Indiana University saw its highest-ever enrollment of undergraduate students into the School of Nursing this year. It's a step in the right direction for solving Indiana’s nursing shortage.
Nearly 450 new undergraduate students enrolled this year across the Bloomington, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis campuses. It’s the second year in a row the school has broken its own enrollment record. Rebecca Ellis, executive associate dean for academic affairs for IU’s nursing school, said the school has met its goal of doubling its first-year enrollment by 50 percent.
“We worked with a gift from IU Health of $16 million that we received in 2021, with a goal of increasing our enrollment by 50 percent by the fall of 2,025. And this fall 2024, we exceeded our enrollment goals one whole year early.”
The Indiana Hospital Association estimates the state must graduate 1,300 nurses every year until 2030 to meet Indiana’s medical needs.
This is also the first year the school has had direct admit students, and 68 students qualified.
“We're very excited to support them across their freshman year and look forward to them beginning their nursing coursework in the sophomore year,” Ellis said.
A new law was passed this legislative year that removes some of the barriers for entry that nurses face, such as requiring 18 months of clinical experience to get a nursing license.
This story has been updated.
