The university’s seamless admissions initiative launched as a pilot program for the Fall 2024 semester, applicable to four schools in the Indianapolis Public Schools district. Now, the program has expanded to include more Marion County students.
Indiana University Indianapolis had a successful pilot for its seamless admissions initiative for the Fall 2024 semester, and is now expanding the program to include even more students, providing automatic admission to Indiana University Indianapolis for eligible students with a GPA of 3.0 or above. The pilot program applied to only four schools within the Indianapolis Public Schools district, but now includes Decatur Township, Irvington Preparatory Academy, James and Rosemary Phalen Leadership Academy, Lawrence Township, Pike Township, Rooted School Indianapolis at Eastern Star, Warren Online Academy, Warren Central High School, and, in a previous expansion for Fall 2025, IPS Innovation Network.
According to an article on Indiana University Indianapolis’ website, Latha Ramchand, who serves as the IU Indianapolis chancellor and the IU executive vice president, was quoted as saying of the program, “This program is transformative as we work to make the college admission process simpler and higher education accessible for all high school students around Marion County. We are committed to supporting students and families, while also building the next generation of leaders for Indianapolis and central Indiana.”
The expansion to additional schools is effective for students applying for the Fall 2026 semester. As the process is seamless, no application or fees are required. Instead, students interested in attending Indiana University Indianapolis only need to fill out a form online to indicate their interest in attending the university.
In addition to making it easier for students to make the jump from high school to college by removing the sometimes daunting task of filling out a lengthy application and the financially stressful application fees, the university is working toward the seamless admissions process also including additional support services for incoming freshmen. This support will include academic success coaching, tutoring, and peer mentoring.
PJ Woolston, the vice chancellor for enrollment management at IU Indianapolis, said of the initiative, “This program removes barriers for students who may not have thought that college was for them. With 90 percent of our students at IU Indy staying and working in the region after graduating, this initiative is strengthening future talent here in central Indiana while streamlining the path to college.”
Jana Goebel, the principal of Irvington Preparatory Academy, one of the schools included in the recent expansion, discussed how the seamless admissions process will positively affect her students, saying, “Irvington Preparatory Academy is excited to be a part of Indiana University Indianapolis’ seamless admissions initiative. Many of our students are first-generation college students. The application process can feel overwhelming and foreign for these students and their families, and this initiative will make access to a college education feel more attainable for them. Further, since the pandemic we find that more and more students prefer to attend college close to home, which makes IU Indy the perfect fit. We are grateful to have been invited to participate in the initiative and hopeful for the opportunities it holds for our students.”
Further expansions of the seamless admissions program are planned, with the intention of taking the initiative further than Marion County.
For more information about Indiana University Indianapolis, visit the school’s website.