Study in Bloomington, The United States

About Bloomington

Two U.S. cities share the name Bloomington, and our directory lists schools in both. Bloomington, Indiana, is a college town in the south of the state, home to Indiana University's flagship campus; the U.S. Census Bureau estimates its population at 79,986 in 2024. Bloomington, Illinois, is a city of similar size in central Illinois, with 79,232 inhabitants in 2024, and is home to Illinois Wesleyan University.

Both are mid-sized cities of about 80,000 people, so the universities play a large part in local life. They suit students who prefer a campus community to a big city.

Studying in Bloomington

Our directory lists three schools in Bloomington: two universities and one secondary school.

• Indiana University Bloomington (Indiana) describes itself as Indiana's flagship R1 university. It is a public university with 48,424 students, 38,093 of them undergraduates, according to the U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator, and it offers scholarships specifically for international students.
• Illinois Wesleyan University (Illinois) is an independent, private university that teaches only undergraduates. It has about 1,600 students on a residential campus and a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1.
• Bloomington High School South is a high school in Bloomington, Indiana.

The two universities offer very different experiences: a large research university with graduate schools in Indiana, and a small undergraduate university with a low student-to-faculty ratio in Illinois. Students who need to improve their English before a degree can ask about bridge or pathway programmes, which EducationUSA describes as combining English study with academic credit.

Student visa

An F student visa covers study at an accredited college or university and full-time English courses at an English language institute. After admission, the school's international student office sends you a Form I-20 (or a DS-2019 for J exchange programmes) to present at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The academic year usually runs from September to May. University students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year with permission from the international student office.

Cost of living for students

For a first-year undergraduate in 2024-25, College Navigator gives these figures:

• Indiana University Bloomington (out-of-state rate, which international students pay): $41,891 tuition and fees, $13,984 food and housing on campus
• Illinois Wesleyan University: $57,704 tuition and fees, $13,370 food and housing on campus

Getting around and daily life

In Bloomington, Indiana, the city bus operator Bloomington Transit runs routes across town, including IU Campus Express lines to the university. The nearest large airport is Indianapolis International Airport (IND). The climate has four distinct seasons: at the Indiana University weather station, NOAA's 1991-2020 normals give an average temperature of 28.8 °F (about -2 °C) in January and 75.0 °F (about 24 °C) in July, with average daily highs of 85.1 °F (about 30 °C) in July.

Frequently asked questions

Which Bloomington is Indiana University in?

Indiana University Bloomington is in Bloomington, Indiana. Illinois Wesleyan University is in Bloomington, Illinois, a different city in the neighbouring state.

How much does it cost to study at Indiana University Bloomington?

For 2024-25, College Navigator lists $41,891 in out-of-state tuition and fees for first-year undergraduates, plus $13,984 for food and housing on campus.

Are there scholarships for international students?

Indiana University Bloomington lists scholarships for international students on its website; check the conditions directly with the university's admissions office.

What is the weather like in Bloomington, Indiana?

Winters are cold, averaging 28.8 °F (about -2 °C) in January, and summers are warm, averaging 75.0 °F (about 24 °C) in July, according to NOAA's 1991-2020 normals.