When prospective students are deciding which Indiana University campus to attend, they evaluate the different opportunities, the size of the campus, and the cost of each school. Each Indiana University campus offers many opportunities to its students, hoping to stand out. The IU campus options include: Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana University, Kokomo, Indiana University, South Bend, Indiana University, East, Indiana University, Southeast, and Indiana University, Northwest.
For many students making their college decisions, cost is a major determining factor. On average, according to the IU Bloomington site, students who attend IUB will be paying $28,812. But if students decide to go to IUK they would be paying around $8,616. Attending IUK is a less expensive option for many local students because room and board fees are not a factor. Lewis Cass alumnae, current IUSB sophomore, Dixie Wagoner commented, “I didn’t want to go to a university as small as IUK, where I would know most people, so I ultimately landed on IUSB, where I knew no one. Students earn an IU degree while paying an IUSB tuition price.” Another Lewis Cass alumna, Wade Tocco, had this to say about IUK, “I would recommend IUK because it is close to home; it is very affordable, and the teachers here are very helpful. The classes aren’t huge, so it feels like a high school class, not a big college lecture.” Prospective IUK student, Lewis Cass senior Harrison Clark said, “Notable alumnae Jim Myers, Grady Davis, and many others, I’m failing to mention. And current student Wade Tocco goes there (IUK). Also, it was the cost that reeled me in.” So, it seems the cost of attending IUK is a major factor in why many students choose to attend IUK.
Indiana University has many campuses with a variety of activities available to its students. Whether a student wants to live at home or in a big city, IU has regional campuses to fit everyone. I personally am considering attending Indiana University, Indianapolis (IUI). Current cross country star, senior Aftin Griffin, is planning to attend IU Indy as well and commented on what factored into her decision to choose IU Indy. Griffin said, “The coach and team at IU Indy stood out to me. When I did my overnight visit, I already felt like I was a part of the team. The facilities were amazing, and there’s so much to do in Indy that I felt like I would never be bored. Also, it is pretty close to home-only about an hour and 25 minutes, so I will easily be able to travel back home when I want.” Aftin plans to continue her success running cross country at IUI, so to her, the facilities and coaches really had a big impact on her decision. When asked about what else (outside of CC) interested her most about IUI, Griffin said she added, “I am excited for the opportunities that I will get. I feel like there are more opportunities in a big city like Indy. I am excited for the atmosphere as well and to see how being in the city contrasts with being in the country.” I personally agree with Griffin; there are many different activities to participate in on and off campus. On campus, Indy offers career fairs, and during homecoming, since they do not have a football team, instead, IU Indy offers activities for students to do in the pool. Off-campus students can take advantage of opportunities such as going to an Indianapolis Indians baseball game, the Indianapolis 500 Race, or a Colts, Pacers, or Fever game. Ava Hubner added, “I am probably most excited to go to the football and basketball games at IU, especially because their football team is doing so good this year.” Similarly, Dixie Wagoner likes the proximity of IUSB to Notre Dame in South Bend. Wagoner said, “I also like how close it is to Notre Dame, so that if I wanted to go to their sporting events, I could do that as well.”
IU Bloomington seems to be the most popular campus choice with over 30,000 students. Bloomington is known for its beauty. IUB is the largest Indiana campus with a diverse culture. Valedictorian, Katie Hurst plans to attend IUB next fall. When asked what made the IUB campus stand out, Hurst commented, “The architecture is beautiful and unique, so all of the buildings stand out. Also, there is a lot of nature around the campus, which makes it look really pretty, especially during the fall.” Bloomington is where other current seniors, Ava Hubner, Anna Hedrick, and Katie Hurst have decided to continue their college careers. When asked why Hubner chose IUB, she said, “Honestly, I decided to go to IU Bloomington to be with Anna so we could dorm together.” It is common for students to choose to go to the same college as their friends, so they have someone they are friends with right off the bat. This helps students make more friends when attending college events together. IU Bloomington is a good choice for many.
IU offers a variety of majors for its students. Indiana University is known for its prestigious Kelly School of Business. Many students who hope to major in business choose the Bloomington campus to take part in this school. Katie Hurst wants to major in accounting. Anna Hedrick also hopes to study business at IUB. At IUSB, Dixie Wagoner is also studying business, specifically, majoring in Human Resource Management, also part of the Kelley School of Business. Freshman, Wade Tocco is studying Sports Management at IUK. When Harrison Clark begins attending IUK, he plans to major in Education. Ava Hubner is planning to study Biology during her time at IUB. Personally, I plan to major in Criminal Justice at IU Indy. Criminal Justice majors at IU Indy have the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. while studying at IUI. Going to D.C. would be a beneficial experience for me while studying Criminology. Aftin Griffin is unsure of what she wants to major in yet, but she is ready to explore her options at IU Indy. Current senior, Emma Hildebrand, is interested in IUSB because she said, “I am interested in IU South Bend because they are one of the few schools that have a Dental Hygiene program in Indiana. Whatever a student’s reason, Indiana University and its regional campuses have a diverse array of major choices to choose from.
As you can see, every IU extension has many upsides. What it comes down to is which Indiana University campus is the best fit for you. Consider the following options: what will you be studying, where do you want to live, and what will the atmosphere and culture be like? For Dixie Wagoner and Emma Hildebrand, it is the fact that IUSB is very close to Notre Dame, or for Emma, the choice of major. For students attending IUK, Wade Tocco and Harrison Clark both said they like the cost of tuition. For fellow senior, Aftin Griffin, and I feel IUI’s location in Indy provides so many amazing activities to be involved in. IUI is located right in the middle of Indianapolis, so there is much to do. And finally, for Hurst, Hubner, and Hedrick, it is the friends and beauty of Bloomington that drew them to IUB. Whatever a prospective student’s reasons might be, Indiana University offers a wide variety of campus options across the state.
