Indiana University-Bloomington: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Ames, Indiana · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Indiana University-Bloomington is a public institution located in Ames, Indiana. For the most recent reporting cycle, Indiana University-Bloomington admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 89%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1199 and an ACT composite around 25. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $18,165 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Indiana University-Bloomington is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for Indiana University-Bloomington?
Indiana University-Bloomington has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does Indiana University-Bloomington weight in admissions?
Indiana University-Bloomington reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Class rank
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Interview
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • First generation status
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Indiana University-Bloomington typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 560–690, with an EBRW midpoint near 595. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–28. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1130 |
| 50th percentile | 1250 |
| 75th percentile | 1350 |
| % submitting SAT | 13% |
| 25th percentile | 21 |
| 50th percentile | 24 |
| 75th percentile | 28 |
| % submitting ACT | 46% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does Indiana University-Bloomington actually cost?
Published tuition is $10,497 for in-state students and $27,683 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $9,726 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $18,165 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $9,252 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $27,346 |
| Room and board | $10,808 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $18,165 |
| Application fee | $40 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Indiana University-Bloomington
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Indiana University-Bloomington?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in Indiana parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Indiana University-Bloomington
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Indiana University-Bloomington recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about Indiana University-Bloomington
What GPA do I need for Indiana University-Bloomington?
Indiana University-Bloomington has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Indiana University-Bloomington typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 560–690, with an EBRW midpoint near 595. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–28.
How much does Indiana University-Bloomington actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Indiana University-Bloomington after grants and scholarships is $18,165 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is Indiana University-Bloomington realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, Indiana University-Bloomington is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Indiana University-Bloomington, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.