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IU Bloomington first-year class sets marks for academics, diversity

• Aug. 19, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- This year’s first-year students at Indiana University Bloomington are raising the bar for academic achievement and diversity. Coming from all 92 Indiana counties and 47 U.S. states, the class has the strongest record ever for high school academics and includes increases in students from populations that are traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

International students make up 9 percent of the entering class and are expected to enroll from 33 countries, with the largest numbers from China, India, South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia.

IU Bloomington admitted about 3 percent fewer new students this year than in 2014, but more of those students chose to enroll, resulting in a slightly larger cohort of beginner students. While official figures will not be available until Sept. 1, admissions staff project that 7,879 first-year students will be enrolled when classes start Monday, a 2 percent increase from the previous record set in the fall of 2014.

“We are pleased to welcome an increasingly talented and diverse beginner class arriving to the Bloomington campus this week,” said David B. Johnson, vice provost for enrollment management. “Although we admitted fewer students, more of them exhibited higher academic quality, and more of the admitted students ultimately said yes to IU.”

The median high school grade-point average for first-year students is expected to be 3.76 on a 4-point scale, surpassing last year’s record. IU officials note that a 2014 study by the National Association for College Admission Counseling found a strong link between high school GPA and college success.

The average combined SAT/ACT score for first-year students is estimated to be just over 1217, surpassing the previous campus record set in 2013.

“We are also celebrating the most diverse class in IU Bloomington history, breaking the record set in 2014,” Johnson said. “Specifically, African-Americans make up 5 percent of the class and Hispanic/Latino students are 7 percent of the class, both of which are increases.

“This is the result of the efforts by campus colleagues and enrollment management staff to achieve the priorities and objectives set in the Bloomington Bicentennial Strategic Plan,” Johnson said.

About 17 percent of first-year students with a known race or ethnicity are from underrepresented populations. Current projections show the number of African-American students has increased by 12 percent and Hispanic/Latino students increased by 23 percent.

Some 57 percent of first-year students are Indiana residents while 34 percent are from other U.S. states and 9 percent are international students. With 4,521 first-year students from Indiana, IU Bloomington enrolls more Indiana residents than any other college or university.

New students began arriving Sunday, while today is official move-in day for residence centers. Greeting students and families today were IU President Michael A. McRobbie, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Johnson, Dean of Students Harold “Pete” Goldsmith, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Dennis Groth and Vice Provost for Educational Inclusion and Diversity Martin McCrory.

A variety of student fairs, open houses and other Welcome Week activities are scheduled this week, starting with Freshman Induction ceremonies this afternoon at the IU Auditorium.

First-year students are earning record numbers of merit-based IU scholarships, including a 17 percent increase in Provost Scholarships and a 17 percent increase in Dean’s Scholarships. Projections show over 1,000 students in the Hutton Honors College. A record 404 students are expected to enroll in the Hudson and Holland Scholars Program, the mission of which is to recruit and retain high-achieving students who will enhance the diversity and excellence of Indiana University.

Approximately one in five Indiana resident first-year students -- an estimated 844 students -- are 21st Century Scholars, an Indiana program that provides financial support to students whose families meet income guidelines and who qualify for admission to state universities. That is a 38 percent increase from last year’s number, which had been a record for 21st Century Scholars.

Video interviews with four first-year students -- Emily Sung, Emmanuel Scaife, Hope Hiller and Javier Fuentes-Rohwer -- are available on the Indiana University Bloomington YouTube page.

Related Links

• Office of Enrollment Management