Visiting

Be a Visiting Student

Are you interested in taking a few classes without seeking a degree? Are you wanting to take a course to transfer back to your home campus? We welcome visiting (non-degree) students and make it easy to apply and enroll in classes.

Are you a visiting student?

Visiting students are defined as students who have graduated high school who want to enroll for a limited period of time (i.e. one semester), want to enroll for personal enrichment without pursuing a degree, or are currently attending a non-IU institution but want to attend IU Columbus for a course or two. If you are unsure as to whether you should apply as a visiting student, contact your admissions counselor.

If you are currently enrolled at an IU campus and want to be a visiting student at IU Columbus, you will apply as a temporary intercampus transfer.

As a prospective visiting student, your admissions counselor is Drhea Emberton. Contact her with any of your questions!

Affordability

Get a head start on planning for college by estimating the cost of tuition and fees for courses using our Cost Calculator.

Schedule of classes

Course offerings change each semester. Find out if and when we will be offering the course(s) you're interested in.

How to Apply

The information below walks you through the everything you should know in order to successfully apply for admission to IU Columbus.

Before you begin the application process, there are a few things you should do to prepare yourself.

1. Know important deadlines

Apply for admission as early as possible. Applications are processed as they are received. Please allow three weeks for processing after all materials are submitted. For priority admission consideration, please submit your application and all additional materials by these dates:

  • Fall semester: July 15

  • Spring semester: December 15

  • Summer session I: April 1

  • Summer session II: May 15

2. Review admission standards

Students must have a minimum college cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale before applying.

3. Research the schedule of classes

We recommend you learn what classes IU Columbus will be offering in a given semester prior to applying. This will help ensure we're offering the courses you're wanting to take!

Schedule of classes

4. Learn about costs and financial assistance

We offer one of the state’s most affordable educational values and our banded tuition helps keep you on track to graduate in four years or less. Use our helpful tool to estimate the costs associated with attending IUPUC. 

Cost calculator

Since visiting students are non-degree seeking students, they are not offered financial aid.

The steps to apply as a visiting student are easy! However, we cannot process your application until we have received all your application materials, so be sure to submit everything as soon as possible. If your application is incomplete, it will delay the review process.

1. Complete and submit the IU Shared Application

Applying to IU Columbus is free! If you have questions while submitting your application, please email coadmissions@iu.edu.

Be sure to indicate you are wanting to take classes as a visiting student on the application within the "Academic Goals" section.

2. Submit any additional required documentation

You will be required to submit an unofficial college transcript from the last school you've attended. For any transcripts we request of you, you must contact the school and request your transcript be sent to IU Columbus.

  • For Electronic Delivery (preferred method): Please have each transcript sent to the following email address –
  • For Mail Delivery: Please have transcripts mailed to the following mailing address – 
    IU Columbus
    ATTN: Office of Admissions
    4601 Central Avenue
    Columbus, IN 47203

If you are a graduating high school student who is wanting to take summer courses prior to going to college as a degree-seeking student in the fall, we also require you submit your college acceptance letter for the admissions process. 

Here are a couple things you can do while you wait for an admissions decision!

1. Make changes to your application

To make changes to your submitted application, please email coadmissions@iu.edu and the changes you need made. An admissions staff member will respond with any additional steps we need you to take.

2. Check the status of your application

If you would like to get a status update of your application, please call the Office of Admissions at (812) 348-7390 or email coadmissions@iu.edu.

3. Apply for financial aid

If you haven't filed a FAFSA yet, now is a great time. You will need to file a FAFSA each year you wish to receive aid. IU Columbus' FAFSA federal school code is E01033.

4. Meet your admissions counselor

To get all your questions answered and to learn more about IU Columbus, we recommend you schedule a time to meet with your admissions counselor.

5. Cancel your application

If you wish to cancel your application for any reason, please call the Office of Admissions at (812) 348-7390 or email coadmissions@iu.edu and include your name and date of birth. 

If you have already registered for courses and no longer wish to attend IU Columbus, you will need to follow the steps on the Office of Registrar’s website to withdraw and avoid any fees or tuition charges.

Limits on Non-Degree Credit Hours

If you do not already hold a baccalaureate degree, you are limited to a total of 18 credit hours throughout your career as a non-degree student. There is no limit to the number of courses you can take if you have already received a baccalaureate degree.