What makes independent higher education special?

Flexibility, responsiveness, and innovation. These are personal characteristics that make individuals successful in the fast-changing 21st-century marketplace. They are also traits that have made private, independently governed, regionally accredited colleges and universities special places of learning for more than 350 years.

In their own special tradition, the independent colleges and universities of Indiana emphasize the development of an openness to new ideas and experiences, a sense of personal and societal responsibility, and a capacity for lifetime self-education.

But what distinguishes independent colleges and universities is more than just these educational qualities that are likely to be found among their graduates. Independent colleges and universities are known for shaping lives and building futures. They are places where individuals nurture and develop their personal skill sets. For this reason, students who enroll at independent colleges and universities are more likely to:

• Graduate in four, five, or six years than students at larger, state-operated institutions (in Indiana, the graduation rate advantage for students at independent colleges and universities is greater than 25 percent)

• Experience significant interaction with faculty members both in and out of the classroom

• Find and make use of a mentor in their academic pursuits

• Be satisfied with the quality and focus of their instructional programs

• Be found among leaders in advanced professions like business, law, medicine, and theology

As one research study noted, "The sense of involvement that students experience at independent colleges and universities extend beyond their time of enrollment and takes them into their careers and avocations. It is something that propels them through life and gives their lives meaning and direction." 

What is a liberal arts and science education?

You may have heard the term "liberal arts education" used interchangeably with the kind of educational program offered by many independent, or private, colleges and universities. While there is no clear-cut definition of this term, educators agree that an education in the liberal arts and sciences involves the ability to think critically and reason analytically; an integration of the academic and extracurricular to enhance the educational experience; and a "life stage" that provides wide-ranging opportunities for interaction with peers and faculty.

Indiana's 31 independent colleges and universities place the highest importance on enriching the entire educational experience for each one of their students. From professors whose priority is teaching undergraduates in small, highly interactive classes to a wide range of non-academic offerings such as intercollegiate and intramural athletics; sororities and fraternities and theme-based residential living; and special clubs and organizations covering almost any interest you may have, Indiana's independent colleges and universities seek to provide students with an inspiring living and learning environment.