Navigating Diploma Options at Indiana University: A Comprehensive Guide

Indiana University (IU) offers a variety of diploma options designed to cater to the diverse academic and career goals of its students. This article provides a detailed overview of the different diploma types available, particularly in light of the recent changes implemented by the Indiana Department of Education.

Evolution of Indiana Diploma Requirements

Indiana has been actively reimagining its graduation requirements to better prepare students for post-secondary success. The first major overhaul to the state’s diploma structure since 2007 reflects a commitment to providing a more flexible and personalized educational experience.

The Shift from Core 40: The Indiana Core 40 Diploma, which became the standard graduation requirement in the fall of 2007 (with the first cohort graduating in 2011), has been replaced by the New Indiana Diploma. This change signifies a move towards a more adaptable system that caters to individual student pathways.

Introduction of Graduation Pathways: In 2017, Indiana introduced Graduation Pathways, a framework allowing students to demonstrate post-secondary readiness through coursework, employability skills, and postsecondary competencies. The New Indiana Diploma integrates the spirit of these pathways directly into diploma requirements.

The New Indiana Diploma: A Flexible and Personalized Approach

Approved in December 2024, the New Indiana Diploma increases the total number of required credits from 40 to 42 and introduces new coursework in personal finance, computer science, and communication skills. It also allows schools to "flex" credits within traditional subject areas to make room for additional electives, providing students with more opportunities to explore their interests and align their coursework with their post-secondary goals.

Read also: Navigating Accreditation

Instead of separate diploma types like Core 40, Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, and the General Diploma, all students now complete the same foundational diploma. However, they can personalize their learning through readiness seals at two levels: honors seals or honors plus seals.

Readiness Seals: These seals recognize a student’s preparation for college (Enrollment), the workforce (Employment), or the military (Enlistment). This updated framework allows students to shift between seals more easily, ensuring that progress towards graduation is not lost if a student changes their post-secondary goals.

IU High School (IUHS) Diploma Options

In alignment with the new Indiana Department of Education diploma requirements, IUHS is implementing two new accredited diploma options for diploma-seeking students as of July 1, 2025.

Transitional Options: IUHS students who joined the Diploma program before July 1, 2025, can select from three diploma options: General Education, College Prep, or Academic Honors. The option selected determines the specific requirements that must be fulfilled. The general education diploma is recommended for students who do not plan to attend college. IU High School's previous diplomas were based on the Indiana Core 40 standards.

New Diploma Options (Effective July 1, 2025): Students joining the IUHS Diploma Program after July 1, 2025, can choose between two diploma options:

IUHS Diploma: This option represents the base (minimum requirements) for every student.
IUHS Diploma with Honors: This is a more rigorous, advanced course of study. Students planning to graduate with the Honors Diploma cannot have a final course grade lower than a C and must have a final cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0.

Both diploma options include Personalized Electives, encompassing a range of courses such as Career & Technical Education (CTE), Performing or Fine Arts, World Languages, or approved transferable courses from external schools. Once the required credits for a core academic subject have been fulfilled, any further coursework in that category may be applied toward personalized elective credit.

Credit Requirements for IUHS Diploma (Effective 07/01/2025):

Government: 2 credits (World Perspectives, including advanced world language or world-focused social studies courses)
Physical Education and Health Education: 2 credits (1 credit Health and Wellness, 1 credit Physical Education)
College and Careers: 1 credit (Preparing for College and Careers)
Personalized Electives: 12 credits

Students are encouraged to utilize the new readiness seals to align these personalized electives with their unique goals.

Credit Requirements for IUHS Diploma with Honors (Effective 07/01/2025):

Government: 3 credits (World Perspectives, including advanced world language or world-focused social studies courses)
World Language: 4 credits (in any combination of World Language courses)
Physical Education and Health Education: 2 credits (1 credit Health and Wellness, 1 credit Physical Education)
College and Careers: 1 credit (Personal & Professional Development)
Personalized Electives: The number of Personalized Electives needed will depend upon the total number of Optional Credits a student has earned. The minimum number of final credits a student will have to earn is 42.

Students are encouraged to utilize the new readiness seals to align these personalized electives with their unique goals.

Additional IUHS Diploma Tracks (Effective 01/24/2022):

Government
Health Education: 1 credit (Health and Wellness)
Life Skills: 4 credits (Personal & Professional Development, Consumer Economics, Civics, Ethnic Studies)
Computer Science: 1 credit (Introduction to Computer Science)
Electives: 13 credits (related to career interest)

Academic Honors Diploma (Based on Indiana State Requirements):

Government
Health Education: 1 credit (Health and Wellness)
World Languages: 6-8 credits (6 credits of one language or 4 credits of one and 4 of another - French, German, Spanish, or other IUHS-approved qualified languages transferred from another school)
Career Development: 1 credit (Personal and Professional Development)
Computer Science: 1 credit (Introduction to Computer Science)
Fine Arts: 2 credits (Introduction to Two-Dimensional Art, Art History and Appreciation, Theatre Arts History)
Electives: 7-9 credits (academic courses recommended)

Important Considerations for IUHS Diploma Students:

All diploma students may have a maximum of five courses in progress at any one time, or a maximum of six courses for Honors students.
Diploma students may supplement their IU High School courses with additional courses from another high school. Academic advisors will help students complete their requirements.
Earning an IU High School diploma doesn't guarantee admission to Indiana University or any other college or university.

Credentials of Value and the Indiana College Core

The Indiana College Core is a block of 30 credit hours of college-level general education coursework that applies and transfers seamlessly to all Indiana public higher education institutions and some private/independent institutions. At the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, 312 high schools offered the Indiana College Core.

Earning the Indiana College Core is one way for high school students to earn a credential of value, necessary for students to be awarded the Enrollment Honors Plus Seal and/or Employment Honors Plus Seal under the new Indiana Diploma.

Read also: IU Bloomington Fall Semester

Obtaining Your IU Diploma After Graduation

Graduation from Indiana University involves several steps to ensure you receive your diploma:

Apply to graduate.
Verify or update your Degree name before your degree is awarded.
Verify and update your Diploma Address before your degree is awarded.
Make sure there are no holds on your account preventing diploma release.

You’ll receive a red IU diploma cover at Commencement, but not the diploma itself. All diplomas other than professional diplomas are 8 ½ x 11 inches.

Expedited Delivery: For a quicker and more secure way to receive your diploma, you can purchase express shipping for $25 to a domestic (United States) address or for $45 to an international address. You must complete an Express Shipping request form. Express shipping expedites the delivery process (but not the printing process) of your diploma and provides tracking information. International delivery may take up to 8 weeks. Express shipping services typically deliver internationally in about one week.

Electronic Diplomas (CeDiplomas): If you graduated in May 2018 or after, you have the option to get a CeDiploma-an official, secure, and verifiable proof of your degree completion. CeDiplomas can be used by future employers, licensing agencies, or any other third party to verify your achievement. After you have purchased your CeDiploma, you may share it with anyone you choose. CeDiplomas are available about one to two months after your graduation date (unless you have a hold on your record).

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