The University of Southern Indiana (USI) is a mid-size public institution that began in 1965 as a regional campus of Indiana State University. USI is located on a beautiful 1,400-acre campus in the wooded area of Evansville, Indiana. Evansville is an easy drive from Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and St. Louis. USI’s acceptance rate is 94%, and it is a homeschool-friendly university.
Academic Programs
The University of Southern Indiana is an engaged learning community advancing education and knowledge, enhancing civic and cultural awareness, and fostering partnerships through comprehensive outreach programs. USI’s motto is “Knowledge for Life.” The average student-faculty ratio is 17:1, and USI has 38.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. Only 4.1% of classes have 50 or more students.
USI offers more than 80 degree programs through the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, College of Nursing and Health Professions, and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. The most popular majors include: Education, Nursing/Healthcare, Business/Management/Marketing, Communication/Journalism, Parks/Recreation/Tourism, and Leisure/Fitness Studies.
USI offers 100% online programs to earn an accredited MBA or complete your RN to BSN. USI also offers study-abroad opportunities in more than 60 countries, and hosts international students from around the globe. USI is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University, offering continuing education and special programs to more than 19,000 participants annually.
Student Life
The University of Southern Indiana enrolls over 11,000 dual credit, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students (with an enrollment of 7,706 undergraduate students). Of those, 80% are full-time and 20% are part-time students, while 38% are male students and 62% female. The university’s master plan provides the framework to double the size of the school and support a campus of over 20,000 students.
Approximately 68% of students live off campus and 32% of students live in college-owned, -operated or -affiliated housing. USI is home to an extensive student life, with more than 140 student organizations. The University of Southern Indiana has a TV station, an award-winning radio station, a student newspaper, and a national literary journal. All these programs are completely student-run entities. The athletic teams of USI are part of the NCAA II and are known as the Screaming Eagles.
The USI campus is connected to nearby Burdette Park by the three-mile, paved USI-Burdette Trail; and multiple lakeside and forest trailheads are available on campus around Reflection Lake and starting at the Bent Twig Outdoor Education Center. USI students and faculty also have access to the Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center. Approximately 70% of USI alumni still reside in Indiana.
Homeschool Admissions
The University of Southern Indiana welcomes applications for admission from homeschooled students. Homeschooled students have been part of the academic community for many years and the university recognizes the important contributions that these students make both in the classroom and as a part of student life on the campus. Consequently, USI makes a deliberate effort to accommodate the special circumstances of homeschoolers in the admission process.
According to their undergraduate admissions page, the University of Southern Indiana understands that the academic transcripts of homeschooled students may differ from those of public and private high school students. Homeschooled transcripts are required for admission to the university and they should include:
- An assessment of academic performance (letter grades, percentages), including an explanation of any applicable grading scale.
- A list of all high school equivalent courses taken, and the timeframe in which the courses were completed (year and semester).
If you have completed course work concurrently at a college or university, be sure to include official transcript(s) from the institution(s) with your application for admission.
Applicants for admission who have not fulfilled a college preparatory curriculum are considered for admission on an individual basis. Grade point average, curriculum, standardized test scores (SAT, ACT), and other evidence of the applicant’s potential for academic success are considered in the admission decision.
Qualified homeschooled students are eligible for consideration of institutional scholarships. Homeschooled students applying for academic scholarships are evaluated on the same basis as all other students. Grade point average and standardized test scores (SAT, ACT) serve as the primary criteria.
Admission of homeschooled students to the University of Southern Indiana does not guarantee acceptance into a specific program of study, department, or college. Further information concerning the academic requirements of major programs and/or colleges may be obtained from the respective academic department.
When applying to USI, it’s important to note the application deadline is August 15.