Indiana University of Pennsylvania Snapshot

Written by Emily Weber

Emily Weber

Hometown

Souderton, Pennsylvania

Major

Journalism & English

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Picking the right college often leaves students stranded between two choices: sacrificing a well-rounded education for a cheaper school, or ponying up the cash for a private education with a lot of extras. In a way that many other public schools simply aren't, Indiana University of Pennsylvania is honestly the best of both worlds. IUP students get a quality education that rivals many smaller private colleges at the public university price. Although Indiana isn’t a major city, and the small-town atmosphere is something that students have to take into consideration, the town is picturesque and fun if you know where to look. Be sure to come visit before you commit to IUP, and keep an open mind when you come. Indiana has a way of growing on you.

The student body at IUP is fairly diverse, but every student can find his niche. Although 15,000 seems like a lot of students, the campus itself doesn’t feel that large. Because it draws students from across the nation and around the world, there’s something for everyone, whether that’s a student organization, a club, a sport, a Greek organization, or an extracurricular activity. You’ll find people and things at IUP that will expand your perspective on the world and challenge your expectations. As far as academics, IUP offers more than 100 majors and is the only public university in Pennsylvania to offer a doctoral program as well. Even for freshmen, classes aren't unmanageable. The professors know what they’re talking about and make class as interesting as they can, and most classes have no more than 100 students in them (even gen-eds). There’s a reason that alumni are proud to call IUP their alma mater. Few universities offer what Indiana University of Pennsylvania does for such a fair price.