Newcomers and residents find Bloomington to be a surprisingly cosmopolitan place. A small city nestled in unglaciated hills within driving distance of many large metropolitan areas, it is consistently ranked as one of the most livable towns in the country. It offers a vibrant cultural life, superb music, and a diverse international campus community.
USA Today named Bloomington "one of the top ten places for rich campus culture."
Bloomington is distinguished by the people who live here, and by those who spend time here as part of the university. Home to a diverse and international community, it is marked by Midwestern charm, open-minded residents, and a peaceful, community-minded way of life.
Indiana University is unwavering in its commitment to create safe and welcoming learning environments that advocate access, diversity, equity, inclusion, and community for all. Learn more about campus cultural centers and institutes through the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs.
Indiana University features beautiful landscaping, wooded pathways, and an arboretum. Often recognized as one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States (ranked among the top five by Thomas A. Gaines in his book, The Campus as a Work of Art), many of its historic limestone buildings have been repurposed and renovated. New construction includes innovative architecture sensitive to the campus aesthetic.
Our Research 1 university supports focused engagement in the dynamic work of scholarship, with over 200 centers, labs, and libraries available to pursue a research agenda. With the cost of living relatively low and the logistics of life relatively simple, Bloomington is sometimes described as an oasis—a place where you can be both productive and proactive about the many opportunities encountered in this place.
Bloomington is bordered by Yellowwood State Forest, Brown Country State Park, and Hoosier National Forest and is within a few miles’ drive of three lakes, one of which is the largest in Indiana. Together, these resources provide almost unlimited recreational opportunities for Bloomington residents.
Finally, if you have time for a weekend getaway, Bloomington is not far from Indianapolis, Louisville, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Chicago. An amenable haven for student life, it is surrounded by many exciting Midwestern cities.
Never before have I been to a place where it was so easy to make friends. At the university, on the bus, in a store. Bloomingtonians are warm and welcoming, and that, above all, makes life livable in this town. Bloomington was chosen as one of the top ten college towns in the U.S. for its “rich mixture of atmospherics and academia.
Edward B. Fiske, former education editor of the New York Times
The College of Arts