Indiana University programs in business and nursing have been ranked among the nation’s leading programs and No. 1 in Indiana, according to the 2026 U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges rankings.
The IU Kelley School of Business maintained its highly ranked status for undergraduate programs — No. 8 nationally — and the IU School of Nursing reached its highest-ever rank of No. 13 nationally. Both schools are also the leading programs in the state.
Additionally, IU’s regional campuses garnered strong marks in the rankings, with four campuses ranking in the top 50 among Midwestern public universities. Several regional campuses also scored well in social mobility, a measure of the success of students receiving federal Pell Grants. As of this academic year, 17,857 students are pursuing degrees though the university’s regional campuses across Indiana.
Overall, IU Bloomington scored 34th among public universities in the Best Colleges rankings.
“Indiana University is educating and training the future leaders of Indiana and the world — from business innovators and entrepreneurs to nurses and everything in between,” IU President Pamela Whitten said. “Just as importantly, our regional campuses are opening doors to opportunity, serving as launchpads for social and economic mobility that transform lives and strengthen communities across the state.”
IU Kelley School of Business
Six specialty programs at the IU Kelley School of Business — including those in key areas such as analytics and supply chain management — moved up in the rankings. Eight specialties were ranked in the top 10:
- Accounting, No. 4.
- Management, No. 4.
- Marketing, No. 4.
- Management information systems, No. 6.
- Entrepreneurship, No. 7.
- Business analytics, No. 9.
- Finance, No. 9.
- Production/Operations Management, No. 9.
This is also the fifth year in a row, and the 10th time over the past dozen years, that the Kelley Undergraduate Program has been ranked in U.S. News’ top 10.
“These rankings are a powerful reflection of the tremendous energy, innovation and insight our faculty, staff and global partners pour into every aspect of Kelley, from our rigorous academics to our vibrant student experience and industry engagement,” said Patrick E. Hopkins, dean of the IU Kelley School of Business. “Our undergraduate program continues to set the standard for excellence, preparing students to lead with purpose and impact in a rapidly changing world. And as proud as we are of this recognition, we’re even more excited about what lies ahead.”
The school also recently ranked No. 1 in North America by QS Intelligence Unit, a respected research organization that also produces the QS World University Rankings. The Kelley online MBA program was also ranked fifth worldwide, including No. 3 for employability in North America.
It’s estimated that more than 1,450 companies hired Kelley students — who join a network of more than 137,000 living alumni upon graduation — for internships and full-time positions after graduation in the last year alone.
IU School of Nursing
The IU School of Nursing, which has about 25,000 alumni, recently awarded 478 undergraduate degrees from its core locations in Bloomington, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.
Among graduates of its undergraduate programs, 95 percent last year were licensed to practice in Indiana, addressing a critical gap in the Hoosier health care economy.
This academic year also marks the largest-ever undergraduate class at the IU School of Nursing, with a total of 1,952 students enrolled in three bachelor’s degree programs: the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the second degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and the online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
In 2024, nursing graduates also exceeded the national average for BSN graduates in academics, with more than 92% passing their state licensure exam on the first attempt.
Regional campuses
Among public school rankings of regional Midwestern universities, IU East ranked 40th, IU Kokomo ranked 45th, IU South Bend ranked 46th, IU Southeast ranked 48th and IU Northwest ranked 52nd. Of these, IU East and IU South Bend also ranked strongly in social mobility, scoring No. 35 and No. 45, respectively.
The university also saw continued upward trajectory in its overall social mobility rankings, rising 23 points over last year’s gains. These rankings are based on two distinct factors assessing the graduation rates of students who receive Pell Grants, a measure of financial need.
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