Indiana University Bloomington to Eliminate or Suspend Over 100 Academic Programs in Sweeping Restructuring

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University Bloomington is suspending or eliminating more than 100 academic programs across a wide range of disciplines ahead of the 2026-27 academic year. The programs are on a list from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education released on a PDF from the June 30, 2025 meeting.

Universities across Indiana are eliminating degree programs due to House Enrolled Act 1001—2025’s Bill Section #248 added, effective July 1, 2025.

https://www.in.gov/che/files/HEA1001-Graduate-Thresholds-CHE-Initial-Guidance-and-FAQ_V1-6.13.25.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

The changes, affect undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs and touch nearly every corner of the university — from the arts and humanities to science, education, public health, and languages.

At least 43 undergraduate degree programs will be suspended with plans to eliminate or merge them, including the Bachelor of Arts in African American and African Diaspora Studies, Art History, Comparative Literature, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, French, Gender Studies, and Spanish. Several Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Fine Arts programs are also impacted, including programs in Ballet, Cognitive Science, and Environmental Geoscience.

Graduate and professional degrees are also on the chopping block. Multiple master’s and doctoral programs — including Ph.D. tracks in Art History, Comparative Literature, Astrophysics, French, Japanese, and Gender Studies — will be phased out or consolidated. A number of education and public health degrees will also be discontinued.

In addition, a series of teacher education degrees — such as B.S.Ed. in English, Journalism, Mathematics, and Social Studies — are being fully eliminated.

This marks one of the most dramatic academic restructurings in IU’s history and comes amid increased scrutiny over the university’s financial decisions following a $100 million budget realignment announced earlier this year. The cuts also come after the appointment of a new Board of Trustees majority, aligned with Indiana’s Republican Gov. Mike Braun, which has called for more “practical” degrees with workforce outcomes.

Gov. Braun recently said that IU president Pamela Whitten wanted to do some “sprucing up” of the university.

Link to list:

https://www.in.gov/che/files/Info-Item-Voluntary-Early-Actions-and-Future-Commitments-Before-HEA1001-2025-Implementation.pdf

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