The Indiana Commission for Higher Education, in partnership with the state’s higher education institutions, is launching a statewide initiative to inform Hoosier high school seniors of their options for postsecondary education in Indiana. The current high school class of 2024 will be the first participants of the initiative, Indiana PreAdmissions: Your Path to College.
The Indiana Pre-Admissions: Your Path to College initiative will launch this month with students receiving a letter introducing the initiative. In September, Indiana high school seniors from participating high schools will be pre-admitted to participating in-state public and private institutions based on their cumulative GPA and/or SAT scores, pending an official application to the institution and completing any additional requirements. This allows students to view postgraduation options prior to filling out applications. Currently, 38 Indiana public and private colleges and universities are participating in the initiative, with options ranging from short-term and one-year certificates to associate and bachelor’s degrees. For the 2023-2024 school year, 327 Indiana high schools are participating in Indiana Pre-Admissions.
To receive their official admission notification, students must apply to the institutions via the Common App or the institutions’ websites. Students will also need to maintain academic performance, maintain positive disciplinary standing, and meet any additional admissions requirements from the institution. Students will be directed to the Indiana PreAdmissions web page to explore all options for postsecondary education in Indiana.
“Indiana is home to some of the best higher education institutions in the nation,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery. “Indiana Pre-Admissions: Your Path to College encourages students to apply to institutions they might have thought were not within reach, thus giving students hope and options for their postsecondary education. The Commission will continue to lean into innovative programs and strong partnerships to address the challenges facing higher education in Indiana.”
The initiative was created to address Indiana’s declining college-going rate, which currently sits at 53 percent. The Indiana Pre-Admissions initiative is informed by other statewide direct and pre-admissions initiatives implemented in Idaho, Minnesota, and those being developed in other states.
Idaho has experienced considerable success with its Direct Admissions model with an eight percent increase for in-state, first-time undergraduate enrollment and three percent decrease in the number of students leaving for out-of-state colleges. Students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, and first-generation students have benefitted most from the implementation.
“Motivating Hoosier high school seniors to aim higher and dream bigger, the Indiana Pre-Admissions: Your Path to College initiative opens doors to a world of educational possibilities,” said Dr. Dottie King, Independent Colleges of Indiana president and CEO. “By bridging the gap between aspiration and application, this statewide partnership empowers students to envision a brighter future and empowers Indiana’s higher education institutions to nurture those dreams into reality.”
Originally posted by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
MEDIA CONTACT: Cara Short — 317-232-1032 — cshort@che.in.gov