chancellor for enrollment management at IU Indianapolis, said. "When students receive an admission offer, it changes how they see themselves and their future."
State of play: More than 30 Indianapolis-area schools now participate in the program, which grants automatic admission to IU Indianapolis to students who achieve a 3.0 GPA or higher.
- What started as a pilot with Indianapolis Public Schools' four high schools has expanded to include the IPS Innovation Network, Marion County township schools and neighboring districts.
- More than two dozen schools outside the area have also signed on, for a total of 59 participating schools.
- Nearly 3,500 students now qualify for seamless admissions for fall 2026.
How it works: Qualifying seniors at these high schools don't have to complete a traditional application or pay a fee; instead, they fill out a short online form.
Zoom in: From 2024 to 2025, enrollment on the campus from IPS' four high schools grew from 81 to 117 students.
- "The rising numbers are a strong indicator that higher education is becoming a true and attainable choice for IPS students," Courtney Thomas, IPS' 3E (education, employment, enlistment) coordinator, said. "More students see college not as a dream, but as an option within reach."
Case in point: Keara Stewart, a Shortridge High School senior, said she wasn't sure about college until this year.
- "At first, I planned to attend Ivy Tech so I could live at home and save money," she said. "Then I found out I'd been admitted to IU Indianapolis because of my 3.210 GPA."
- As a 21st Century Scholar, Stewart's tuition will be covered — she's enrolling in the dental hygiene program.
The big picture: The state has struggled to reach its goal of having over 60 percent of working-age adults obtain some form of credential or degree beyond a high school diploma.
- One important strategy is increasing college-going rates in underrepresented populations.
- Marion County's college-going rate (47%) is below the state average (52%) and IPS' is even lower.
- Fewer than 28% of IPS students went on to higher education in 2023, the latest year state data is available.
The latest: More than two-thirds of IPS graduates last year planned to pursue college or trade programs after graduation.
- "We know that this initiative holds the potential to significantly enhance the numbers of IPS graduates attending college," IPS superintendent Aleesia Johnson said.