Indiana University South Bend and School City of Mishawaka have signed an agreement which will streamline the path to college for high school students.
Qualifying seniors who participate in the seamless admission program will not need to complete a traditional application – only a short online form for admission in fall 2025 and beyond.
IU South Bend grants full or conditional admission to students through a comprehensive review of their portfolio, which includes factors such as grade point average, high school diploma type, and standard test scores (if submitted).
“We want to do whatever we can to simplify the admission process at IU South Bend. Our goal is to make college education more accessible, enabling students to earn a distinguished IU degree at an affordable cost while ensuring they receive the support to succeed during their college careers so we can help build a new generation of leaders for our community,” said Interim Deputy Chancellor Andy Williams.
Resources to help students stay on track, such as Titan Success Center, Academic Advising, and Academic Centers for Excellence, complement resources to help students stay engaged, such as Undergraduate Research and IU South Bend’s outstanding Honors Program.
“This partnership with School City of Mishawaka represents one way we can eliminate barriers to higher education. With this simplified application process, we are recognizing the hard work of these high school students and reinforcing our commitment to their success,” said Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jill Pearon.
With more than 65 percent of IU South Bend graduates staying in the region to work, the partnership is building a valuable pipeline for students and creating talented leaders our local businesses and organizations desire.
“We are thrilled to begin this new partnership between Mishawaka High School and Indiana University South Bend, which allows our students to bypass the traditional application process. This agreement is a significant step forward for our students, offering them a streamlined path to higher education and new opportunities for success,” said Mishawaka High School Principal Chad Brugh.
Former Mishawaka graduates say they think seamless admissions programs like this would have helped them during their high school journeys.
“Senior year of high school was extremely stressful for me, and the process of applying to college was confusing and only added to that stress. I’m excited about this new process being introduced because I know it will help future graduating seniors make their transition into college life easier,” said Mishawaka High School graduate and IU South Bend sophomore Cienna King.
IU South Bend recently completed a similar agreement with the Elkhart Community School Corporation and is pursuing similar partnerships with other school districts in the area.