A major transformation is underway at Indiana University Bloomington, as the institution moves to suspend or eliminate more than 100 academic programs ahead of the 2026-27 school year, with changes beginning as early as the 2025-26 academic year. This substantial restructuring marks one of the most significant overhauls in IU’s history.

This sweeping academic shift is not an isolated decision but comes as a direct response to a new statewide initiative affecting public higher education in Indiana. At the heart of this change is House Enrolled Act 1001, a state law that sets new minimum graduate thresholds for degree programs. The legislation aims to streamline offerings across public universities, focusing on programs that demonstrate higher completion rates and alignment with workforce demands.

The push behind this legislative change, emphasized by Governor Mike Braun, is to prioritize academic pathways that lead directly to “practical” degrees and prepare students for in-demand careers within the state. As a result, the academic cuts will impact a wide range of disciplines at IU Bloomington, including numerous programs within the humanities, languages, and even some areas of STEM.

While Indiana University states it is “voluntarily” making these adjustments to comply with the new state mandates, the scale of the changes is profound. The university is working to ensure a smooth transition for its current student body; those currently enrolled in programs slated for suspension or elimination will be allowed to complete their degrees.