Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Gary, Indiana
76.7% Acceptance Rate
Indiana University-Northwest — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
76.7%Acceptance Rate
3.14Avg GPA
1067Avg SAT
24Avg ACT
$13,371Annual Cost
$43,361Grad Salary
42.6%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
76.7%
Avg GPA
3.14
Avg SAT
1067
Avg ACT
24
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
940–1170
ACT Middle 50%
21–27
Avg Net Price
$5,970
Need-Based Aid
42.6% receive Pell
Indiana University-Northwest is a regional campus of the Indiana University system that provides an accessible, high-quality educational experience in a supportive, urban-adjacent environment. Offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, the campus emphasizes academic excellence and professional success. Its connection to the prestigious IU system, combined with personalized faculty attention, makes it a high-value and effective choice for students looking to advance their careers and academic goals.
Indiana University-Northwest Acceptance Rate
Indiana University-Northwest (IUN) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 76.7% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 76.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.14 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.94 – 3.13
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.69
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Indiana University-Northwest Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Indiana University-Northwest follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of November 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 85 days left — Priority
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
IUN reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Priority
November 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
IUN GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at IUN is 3.14. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.84–3.14 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.34–3.54.IUN GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.14 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.94 – 3.13
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.74 – 2.93
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.73
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- IU Northwest requires an annual (not just one-time) national criminal background check for all nursing students, with results sent to clinical placement agencies - a clinical site's refusal can block progression even after program acceptance.
- BSN general-education course repeats are capped at three total, with no more than two of those being science courses - a compound limit distinct from a simple "one retake per course" policy.
- Nursing application deadlines differ by track: April 1 for fall Traditional entry, January 1 for summer BA/BS-to-BSN entry - these are not interchangeable dates.
- IU Northwest offers specific tuition savings for Illinois and Michigan residents, reflecting its Gary, Indiana location roughly 30 miles from Chicago.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at IUN
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Indiana University-Northwest's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Indiana University-Northwest (IUN) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if IUN is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into IUN Without SAT or ACT?
IUN considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Indiana University-Northwest Average SAT Score: 1067
The average SAT score of admitted students at Indiana University-Northwest is 1067 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1067 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1170 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Indiana University-Northwest allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 940, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at IUN. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 525 | 460 | 590 |
| SAT Reading | 530 | 480 | 580 |
| SAT Composite | 1067 | 940 | 1170 |
Below 940, you're behind most admitted students; at 1170 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1050
Can I get into Indiana University-Northwest (IUN) with a 1150 SAT?
A 1150 SAT puts you ahead of most of IUN's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Indiana University-Northwest (IUN) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at IUN is 24.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 24 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 24 | 20 | 27 |
| ACT English | 25 | 22 | 28 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 21 | 27 |
Can I get into Indiana University-Northwest with a 27 ACT?
A 27 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of IUN's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at IUN.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for IUN
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into IUN isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Meet with a nursing advisor before applying - IU Northwest lists this as a required step, not a suggestion
IU Northwest's BSN Traditional program page states plainly that "potential students should meet with a nursing advisor prior to application for the program," treating advising as a genuine prerequisite step rather than optional guidance. Schedule this advising meeting during your foundational prerequisite year rather than waiting until you're ready to submit, since it's positioned as a required checkpoint before the program will consider your file complete.
Protect your repeat allowance across BSN general-education courses - you get only three total repeats, and no more than two can be sciences
IU Northwest caps students at repeating no more than three required BSN general-education courses total, of which no more than two may be science courses - a compound limit that's easy to accidentally exceed if you're not tracking both numbers simultaneously. Keep a running count of every repeat across all your prerequisite courses (not just sciences) as you go, since hitting either the overall-three or science-specific-two ceiling could disqualify your application regardless of your eventual final grades.
If you live in Illinois or Michigan, ask specifically about IU Northwest's tuition savings for residents of those states - this is a real, named benefit tied to the campus's Gary, Indiana location just 30 miles from Chicago
IU Northwest explicitly advertises tuition savings for Illinois and Michigan residents, a direct reflection of the campus's location near the Illinois-Indiana-Michigan border. If you live in either state and are comparing IU Northwest's real cost to an in-state public option, request the specific reciprocal or reduced tuition rate details from admissions rather than assuming standard out-of-state pricing applies.
Submit your Baccalaureate Nursing Major application by the exact deadline for your intended track - April 1 for fall (traditional) and January 1 for summer (BA/BS to BSN) are different, track-specific dates
IU Northwest sets distinct application deadlines depending on which nursing pathway you're pursuing: April 1 for the fall traditional entry point versus January 1 for the BA/BS-to-BSN summer entry option. Confirm which specific deadline applies to your intended pathway rather than assuming a single universal nursing deadline, since applying under the wrong date could mean missing your target cohort entirely.
Expert Insight:
Because IU Northwest's overall acceptance rate sits in the 70s percentile range and is broadly described as "lightly selective," applicants sometimes assume the nursing program mirrors that accessibility. Nursing admission is explicitly "selective and competitive," and - notably - all School of Nursing students must undergo a national criminal background check prior to admission and annually thereafter, with results other than negative sent directly to the student's clinical placement agency; a clinical agency's refusal to accept a student based on that background check can halt program progression even after formal nursing-program acceptance.
IUN Profile
Full Name
Indiana University-Northwest (IUN)
City
Gary
State
Indiana
ZIP Code
46408-1197
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a IUN Degree Worth It?
At $13,371/year against a $43,361 median graduate salary, IUN is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $61,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 4.31%.
How much does a degree from IUN Cost?
The sticker price is $13,371/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $5,970.
42.6% of students receive a Pell Grant and 34.7% take federal loans at IUN. File your FAFSA early and list IUN as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a IUN Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $43,361. That's about 7% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Indiana University-Northwest. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Indiana University-Northwest. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 1068 | 19 |
| Point University | West Point, GA | 1059 | 19 |
| Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA | 1057 | 21 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Indiana University-Northwest. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
Degree Programs at IUN
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About IUN Admissions
Median earnings for Indiana University-Northwest graduates sit around $43,361 a year.
At about $13,371 a year, Indiana University-Northwest is on the more affordable end.
About 42.6% receive a Pell Grant at Indiana University-Northwest. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 76.7%, Indiana University-Northwest's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Indiana University-Northwest average a 3.14 GPA.
Indiana University-Northwest doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 2.84 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.74, Indiana University-Northwest becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Indiana University-Northwest — aim above 1067, ideally within the 940–1170 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Indiana University-Northwest is November 1. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 35. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.