Indiana, the Hoosier State, has over 70 colleges and universities. While Indiana offers numerous private colleges and universities, the state is most well-known and highly regarded for its public higher education universities. The colleges in the Indiana system are very affordable, especially for residents, and are located throughout the state. In-state residents can find colleges and universities for no more than $4,000 per year, although other Indiana universities and colleges cost can amount to over $20,000 per year. The size of the student population at Indiana colleges and universities ranges from under 1,000 to over 40,000.

Some of the premier universities and colleges at Indiana include University of North Dame, Purdue University –West Lafayette, Indiana University – Bloomington, Ball State University, and Indiana Wesleyan University. The University of Notre Dame is a Catholic University that has been ranked 19th by News and World Report. The Notre Dame football team boasts 11 national championships and 7 Heisman Trophy winners. Purdue University at West Lafayette was ranked 64th by U.S. News and Report’s List of top U.S. universities. Indiana University at Bloomington is home to the “Hoosiers” football team and proudly hosts 24 varsity teams with over 600 students involved in university athletics. Indiana University was ranked 75th by U.S. News and World Report’s list of top U.S. universities. Ball State University was named as one of the “Best Colleges in the Midwest” by Princeton review and is proud to offer a student learning environment that promotes immersive learning programs that include research opportunities, community projects, and other relevant experiences into the student curriculum.

Indiana universities and colleges can provide the education experience you desire with so many opportunities for a great college education in a variety of areas. The University of Notre Dame is most well-known for its biochemistry and chemistry programs, as well as the longest-running astrophysics lab. For future pilots and space explorers, Purdue University offers Indiana students strong programs and education in aerospace, including aeronautics and astronautics. Indiana University at Bloomington prides itself on stellar arts and science programs, including ethnomusicology, biology, folklore, medicine, gender studies and theatre. Indiana University also contains the Kelley School of Business, which has many programs that are regularly ranked among the best in the nation by Business Week, U.S. News & World Report, Public Accounting Report, Princeton Review and more. Ball State University has particularly strong programs in architecture, telecommunications, landscape architecture, education, journalism, business and nursing. Illinois Wesleyan is a private liberal arts school that is best known for its educational programs in science, math and art.

A number of extracurricular activities are available to students at Indiana colleges and universities, including free public concert choirs, sponsored robot competitions, homecoming festivals and events, and a community fundraiser for students to participate in the Race for the Cure to Breast Cancer. Indiana colleges and universities provide students with an opportunity to meet other students and to get involved in groups or clubs of interest. Whether you are interested in swing dancing, soccer, radio broadcasting, Greek Life, or student government, Indiana colleges offer endless opportunities. Some activities of noteworthy mention include Indiana University at Bloomington’s Students’ Smoke free Coalition that was created and organized by students and ultimately led to the university’s decision to ban smoking on all of its campuses. Ball State has a student center that frequently hosts comedians, bands and other entertainers. Purdue University has a competition called “The One Great Photo” in which students submit unique and creative tourism images in hopes of winning the first place prize of $500.

Indiana’s workforce is very diverse and focuses on several different industries. The largest sectors are the service industry, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and government and military services. The Indiana economy has had its up and downturns, but it seems to be maintaining stability from its recent shift to focus on the automobile industry, steel manufacturing, petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. In addition, Indianapolis has been named “The Amateur Sports Capital of the World.” Many popular professional sports teams reside in Indiana so if you are interested in a job or internship in sports marketing, public relations, or radio broadcasting, Indiana provides ample opportunity. Events like the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 have a record of bringing in a whole wave of tourists and these events create opportunities for college students to get involved in hotel management and services. For those students who identify themselves as animal lovers, the Indianapolis Zoo offers internships to students in marine biology and animal sciences. Major employers in Indiana include: Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Whirlpool Corporation, T.J. Maxx, GE Plastics, Atlas World Group, Fifth Third Bank, General Motors Truck Group, East Allen Country Schools, US Postal Service, BF Goodrich Tire Manufacturing, Eli Lilly and Company, Indiana University, Rolls-Royce Corporation and more.

Indiana colleges and universities have a commitment to promote cultural awareness, cross cultural dialogue and other diversity programs. Their mission is to create a campus environment with ample success opportunities for all students. Indiana universities and colleges not only support equal treatment of all students, they also see the value that diversity education can be to students when entering the workplace. Purdue University has many groups to support their diversity mission, including Native American Student Alliance, Black Student Union, Latino Student Association and Gay Straight Alliance. The University of Notre Dame has several long-standing committees devoted to dealing with diversity issues and Ball State University has many courses that tackle diversity issue including American Culture, Language and Society, Social Inequality and Global Cultural Diversity.

Many prospective students view Indiana as a great place to live. Thanks to its fourth largest state park system, Indiana college and university students can find many forests, nature preserves, and parks that provide plenty of opportunities to boat, hunt, fish, hike, ski, horse-back ride and camp. Indiana activities for college students can be divided into opportunities by tourist regions. Interested in a lake-side location? Northwest Indiana hosts the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes State Park, which includes the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Both of these places are very popular among students and definitely a must-do while going to college in Indiana. Also located in the northern part of Indiana is the Cowles Bog, which is a trail for hikers that runs right through a bog of wooded dune and marshes, and Mount Baldy, a mountain made only of sand dunes. Central Indiana offers college and university students an opportunity to view endless amount of art galleries and museums located in Indian’s largest city, Indianapolis. Southern Indiana provides opportunity to learn about the history of the state with the Lincoln Boyhood National Museum and an 1820s Lincoln Living Historical Farm. Regardless of the Indiana college student’s interest, Indiana is sure to provide ample opportunities for unique experiences!