Indiana University Bloomington admission requirements for international students come down to five things: a strong secondary school record (about a B average or better across 34 academic credits), a 200 to 400 word essay, your full final-year course schedule, official transcripts and an English score such as TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115. You apply through Apply IU or the Common App. The SAT and ACT are optional and recommendation letters are optional too.
IU admitted 78% of first-year applicants and about 67% of international applicants for fall 2024, the latest year in its official Common Data Set. For fall 2027 entry, Early Action closes on 1 November 2026 and Regular Decision on 1 February 2027. A complete file by 1 February also puts you in line for the Global Engagement Scholarship, typically $1,000 to $11,000 a year for international first-years. IU’s published international budget is $61,156 a year. Everything here was checked on IU’s own pages on 29 October 2026.
Indiana University Bloomington ranking
In the U.S. News 2026 edition, released in September 2025, IU Bloomington ranked No. 73 among National Universities and No. 34 among public universities, as reported by the Indiana Daily Student and IU’s Kelley School. We could not confirm IU’s overall place in the 2027 edition published on 22 September 2026, so check the U.S. News site for the newest figure. The Kelley School of Business is IU’s best-known programme.
| Ranking (U.S. News 2026 edition) | IU Bloomington’s position |
|---|---|
| National Universities | No. 73 |
| Top Public Schools | No. 34 |
| Undergraduate business (Kelley) | No. 8 overall, No. 4 among public schools |
| Kelley specialties: marketing, accounting, management | No. 4 each |
| Kelley specialty: information systems | No. 6 |
| Kelley specialty: entrepreneurship | No. 7 |
| Kelley specialties: analytics, finance, production and operations | No. 9 each |
Indiana University acceptance rate and class profile
IU’s official Common Data Set for 2024 covers the class that started in fall 2024 and splits out international applicants. An independent transcription of the 2025-26 Common Data Set gives the fall 2025 figures, which show a slightly lower rate.
| Measure | Fall 2024 (IU CDS 2024) | Fall 2025 (2025-26 CDS, as transcribed) |
|---|---|---|
| First-year applicants | 67,647 | 74,077 |
| Admitted | 52,907 | 56,218 |
| Acceptance rate | 78.2% | 75.9% |
| International applicants | 5,573 | 5,919 |
| International admits | 3,724 | 3,765 |
| International acceptance rate | 66.8% | 63.6% |
| International first-years enrolled | 364 | Not shown |
| SAT middle 50% (submitters) | 1180 to 1390 | 1200 to 1410 |
| ACT middle 50% (submitters) | 27 to 33 | 28 to 33 |
Two points stand out. International applicants are admitted at a lower rate than U.S. applicants, so your grades in the 34 required courses matter a lot. And only about 42% of enrolled first-years sent an SAT score in fall 2024, so going test optional is normal. IU Bloomington had 38,093 undergraduates in fall 2024, 1,805 of them international.
Indiana University tuition for international students
IU publishes one nine-month budget (fall and spring) for international undergraduates. The page does not label the academic year; its fee schedule links point to the 2025-27 tuition schedule, so treat it as the current estimate.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and mandatory fees | $44,339 |
| Housing and food (double room, standard meal plan) | $12,431 |
| Mandatory health insurance | $1,916 |
| Miscellaneous (books and general living costs) | $2,470 |
| Total | $61,156 |
Travel to and from your home country is not in this total, and neither are summer months.
Indiana University scholarships for international students
IU gives no U.S. federal aid to international students, but it does offer merit awards.
| Scholarship | Amount | Who can get it | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| IU Global Engagement Scholarship | Typically $1,000 to $11,000 a year, renewable for four years | Incoming international first-years with the strongest academic records | No separate form; complete admission application by 1 February 2027 |
| IU academic scholarships | Varies | First-years; some depend on residency or need, so not all are open to international students | Complete application by 1 November 2026 |
| C.V. Starr Foundation Scholarship | Not published | First-year students who are citizens of China | See IU’s international scholarships page |
| Japan Alumni Chapter Scholarship | Not published | Students from Japan; preference for incoming students | See IU’s international scholarships page |
| BP Peduli Scholarship | Not published | Students from ASEAN countries with strong leadership | See IU’s international scholarships page |
| Rising Star Scholarship | Not published | Female international undergraduates showing emerging potential | See IU’s international scholarships page |
| Scott Schurz Latin American Scholarship | Not published | Journalism B.A. students, first preference for Latin American students | See IU’s international scholarships page |
The Global Engagement Scholarship is the one most international applicants should target. It is competitive and based on your admission file: transcripts and, if you send them, SAT or ACT scores received directly from the testing agency. You can send updated SAT or ACT scores by 15 January 2027 for extra scholarship consideration. IU’s scholarship office finalises incoming awards by 15 April and notifies recipients only.
Indiana University Bloomington admission requirements for international students
- Application: Apply IU or the Common App. IU has no preference, but submit only one; if you send two, IU reviews the first complete one.
- Essay: 200 to 400 words (details below).
- Secondary school records: transcripts and exam results; IU’s transcripts page lists country-specific documents.
- Final-year schedule: your full senior-year course list, not just the first term. IU does not start review without it.
- English proficiency: a test score or an accepted exemption.
- Optional items: SAT or ACT, one counsellor letter and one teacher letter.
- Atlas portal: IU emails your Atlas login within five days of receiving your application; upload documents there.
- Fee: application fees are non-refundable, and international applicants cannot get a fee waiver. IU’s FAQ quotes a $65 fee; confirm the international amount in the application.
IU expects about a B average or higher, and strong or rising grades in a demanding programme help. The 34 credits break down as 8 in English (four years), 7 in maths (three and a half years, up to precalculus, trigonometry or calculus), 6 in social sciences, 6 in sciences (at least 4 in laboratory science), 4 in another world language and 3 more in academic subjects. Kelley School of Business and the School of Nursing are limited-capacity majors; you can list only one as your first choice, and you are still considered for your second. Jacobs School of Music applicants complete a separate application with its own fee.
Testing policy
IU is test optional. The SAT and ACT are not English tests, though a high SAT reading score or ACT English score can satisfy the English requirement.
English requirements
| Test | Minimum |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) | 79 |
| IELTS or IELTS Indicator | 6.5 |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 |
| Cambridge English | 176 |
| Pearson PTE | 53 |
| Michigan MET | 53 |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 560 |
| ACT English | 21 |
| IB HL English A | 4 |
| A-level English (first language) | A, B or C |
| AP English Language or Literature | 3 |
Scores must be from the last two years. You are also exempt if you are a citizen of, or spent at least three full years of secondary school in, a country on IU’s list of mainly English-speaking countries, or if you completed Level 7 of IU’s Intensive English Program. IU’s page does not say how it treats the new TOEFL 1 to 6 scale introduced in January 2026, so ask admissions if your score is on that scale.
Indiana University deadlines for fall 2027
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 1 August 2026 |
| Early Action (non-binding) and IU academic scholarship consideration | 1 November 2026 |
| Early Action decision | 15 January 2027 |
| Updated SAT or ACT scores for scholarships | 15 January 2027 |
| Regular Decision and Global Engagement Scholarship deadline | 1 February 2027 |
| Regular Decision response | On or before 15 March 2027 |
| Incoming scholarship selections finalised | 15 April 2027 |
| Enrolment deposit ($100, non-refundable) | 1 May 2027 |
Applications completed after 1 February are reviewed only if space remains.
Early Action closes 1 November 2026
Early Action gives first consideration for admission and IU academic scholarships, and some schools use it as their direct admission deadline. If you need more time, a complete file by 1 February 2027 still qualifies you for the Global Engagement Scholarship.
How to write the IU essay, with a sample opening
If you use Apply IU, the essay asks about your academic and career plans and any special interest in your intended major, and invites you to mention unusual circumstances or obstacles you have overcome. Common App applicants can use any Common App prompt, but the IU question is a good guide to what readers want: a clear plan and evidence that you have thought about it.
With 400 words at most, spend the first third on the moment your interest started, the middle on what you have done about it (a project, a job, a competition, a club), and the end on what you want to study at IU and why. Name a specific school or programme, such as Kelley or the Luddy School, only if it genuinely fits your plan. If your schooling was disrupted by strikes, closures or family duties, this is the place to explain it briefly.
A sample opening for illustration only: “I started keeping the accounts for my aunt’s provisions shop at fourteen, mostly because she kept losing the receipts.” From there, show what the numbers taught you and how that leads to accounting or finance at Kelley.
What happens after you apply
- Atlas login: arrives within five days; check the Freshman Application Checklist for missing items.
- Decision: Early Action files complete by 1 November hear on 15 January 2027; Regular Decision files by 15 March 2027.
- Scholarships: awards appear with or after your admission; incoming selections are final by 15 April 2027.
- Financial documents: submit proof of funding so IU can issue your I-20.
- Deposit and visa: pay the $100 deposit by 1 May 2027, then pay the SEVIS fee and book your F-1 visa interview.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Sending only the first-term schedule: IU needs your full final-year course list before it reviews your file.
- Applying after 1 February: you lose Global Engagement Scholarship consideration and may find majors full.
- Listing two limited-capacity majors: you can put only Kelley or Nursing as first choice.
- Ignoring the 34-credit pattern: missing world language or lab science can count against you; explain it if your school does not offer a subject.
- Sending two applications: IU reviews the first complete one only.
- Self-reporting test scores for scholarships: only scores sent directly by the testing agency count for the Global Engagement Scholarship.
Costs that scholarships do not cover
Even the top Global Engagement award of about $11,000 a year leaves around $50,000 of the $61,156 budget. Housing and food are $12,431 and insurance is $1,916. Add your flights, the SEVIS and visa fees, winter clothing and summer living costs. Plan four years of funding, not one, because merit awards are fixed amounts while costs tend to rise.
Majors and strengths
IU Bloomington is best known for the Kelley School of Business, whose undergraduate programme ranks No. 8 in the U.S. News 2026 edition, with eight specialties in the top ten. Other well-known schools include the Jacobs School of Music, the Media School, the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies and the School of Public Health. The College of Arts and Sciences covers the sciences, humanities and social sciences.
Campus and city
Bloomington is a college town in southern Indiana, about an hour’s drive south of Indianapolis. IU’s budget assumes a double room in a residence hall with a standard meal plan. Winters are cold, so budget for warm clothing if you come from a warm country.
Indiana University graduate admissions for international students
Graduate applicants apply to individual programmes, each with its own deadline, test requirements and funding. Funding for international PhD students usually comes through assistantships and fellowships from the department. Check your programme’s page for its English minimum, which may be higher than the undergraduate scores above.
Indiana University compared with similar public universities
| University | U.S. News rank (National) | International acceptance rate | Cost (international) | International merit aid | Regular deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University Bloomington | No. 73 (2026 edition) | 66.8% (fall 2024) | $61,156 | Global Engagement, typically $1,000 to $11,000 a year | 1 Feb 2027 |
| University at Buffalo | No. 85 (2027 edition) | 94.4% (fall 2025) | $61,030 (2026-27) | Flagship Scholarship, up to $15,000 a year | 1 Feb 2027 |
| Arizona State | No. 121 tie (2027 edition) | 89.9% (fall 2025) | $69,906 (2026-27) | NAMU Scholarship | 15 Jan 2027 |
| Stony Brook | No. 59 (2027 edition) | Not published | $58,799 plus insurance (2026-27) | Global Excellence; #YouAreWelcomeHere 50% tuition | 15 Jan 2027 |
Read our full guides to the University at Buffalo, Arizona State University and Stony Brook University. Other Big Ten options include Purdue and Ohio State.
Who should apply to Indiana University
IU is a strong choice if you want business, music, media or informatics at a large university in a college town, have mostly A and B grades with good marks in maths and English, and can fund most of a $61,156 budget. Apply by 1 November 2026 if you can, because it gives you the earliest decision and the widest scholarship consideration.
It is a weaker fit if you need full funding, since IU’s international awards are partial merit scholarships. For full-cost options, compare our guides to Duke University scholarships and the best American scholarships for international students.
FAQ on Indiana University admission for international students
What is the Indiana University acceptance rate for international students?
IU admitted 3,724 of 5,573 international first-year applicants for fall 2024, about 66.8%. The overall rate was 78.2%.
Does Indiana University give scholarships to international students?
Yes. The Global Engagement Scholarship typically pays $1,000 to $11,000 a year for four years to the strongest international first-years, with no separate application if you apply by 1 February.
What TOEFL score does Indiana University Bloomington require?
The minimum is TOEFL iBT 79. IU also accepts IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115 and PTE 53.
Does Indiana University require an essay?
Yes. Every first-year applicant writes a 200 to 400 word essay; Apply IU users answer IU’s question about academic and career plans.
For the full-time MBA, see our Kelley MBA guide for international students.
Sources and updates
Requirements, English minimums, deadlines and essay rules come from IU Bloomington Admissions (international deadlines, admission standards, English proficiency and application FAQ pages). The budget is from IU’s international undergraduate cost of attendance page. Scholarship details are from IU’s Office of International Services, the IU Office of Scholarships and IU’s international scholarships page. Admission numbers are from IU’s official 2024 Common Data Set; fall 2025 figures are from an independent transcription of the 2025-26 Common Data Set. Rankings are from the Indiana Daily Student (23 September 2025) and the Kelley School blog on the U.S. News 2026 edition; the U.S. News profile could not be opened. Checked on 29 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
