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Indiana University

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Amazing experience during my PhD degree - PhD Graduate Student Indiana University Employee Review

5.0
14 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I've had an amazing experience at IU Bloomington during my graduate studies. Bloomington is a wonderful small town that offers everything a graduate student could ask for: clean, efficient, and free public transportation for students, vibrant cultural events, and diverse cuisine. The town is very walkable and bike-friendly, and the surrounding rural areas are clean and almost pollution-free. From a research perspective, there is excellent support for students and access to great facilities. Access to the Big Red supercomputer has been particularly valuable. Funding is also sufficient to attend two or three conferences per year. PhD stipends are reasonable, and because rent is relatively inexpensive, students are often able to save money.

Cons

A major downside is the current university administration. Many people on campus are unhappy with it, as it is widely viewed as having political priorities. The administration has also made several management mistakes and has faced criticism for actions that some see as attempts to limit free speech on multiple occasions.

Explore other reviews about Indiana University

5.0
27 Apr 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexibility, online, nice people, intelligent

Cons

pay, hard work, long hours,

1.0
7 Apr 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Historically the University has offered good benefits, although these have been cut back recently to improve the institution's bottom line. (Specifically, cuts to 403b contributions and changes to insurance benefits and HSA contributions.)

Cons

Over the course of 200 years, the University developed a strong reputation for outstanding programs and research, academic freedom, leadership, and integrity which led to a great sense of pride and community among the employees. Since the arrival of the current president in 2021, and aided by the Governor's takeover of the Board of Trustees in 2025, all of this has been squandered. Top administrators hired on since 2021 (there are legions) cannot be trusted. They disregard IU's culture. They ask staff to lie to students. They violate free speech, They put students in harm's way. They operate in secret. The Trustees also operate in secret (sometimes in violation of open meeting laws), and are unresponsive to faculty votes of no-confidence in top leadership. Renowned academic programs have been closed or damaged. Staff who have served the University honorably and faithfully for years beginning prior to 2021 have been fired or forced to resign without due process. Positions have been eliminated. Hiring has slowed or stalled. Pay is insufficient compared to peer institutions. Understandably, the sense of pride and community has nearly vanished, except for football fans (although the football program succeeds at the expense of other programs). Mistrust, fear, disbelief, and uncertainty are the norms. Before 2021, I would have enthusiastically recommended IU as a top employer. Now, I say avoid at all costs.

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