Indiana University now ranks #1 for nation’s largest alumni base

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University now officially has more living alumni than any other college or university in the nation.

IU officials announced Tuesday that, with a total of 805,000 people, the university’s alumni community is the country’s largest. IU passes the previous record holder, fellow Big Ten college Penn State University.

“As the nation’s largest alumni community, IU graduates are leaving a lasting impact that’s as deep as it is wide. Their success exemplifies our commitment to putting students first,” IU President Pamela Whitten said.

According to IU, over half of the university’s alumni still live in the Hoosier State. As of 2025, nearly 417,000 IU alums reside in Indiana.

“Whether they’re delivering front-line care, leading new industries, or serving communities across our state and nation, our graduates are doing what IU alumni do best: changing the world for the better,” Whitten said.

IU said that its alumni network includes graduates across the following nine campuses throughout the state:

• IU Bloomington
• IU Indianapolis
• IU East in Richmond
• IU Kokomo
• IU Northwest in Gary
• IU South Bend
• IU Southeast in New Albany
• IU Columbus
• IU Fort Wayne

According to the university, IU alumni live in over 165 different countries throughout the world and work in fields as varied as business, healthcare, public service, sciences and the arts.

The oldest state university in Indiana, IU was founded in 1820 with a main campus in Bloomington. For more information on IU’s alumni association, click here.