Admissions Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ's for students FAQ's for parents
What are the freshman admission standards?
For a beginning freshman student, we will examine your child's high school record including courses completed, G.P.A. and standardized test results.
Freshman applicants should be on track to graduate with a minimum of a Core 40 diploma
In addition, applicants should:
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Rank in the upper half of the high school graduating class.
- Score above the median established by northwest Indiana students on the SAT or ACT
How should your student apply?
We highly recommend that you apply using our secure online application, and paying the $35 non-refundable application fee with a credit card or e-check. Application fee waivers are only available for current high school seniors who are 21st Century Scholar, have received an SAT/ACT waiver or are on free and reduced lunch. Documentation for the fee waiver must be provided before the application is processed.
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What are the freshman admission standards?
IU Northwest utilizes rolling admissions. It typically takes 2 weeks to process an application after all credentials have been received.
We recommend that they apply at the end of the fall semester of their senior year, but we continue to accept applications through the spring and summer. Keep in mind the deadline to be eligible for freshman admissions scholarships is March 1. This means you have to have applied and be admitted by that date in order to be considered.
Priority deadlines in order to ensure timely processing of financial aid:
Fall Semester - July 1
Spring - December 1
Summer Session I - April 1
Summer Session II - June 1
IU Northwest does not currently have dorms or on-campus housing.
The average class size at IU Northwest is about 25-35 students. Some of the pre-requisite classes that the majority of freshmen are required to take may have 40-50 students in them.
Every student will schedule their own classes and can make their class schedule how they would like. Therefore, there is no typical week for a student here at IU Northwest. You have the ability to make your schedule so that it fits your needs. If you have a part time job- maybe your class schedule will only be 3 days a week so that you can still work. Or maybe you like taking evening classes- and your class schedule might be 4 days a week, but not start until 3:00 p.m.
There are not a required number of hours that you have to study each week. It is suggested that for every hour that you are in class- that you study 2 hours outside of class. Your study time will depend on how many credit hours you are taking and how comfortable you feel with the course work.
IU Northwest currently has teams for Men’s and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Golf, Women’s Volleyball and Men’s and Women’s Cross Country. The IU Northwest athletic teams are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II. For more information on athletics at IU Northwest please visit http://www.iunredhawkathletics.com. There are also sports clubs such as baseball, ice hockey and cheer. Intramural include volleyball, flag football and basketball.
The Office of Career Services at IU Northwest can help with all of your professional needs. They offer a range of services including part time job searching, internship information, work study opportunities, resume critiques, career events and mock interviews. Visitwww.iun.edu/career-services for more information.
One of the biggest differences between high school and college is that you are not in school from 8am-3pm every day. Some days you may only be on campus to take 1 class—and other days you may not be on campus at all. In college you have to have the motivation to go to class as well, because some of your classes will not take attendance.
Get involved in Indiana University Northwest's student clubs and organizations. There are many opportunities for involvement that will suit your personal interests including Student Government, Student Alumni, and major specific clubs, such as, biology club, ABSO, pre-professional studies club. Plus, these activities are a great way to meet friends and build a fantastic résumé with leadership experience. You can also find information about how to start your own club, view club constitutions, and manage a club. For more information please visit www.iun.edu/student-activities.
For a beginning freshman student, we will examine your child's high school record including courses completed, G.P.A. and standardized test results.
Freshman applicants should be on track to graduate with a minimum of a Core 40 diploma
In addition, applicants should:
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Rank in the upper half of the high school graduating class.
- Score above the median established by northwest Indiana students on the SAT or ACT
Yes. Students have enrolled at IU Northwest with home school backgrounds, and as a group, these students have academically excelled. Our admission requirements for home school students are the same requirements used for students attending public or private schools.
You can view a complete list of IU Northwest's Degrees.
Yes! Nothing opens doors of opportunity like a college degree.
Fees are charged to the student based on the number of credit hours the student is enrolled. A student who is considered full time must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 undergraduate credit hours per semester. In addition to tuition, there are different fees assessed based upon what types of courses a student takes and how many courses are taken.
For information and a list of complete fees visit the Office of Student Accounts.
The first step in receiving any financial aid is to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is available online at the FAFSA Web site. You are able to list up to six schools you would like the federal processor to send your child's information. The IU Northwest school code is 001815. Once admitted and after Financial Aid Office has received the FAFSA information, you will receive an award notification letter informing you how much aid (including grants, loans, and work-study monies) is available. Students.gov has a great deal of information about paying for college and FastWeb is a great free scholarship search engine. To learn about campus scholarships go to the Financial Aid web page.
The average class size is 21, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1
Should be consistent with the answer under student – as below
The average class size at IU Northwest is about 25-35 students. Some of the pre-requisite classes that the majority of freshmen are required to take may have 40-50 students in them.
IU Northwest is a commuter campus only so students live at home or some students live on their own in the Northwest Indiana area. We do not have on-campus housing or any partnerships with apartment complexes in the area.
In an effort to provide 24 hour protection and security to the campus, the IU Northwest Police Department provides a number of services including emergency response, campus patrol, bike patrols and security escort. 19 emergency telephones are located throughout campus that are directly connected to the Indiana University Northwest Police Department. These phones provide free access for people on campus to request any type of assistance; students may request that a campus police escort them to their car or another building on campus.
Yes. Student Support Services works to make campus life and learning accessible for students with disabilities. Their mission is to provide the means for students with disabilities to achieve their academic goals. They offer services such as assistance of faculty, classroom modifications, alternative testing arrangements, informal counseling, note takers, tutors, readers, and computer assistance.
Any time is a wonderful time to visit IU Northwest during your college selection process. We offer campus tours led by current IU Northwest students so that you can gain insight from their perspective on our university and find out why IU Northwest was the right choice for them. While you are here for the tour you will also be able to speak to an admissions counselor. Mondays at 4:00pm Tuesdays at 10:00am, Wednesdays at 2:30pm, Thursdays at 4:00pm and Fridays at 10:00am and 12:00pm. To schedule a tour or call the Office of Admissions at (219) 980-6991 to schedule.
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March
- Be admitted to IU Northwest by March 1 for consideration for Freshman Scholarships.
- Sign up for a placement test
- After completing the placement test schedule to meet with an academic advisor. Contact information will be given at the time of placement testing.
- Registration for summer and fall semester begins at the end of March.
April
- Your financial aid will be processed as an incoming freshman.
- Your financial aid notification letter will be sent once your aid has been processed and will be viewable via your One.IU account.
- You must accept your loan (if you still wish to receive it) via your One.IU account.
- Sign an Electronic Master Promissory Note (MPN).
- Participate in Entrance Counseling.
