Enrollment rises again at IU Northwest for fall 2026

GARY, Ind. — For the second consecutive year, Indiana University Northwest has increased student enrollment.

Campus headcount, per the fall 2026 census, is 3,329 students, a 2.1% increase from fall 2025 and a 9.5% increase from fall 2024. This marks the third straight year IU Northwest’s headcount has either held steady or increased.

IU Northwest’s credit hours are up 2.9% from last year and 12% since fall 2024.

New student enrollment, which includes beginning students and transfers, is up 7.3% since fall 2025 and 25.1% since fall 2024. Another large increase was in graduate admissions headcount, which rose 29.3% year over year.

“It is incredibly encouraging to see students across Northwest Indiana choosing to invest in themselves and their futures through higher education,” IU Northwest Chancellor Arrick Jackson said. “Our faculty and staff are committed to ensuring our students experience a world-class education, helping them through graduation and into successful careers.”

IU Northwest was one of several regional campuses that saw increases in enrollment headcount and credit hours. Together, regional campuses enrolled 18,216 students, with new undergraduate student enrollment growing at each regional institution. Total enrollment across IU is nearly 90,000 students, with over 11,000 students enrolled through IU online.

A closer look at the numbers

• New student enrollment (beginners, transfers) is up 7.3% from fall 2025 and a 25.1% increase from fall 2024.
• Undergraduate beginner enrollment is up 6.9% year-over-year and 32.3% from fall 2024.
• Transfer enrollment saw an 8.2% increase year-over-year.
• Graduate headcounts remained steady, increasing by 0.8% from last year.
• Graduate credit hours saw a 5.6 increase from last year.
• Online program headcount saw a 9.6% increase from fall 2024 and a 24.5% increase from fall 2025.