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Marian University is a private, Roman Catholic, Franciscan university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The University is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, having grown out of the St. Francis Normal School which was established by Sister Theresa Hackelmeier and the Sisters of St. Francis in 1851 for the purpose of educating the German-speaking children of southeastern Indiana. In 1936 the school merged with the Immaculate Conception Junior College and became a four-year, state-approved institution known as Marion College. One year later, when the state charter was secured, the College moved from its earlier location in Oldenburg to Indianapolis. In 1948 the college began an expansion program that included the addition of Clare Hall, Marian Hall and the Gymnasium. At this time Marion College became the first co-educational Catholic college in the state of Indiana. In 2009 the school achieved university status and was again renamed, Marian University.
Academic Programs
Marian University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and has been so since 1956. The University’s vision is “to provide an education distinguished in its ability to prepare transformative leaders for service to the world,” with a mission “to be a great Catholic university dedicated to providing students with excellent teaching and learning in the Franciscan and liberal arts tradition.” Marion University is particularly dedicated to the values of the “dignity of the individual; responsible stewardship; peace and justice; and reconciliation.”Marion University offers more than 50 degrees through its several colleges and schools, including the Clark H. Byrum School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Liberal Arts, the School of Mathematics and Sciences, the School of Nursing, Marian’s Adult Programs (abbreviated MAP), and the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Marion University offers degrees ranging from associates through doctoral-level and boasts more than 35 undergraduate majors, nearly 40 minors, and over 25 concentrations. Some of the top majors at Marion University have included Nursing, Business Management, Biology, Elementary Education, and Marketing.
Student Life
Marian University has a total enrollment figure of nearly 3,000, including more than 2,000 undergraduates. All single undergraduate students are required to live on-campus unless they are living with their parents or legal guardian in an approved county; students over the age of twenty-one may apply to live off campus. Marian University students typically begin in traditional college housing and gradually move to more independent living with each passing year. A variety of student-led clubs and traditions are recognized by Marion University, including several Greek Life organizations, catering to a range of interests and providing students with ample opportunity to interact and build friendships outside of the classroom. The University’s varsity athletic teams compete in the NAIA Division II.Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Marion University’s campus is only ten minutes away from downtown – close enough to be near the vibrancy and excitement yet far enough to provide a safe and close-knit environment. One of the largest cities in the United States, Indianapolis is known as the “amateur sports capital of the world”, though opportunity also exists to watch the world champion Indianapolis Colts play in Lucas Oil Stadium as well as the internationally famous Indianapolis 500.