IU Indianapolis expands seamless admissions program to 31 central Indiana high schools for fall 2026 entry

Expanded automatic-admission pathway targets central Indiana seniors meeting GPA threshold

IU Indianapolis has expanded its “seamless admissions initiative” to include 31 high schools across central Indiana, extending an automatic-admission pathway for qualifying students entering in fall 2026. The initiative began as a pilot in 2023 with four Indianapolis Public Schools district-managed high schools and has since grown to include additional IPS schools and multiple township and neighboring districts.

Under the program, seniors at participating schools who earn at least a 3.0 grade point average are eligible for automatic admission to IU Indianapolis. Instead of completing a traditional college application, submitting transcripts as part of an application process, or paying an application fee, eligible students complete a short online form to opt in for admission.

Scale and early indicators of impact

IU Indianapolis has stated that nearly 3,500 students at participating high schools now qualify for seamless admissions for fall 2026. The initiative is framed as a way to reduce procedural barriers and encourage students to view college enrollment as an achievable next step, while strengthening local talent pipelines.

Enrollment-related changes have been reported for students coming from IPS district-managed high schools. From fall 2024 to fall 2025, applications to IU Indianapolis from those schools rose by 38%, admissions increased by nearly 55%, and deposits grew by more than 53%. Over the same period, enrollment from those schools increased from 81 students to 117 students, a 44% rise.

Participating high schools for fall 2026 admissions

• Achieve Virtual High School
• Arsenal Tech High School
• Avon High School
• Ben Davis High School
• Ben Davis University High School
• Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School
• Christel House Indianapolis
• Crispus Attucks High School
• Decatur Central High School
• George Washington High School
• GEO Next Generation Academy
• Herron High School
• Herron-Riverside High School
• Hope Academy
• Indianapolis Metropolitan High School
• Irvington Preparatory Academy
• KIPP Legacy
• Lawrence Central High School
• Lawrence North High School
• North Central High School
• Perry Meridian High School
• Phalen Leadership Academy
• Pike High School
• Purdue Polytechnic Englewood
• Purdue Polytechnic North
• Rooted High School at Eastern Star
• Shortridge High School
• Southport High School
• Trinity Christian School
• Warren Central High School
• Warren Online Academy

What comes next

IU Indianapolis has indicated it plans to continue expanding the program. Franklin Central High School has been confirmed as a new participating school for fall 2027 admissions.

The program’s eligibility standard is tied to academic performance: students at participating schools who reach a 3.0 GPA threshold can opt in through a short online form rather than completing a full application.

For families and students, the practical change is a simplified admissions step for those who meet the GPA requirement, paired with earlier communication of eligibility during senior year. For districts and the university, the expansion represents a broader effort to standardize access to admission and increase postsecondary participation among students across the Indianapolis region.