INDIANA — The Indiana Commission on Higher Education (CHE) took sweeping action Wednesday, voting to eliminate, suspend, or merge more than 1,000 degree programs across the state’s public universities. The move is part of a legislative mandate to align higher education with high-demand career paths.
The review, sparked by House Enrolled Act 1001, evaluated 3,400 programs over nine months to identify degrees with consistently low graduation rates.
Despite the high number of affected programs, state officials noted that these degrees accounted for only 4% of 2024 graduates. Roughly 2,400 programs—producing 96% of the state’s graduates—remain untouched.
Action by Institution:
- Indiana University: 605 programs affected
- Purdue University: 274 programs affected
- Ball State: 127 programs affected
- Indiana State: 83 programs affected
- Vincennes: 79 programs affected
- Univ. of Southern Indiana: 64 programs affected
- Ivy Tech: 47 programs affected
The Fate of Affected Degrees
Of the programs identified, 210 were fully eliminated or suspended, while 374 were merged into similar academic tracks. The remaining programs were either granted temporary exemptions for being “new” or placed on intensive monitoring plans if they were deemed “workforce critical,” such as specific doctoral science programs.
The state utilized a three-year rolling average for graduation minimums:
- Bachelor’s: 15 graduates
- Associate’s: 10 graduates
- Master’s: 7 graduates
- Doctoral: 3 graduates
Students currently enrolled in a program slated for elimination—including those starting in Fall 2026—will be permitted to finish their degrees. However, universities must cease all new admissions for these programs by Fall 2027.
Next Phase: The “Low-Wage” Review
The commission’s work is far from over. Starting in July, a separate review mandated by Senate Enrolled Act 199 will begin. This study will target “low-wage” degrees where graduates earn a median salary lower than that of a standard high school graduate (approximately $24,000–$35,000). The CHE must decide the future of these programs by December 1, 2026.
