Accreditation
How to Verify Indiana School Accreditation
Indiana colleges and universities are accredited by HLC. The IU System, Purdue System, and Ivy Tech Community College are the dominant public networks. Here's the correct database for each institution type — and the Purdue Global branding confusion to watch for.
Key takeaway
Indiana higher education is dominated by the Indiana University System (IU Bloomington and 6 regional campuses), Purdue University System (West Lafayette, Northwest, Fort Wayne, and Purdue Global), and Ivy Tech Community College (43 locations, single HLC-accredited institution). All are accredited by HLC. Private institutions are authorized by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE). Purdue Global is legitimate — but its former Kaplan University brand caused lasting confusion.
Indiana's accreditation landscape
Indiana's public higher education landscape is shaped by two flagship systems and one statewide community college. The Indiana University System encompasses IU Bloomington (flagship), IU Indianapolis (formerly IUPUI), and regional campuses at South Bend, Southeast, Northwest, Kokomo, East, and Fort Wayne. All are HLC-accredited as individual institutions or under the IU system umbrella.
The Purdue University System includes Purdue West Lafayette (flagship), Purdue Northwest, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Purdue Global. Purdue Global — the renamed Kaplan University, acquired by Purdue in 2017 — is a legitimate, HLC-accredited online university despite its for-profit heritage. It is sometimes confused with unaccredited online institutions; verify directly through HLC.
Ivy Tech Community College operates as a single HLC-accredited institution with 43 locations across Indiana. One institution, one accreditation — a candidate presenting a degree from "Ivy Tech Fort Wayne" or "Ivy Tech Indianapolis" holds a credential from the same institution.
Private institutions — including University of Notre Dame, Butler University, DePauw University, Wabash College, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology — must be authorized by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE).
Which database to use by institution type
Colleges and Universities (4-year)
Search the HLC directory at hlcommission.org. All IU System and Purdue System institutions — as well as Notre Dame, Butler, DePauw, and Wabash — appear there with current accreditation status, any notices, and accreditation history.
Database: hlcommission.org/directory
Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech is a single institution with 43 locations. Verify through the HLC directory under "Ivy Tech Community College." The Ivy Tech website at ivytech.edu lists all campus locations. A student who attended any Ivy Tech location holds a degree from the same accredited institution.
Database: hlcommission.org/directory
Private Institutions
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) maintains the list of authorized private and out-of-state institutions. Verify private institutions through both HLC and the CHE database. An institution absent from both is not authorized to grant degrees in Indiana.
Database: in.gov/che
K-12 Public and Private Schools
Indiana public K-12 schools are overseen by the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) and the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The IDOE school directory lists all accredited and approved schools. Private K-12 schools must file an annual report with IDOE.
Database: doe.in.gov
Step-by-step: verifying an Indiana credential
- 1
Confirm the institution type
IU System, Purdue System, Ivy Tech, private 4-year, or K-12? This determines which database to start with.
- 2
Search HLC for colleges and universities
Go to hlcommission.org and search by name. For Purdue Global, search under that name — not "Kaplan." Confirm current accreditation status.
- 3
Cross-check private institutions with CHE
The CHE authorization list confirms state-level approval. Use this especially for smaller religious colleges and out-of-state online providers.
- 4
Run the school through VerifyED
VerifyED's database covers 912,000+ schools and 2,500+ diploma mills. A match on the diploma mill list is dispositive — the credential is fraudulent.
- 5
Contact the registrar directly
For sensitive hires, call or email the registrar using contact info from the official school website. Most Indiana institutions participate in the National Student Clearinghouse.
Red flags specific to Indiana
Confusion between Purdue Global and diploma mills
Purdue Global (formerly Kaplan University) is a legitimate, HLC-accredited institution. However, its online-only, nationwide enrollment model resembles diploma mill operations. If a candidate claims a "Purdue" degree, confirm which campus or system — and verify through HLC regardless. Unaccredited institutions sometimes appropriate the "Purdue" name to imply legitimacy.
Unaccredited religious Bible colleges
Indiana has a significant number of unaccredited religious institutions that operate legally under religious exemptions but do not hold HLC or other recognized accreditation. Degrees from these institutions have no standing for employment purposes that require accredited credentials. Always verify accreditation status before accepting a religious institution credential.
"Indiana" or "Hoosier" branding without IU affiliation
An institution using "Indiana" in its name without being part of the IU System warrants scrutiny. Check HLC and the CHE list directly before accepting the credential.
Notable Indiana institutions and verification notes
| Institution | Type | Accreditor |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana University Bloomington | Public 4-year (flagship) | HLC |
| Purdue University West Lafayette | Public 4-year (flagship) | HLC |
| Purdue Global | Public online (former Kaplan) | HLC |
| University of Notre Dame | Private 4-year | HLC |
| Butler University | Private 4-year | HLC |
| Ivy Tech Community College | Community college (43 locations) | HLC |
Verify any Indiana school in seconds
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