Over the course of our first 50 years, we have worked together with—and for—the city of Indianapolis.
In fact, IUPUI was born in response to then-Mayor of Indianapolis Richard G. Lugar’s proclamation that every great city needs a great university. Indiana University President Elvis Stahr and Purdue University President Frederick Hovde worked together in the interest of the city and state, establishing what has become Indiana’s premier public, urban institution of higher education.
Our reach extends well beyond the city of Indianapolis. In 1970, we opened the IUPUI Center in Columbus, now known as IUPUC, to serve the people of south central Indiana. In 2018, we realigned our service to the people of Fort Wayne and northeastern Indiana through IU Fort Wayne, which continues to offer top-quality programs in the health professions.
39%of IUPUI students take at least one online course
Keeping pace with our changing world and meeting students where they are, IUPUI also offered more than 8,000 online courses this academic year. And students are taking advantage.
More than 11,000 IUPUI students—nearly 40 percent of our student body—take at least one online course.
For many students, these courses fill a critical need. For instance, IUPUI played a key role in delivering online graduate coursework to high school teachers. This is education that makes a difference, and this is our specialty.
478distinct degree and certificate programs
8,000+online courses
11,000+students take online courses
IUPUI remains one of the country’s premier urban campuses and continually searches for new ways to share our state’s most comprehensive academic university with a much larger audience.
1903: School of Medicine
1911: School of Social Work—One of the oldest academic schools of social work in the country, IUPUI’s School of Social Work became a university-wide school in 1977.
1914: The founding of the School of Nursing coincided with the establishment of the Robert W. Long Hospital, now on the IUPUI campus.
1920: The Kelley School of Business began life as the School of Commerce and Finance.
1923: School of Education—IU offered courses in education in Indianapolis starting in 1914, and the school was established nine years later.
1925: The School of Dentistry was created from Indiana Dental College, a private school with roots in the 19th century.
1941: School of Physical Education and Tourism Management—dating to the 1866 Turnlehrerseminar (Gymnastic Teachers Seminary), PETM later became the Normal College of the American Gymnastic Union.
1944: Robert H. McKinney School of Law—With roots dating to 1894, the school was named in honor of Robert McKinney in 2011.
1967: The Herron School of Art+Design began as the John Herron Art Institute and has provided instruction in fine and commercial art since 1902.
1969: IUPUI was founded.
1970: IUPUI held its first commencement and founded IUPUC.
1972: Four schools were founded: the School of Engineering and Technology, which dates to Purdue University defense training courses offered during World War II; the School of Public and Environmental Affairs; the School of Liberal Arts; and the School of Science. In 1991, the School of Science moved into new buildings on the IUPUI main campus at Michigan and West Streets.
1986: The IUPUI Graduate Office was created.
1991: The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences was founded. It later combined with PETM to form the School of Health & Human Sciences.
1997: University College was founded.
1999: The School of Informatics and Computing, the first school of its kind in the country, was founded.
2009: IUPUI Honors College was founded.
2012: Two schools were founded: the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, which was formally named in honor of a gift from the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation in 2013, and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, which has roots in the Center on Philanthropy and is the world’s first school of philanthropy. It was renamed in honor of the Lilly family in 2013.
2018 : Two schools and one center were formed: the School of Education at IUPUI, which was established as an independent school with focus on urban education; the School of Health & Human Sciences, which formed after the merger of PETM and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences; and IU Fort Wayne, which has a focus on health sciences.
