Step off the brick plaza by IU Bloomington’s Sample Gates and you’re on Kirkwood Avenue, the center of student life in Bloomington.
As you walk past the inviting restaurants and cool shops on this tree-lined street, you’ll experience what makes this city of 86,000 great: the combination of a small-city feel, the vitality and culture of a larger city, and a sense of community that will keep you coming back long after you graduate.
#2best college town in America, USA Today, 2019
Among the 50most beautiful college campuses, Condé Nast Traveler, 2022
#6best college town to live in forever, College Ranker, 2023
When you choose a college, remember that you’re choosing a college town as well. Make the most of your four years. Spend them in Bloomington.
Description of the video:
[Music plays]
[Video: An aerial view of the Old Crescent, or historic portion, of the Indiana University Bloomington campus is shown. Limestone academic buildings feature prominently in the landscape, which is filled with trees beginning to show fall colors. Note that video footage I dynamic, zooming in and out of scenes as the video continues.]
Voiceover: Your college town will be your home away from home.
[Video: Aerial footage cuts to show downtown Bloomington, with Courthouse Square and its limestone courthouse featured at the center.
Voiceover: Get ready to discover the town where you’ll build connections and make memories to last a lifetime. Welcome to Bloomington.
[Video: Cuts to a an aerial view of a lake, surrounded by trees in fall colors. Words appear in red and white text on screen: Welcome to Bloomington.]
Voiceover: Welcome to Bloomington.
[Video: Words disappear. Video cuts to an aerial view of Switchyard Park, a green space in downtown Bloomington. The view shows the center of the park, featuring an outdoor stage for performances and a covered picnic area with a green field between and paved paths around. Words appear: 86,000 people.]
[Video: Cuts to feature two students in Indiana University t-shirts walking in downtown Bloomington; then cuts to an aerial view of a skate park. Video cuts again to show an outdoor concert with a band performing on a temporary stage that reads City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation. Audience members are seated on the ground and camp chairs. Words appear: World class arts and entertainment. The video cuts to a close up of three musicians on guitar, drums, and upright bass. The video then cuts to two students running along a nature trail. Words appear: 200 miles of trails. Video cuts again to an aerial view of a park with multiple trails running through. Another video cut features two students wearing IU shirts walking in to the front door of a local restaurant. Words appear: 150+ restaurants downtown. Video then cuts to show the two students seated at an outdoor table enjoying a meal. The marquee of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater is shown in the background. The video then cuts to show groups of people lined up at a row of food trucks before cutting to show a food truck worker handing items to two patrons at the truck window. The video then cuts to an aerial view of downtown Bloomington’s Courthouse Square. Words appear: Supportive and inclusive community. Video cuts to show a farmer’s market set up outside City Hall in downtown Bloomington before cutting to feature three students walking past vendor booths. The students stop at a booth with flowers and bouquets, chatting and smiling with one another. Video cuts to show the students interacting with the a vendor. The video then cuts to a view of the B-Line trail, a paved trail that runs 3.1 miles along downtown Bloomington. The video follows a student on a skateboard before cutting to a group of three students walking along another section of the trail. The video cuts to show two students seated along a lake view, with three people kayaking in the background.]
Voiceover: It’s more than just a place to study—it’s a community that will embrace you, inspire you, and make you feel at right at home.
[Video: Cuts to show a clips of three kayakers on the lake before cutting to an aerial view of the downtown Bloomington area at sunset.]
Voiceover: You’re going to love it here.
[Video: Words appear: Bloomington. Home of Indiana University. Below the words, an IU trident appears on a red rectangle. Video fades to black.]
[End of video]
[End of transcript]
B-town is a college student’s dream. You’ll find dozens of restaurants with cuisine from around the world. Locally owned shops. Miles of trails, 32 parks, and three lakes, including Indiana’s largest. And a packed arts calendar, including concerts and theatre. You’ll never be able to experience it all in four years—but you can still try.
We’re in south central Indiana, just hours from major cities like Indianapolis, Chicago, and Cincinnati, and within a day’s drive of more than half of the U.S. population. Most of our students are far enough from home to have their independence, but close enough that family can get here easily.
The best way to follow up a visit to IU? Explore the ideal college town for an extra day or two.
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