College Profile:
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Nestled within the rolling hillsides of Western Pennsylvania, the town of Indiana boasts one of the great treasures of the state—Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

With its original building from 1875 still standing at the heart of the campus, IUP has a long tradition of academic excellence. The university was founded in 1875 as a Normal School with 225 students and became a State Teachers’ College in 1927, when enrollment reached 3,000. By 1960, that number had doubled, making the institution the fifth largest institution of higher education in the state. The university changed its name again that year to Indiana State College. Indiana State College achieved university status in 1965, after which enrollment continued to grow rapidly.

Most students during the university’s early years enrolled to pursue teaching careers. Among them was Elizabeth Jane Cochrane, later known as Nellie Bly, the daredevil reporter who raced around the globe in just 72 days, beating Jules Verne’s fictional character, Philias Fogg, who made the trip in 80 days. In 1998, 119 years after her departure from Indiana Normal School, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Today, IUP is a nationally recognized university enrolling nearly 14,000 students and offering over 100 quality programs, one of the largest internship programs in Pennsylvania, innumerable study-abroad and exchange options, and over 200 extra-curricular activities while maintaining the intimacy and personal attention associated with schools much smaller. Through this environment, our students have the chance to interact meaningfully with our unmatched faculty—truly a shining jewel in IUP’s crown of achievements.

The hallmark of all our programs at IUP is the strong emphasis we place on the liberal arts. The Liberal Studies component of each program helps ensure that you will become a well-rounded, flexible, knowledgeable individual able to consider and perceive connections among ideas. Whatever your major, your Liberal Studies courses will impart the body of knowledge necessary for today’s competitive job market and global society.

In spite of the many changes IUP has undergone, our traditions remain as strong as ever. The original homecoming celebration, for example, has evolved into the annual Oak Leaf Festival for the entire Indiana community. Likewise, cornerstones of the IUP experience, such as practical experience, have evolved while maintaining their importance. In the first half of the last century, for example, aspiring home economics teachers spent a semester running a household, doing chores and caring for a baby borrowed from an orphanage. Today, students gain practical experience working in corporations, museums, hospitals, nonprofit and government agencies, educational institutions, and other locations.

What have not changed are the sense of community that permeates the campus and the fond memories alumni have years after their graduation.

Ever growing in reputation and recognition, IUP has an academic mission that stresses both quality and access. In this way, IUP can extend opportunities for a superlative educational experience and foundation to dedicated students at various levels of academic backgrounds and performance with the intention of all graduates having learned the skills and qualities necessary for them to compete successfully at the best graduate schools and best companies.

From the Robert E. Cook Honors College* to our regional Punxsutawney and Armstrong campuses, IUP is prepared to help students achieve their academic goals! All students who are interested in IUP are encouraged to apply with the confidence that the Admissions staff will assist them throughout the application process.

Applicants seeking admission to the freshman class may apply at any time after completing the junior year of high school. IUP also welcomes applications from transfer students and individuals holding GED equivalency diplomas.

Only four items are required to complete your application for admission to IUP:*

• The application submitted electronically via the web or in paper format

• Official high school transcripts

• SAT or ACT scores*

• $35 application fee

*Requirements may vary depending on special programs or student situations. Please visit our website for specific requirement information.

As IUP faces the future, the university confidently acknowledges the constant evolution of the surrounding world while venerating the deeply-rooted traditions that have stood steadfast as the intellectual center of IUP’s enduring distinction.