How do you get into the Kelley School of Business as a first-year student in 2027?

As of November 2026: For fall 2027, Kelley has no automatic direct-admission criteria and Indiana University Bloomington is test-optional; for fall 2023 first-years who sent an SAT, the 25th to 75th percentile was 1170 to 1400. To be considered, a student picks a Kelley major on the IU Bloomington application and completes the KPI.

There is no GPA or score that gets a student into Kelley on its own for fall 2027. Here is how direct admission works, what the backup path asks for, and how to plan the SAT or ACT.

By Nick Standlea, Test Prep Gurus. Figures may be quoted with attribution to Test Prep Gurus.

There is no automatic way into Kelley for fall 2027 Kelley's own page says, 'There are no criteria for automatic direct admission for fall 2027.' No GPA, test score or class rank gets a student in by itself.

IU's SAT 25th to 75th percentile was 1170 to 1400 That range covers fall 2023 first-years who sent an SAT. Only 41 percent of them sent one.

A second path opens after 30 credits Students who start at IU Bloomington as pre-business can apply to Kelley later. They need at least 30 college credit hours, and they apply in their second semester.

How does Kelley direct admission work for fall 2027?

These are Kelley's own words, from its admissions pages.

What Kelley says	In short	Kelley's words	Source
For fall 2027, Kelley Bloomington has no automatic direct-admission criteria; applicants completing the KPI receive a comprehensive academic review.	No automatic GPA, SAT/ACT, class-rank, or curriculum threshold; comprehensive review	There are no criteria for automatic direct admission for fall 2027.	Source
To be considered for direct admission, a first-year applicant must indicate a Kelley business major on the IU Bloomington application and complete the KPI.	Kelley major indicated on IU application + KPI	Indicate a Kelley business major on your IU Bloomington application	Source
Students not directly admitted may pursue standard admission as pre-business students through their IU Bloomington coursework.	Standard admission after enrolling at IU Bloomington as pre-business	Standard admission provides students admitted to Indiana University Bloomington as pre-business the opportunity to earn admission to Kelley through their IU Bloomington coursework.	Source
The standard-admission path requires applying in the second semester and completing at least 30 college credit hours, full-time enrollment in the application semester, and the specified I-Core prerequisite courses.	Second-semester application; minimum 30 credits; full-time enrollment; 17.5 prerequisite-course hours	Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of college coursework	Source
IU lists Kelley Bloomington undergraduate enrollment for fall 2026.	10,716 undergraduate students	Undergraduate Program10,716	Source

KPI is the Kelley Prospect Inventory, which the applicant completes.

Does Indiana University require the SAT or ACT?

The test policy as Indiana University Bloomington states it on its own admissions page.

College	Policy	Applies to	The college's words	Source
Indiana University-Bloomington	Test-optional	current first-year applicants	students can choose at the point of application whether to have SAT and/or ACT scores considered	Source

Test-optional means the college reads a score if one is sent.

Indiana University: scores, who sends them, how many get in, what it costs

Score figures describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023. They are the 25th and 75th percentiles, not the lowest and highest scores.

Measure	Value
applicants, fall 2023	54279
admits, fall 2023	43640
admit rate, percent	80.4
SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	1170
SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	1400
ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	27
ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	32
share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent	41
share who sent an ACT, percent	16
application fee, dollars	65
full price of a year, dollars	28801
average net price after aid, dollars	16264

Admit figures and score percentiles are for Indiana University Bloomington as a whole, not for Kelley.

Is there an automatic way into Kelley for fall 2027?

No, Kelley has no automatic direct admission for fall 2027. Its own page says, 'There are no criteria for automatic direct admission for fall 2027.' Students who finish the KPI get what Kelley calls a comprehensive academic review.

So a high GPA or a high score does not promise a seat by itself. We tell families to put full effort into each part of the application they control.

How does a student apply for Kelley direct admission?

A student must pick a Kelley business major on the IU Bloomington application and then complete the KPI. KPI stands for the Kelley Prospect Inventory. The student fills it out as part of the Kelley step.

Both steps are needed. A student who skips the major choice or the KPI is not considered for direct admission.

Kelley is a big school. It lists 10,716 undergraduate students in fall 2026.

Is there a GPA or test score cutoff for Kelley in fall 2027?

No, Kelley lists no GPA, SAT, ACT, class-rank or course cutoff for fall 2027. Its pages say nothing more about scores for that year beyond the review.

So no number on this page is a Kelley target. The SAT and ACT figures below describe Indiana University Bloomington as a whole. Our rule is to use them as a rough guide to the campus, not as a Kelley line.

What happens if my child is not directly admitted to Kelley?

A student who starts at IU Bloomington as pre-business can still earn a place in Kelley through standard admission. Kelley says this path lets pre-business students earn admission through their IU Bloomington coursework.

To use it, a student must finish at least 30 credit hours of college work. They apply in their second semester. They must be full-time that term. They also need 17.5 hours of set prerequisite courses, called I-Core prerequisites.

We tell families to treat this as a real second road. A student who misses direct admission should plan the first year around those courses from day one.

Does Indiana University require the SAT or ACT?

Indiana University Bloomington is test-optional for current first-year applicants. In its words, students 'can choose at the point of application whether to have SAT and/or ACT scores considered.'

Many students do not send a score. In fall 2023, 41 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT, and 16 percent sent an ACT.

What SAT and ACT scores do IU students have?

For fall 2023, enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1170 at the 25th percentile and 1400 at the 75th percentile. For the ACT, the 25th percentile was 27 and the 75th was 32.

These are not the lowest and highest scores. Some students scored below 1170 or 27. Some scored above 1400 or 32. The figures cover only students who sent a score.

Here is our rule. If your child scores at or above 1400 on the SAT or 32 on the ACT, we suggest sending it. If the score is below 1170 or 27, we often suggest leaving it off. In between, we look at the whole picture with the family.

How hard is it to get into IU, and what does it cost?

IU Bloomington admitted 80.4 percent of applicants for fall 2023, or 43,640 out of 54,279. That rate is for IU as a whole, not for Kelley direct admission.

The application fee is $65. A full year is listed at $28,801. The average net price after aid is $16,264. The college publishes a net price calculator. We tell families to run it with their own numbers before they decide.

How should we plan test dates and the KPI?

We tell families to give a student 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Plan so the score is ready well before the IU application is due. That leaves calm time for the KPI.

Our students prepare for the whole test every sitting. We do not plan around one section at a time. A full, steady plan gives the best shot at a score near or above 1400 on the SAT or 32 on the ACT.

Treat the KPI as its own task. Block out quiet time for it. Have your child read every part before sending it.

What should we do this month?

This month, take a free mock SAT and a free mock ACT with Test Prep Gurus at https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step. The results show which test fits your child better.

Then compare the scores to IU's 25th to 75th percentile range: 1170 to 1400 on the SAT, or 27 to 32 on the ACT. Next, pick a test date that counts and set aside 6 to 12 weeks of prep before it. Remember to prepare for the whole test every sitting.

Last, call us at 949.229.5359. We will help you build one plan for the test, the KPI and the IU Bloomington application.

Questions parents ask

Does Kelley have a GPA or test score cutoff for fall 2027?
No, Kelley lists no GPA, SAT, ACT, class-rank or course cutoff for fall 2027.

How does a student apply for Kelley direct admission?
A student must pick a Kelley business major on the IU Bloomington application and then complete the KPI.

What if my child is not directly admitted to Kelley?
A student who starts at IU Bloomington as pre-business can still earn a place in Kelley through standard admission.

What is Indiana University Bloomington's test policy?
Indiana University Bloomington is test-optional for current first-year applicants.

What SAT scores do IU students have?
For fall 2023, enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1170 at the 25th percentile and 1400 at the 75th percentile.

Ready to plan the next test date? Free mock SAT and free mock ACT at Test Prep Gurus, then a plan built on the result: prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step or 949.229.5359.

Method and sources: The Kelley rows are Kelley's own statements for fall 2027, quoted from its admissions pages, and the test policy is Indiana University Bloomington's own page for current first-year applicants. The SAT and ACT figures are the 25th and 75th percentiles for enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023, the latest federal file, and they cover IU Bloomington as a whole, not Kelley. Prices come from the College Scorecard.