View source for Marian University (Indiana)

{{Short description|Catholic university in Indianapolis, Indiana, US}}
{{About||the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, school of the same name|Marian University (Wisconsin)}}{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Marian University
 | native_name            = 
 | image                  = Marianuniversityseal.png
 | image_size             = 170px
 | image_alt              = 
 | caption                = 
 | latin_name             = 
 | motto                  = ''Sedes sapientiae'' ([[Latin language|Latin]])
|academic_affiliations = {{hlist|[[Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities|ACCU]]|[[National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities|NAICU]]}}
 | mottoeng               = "Seat of Wisdom"
 | established            = {{start date and age|1851}}
 | closed                 = 
 | type                   = [[Private university]]
 | religious_affiliation  = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] ([[Third Order of Saint Francis#Sisters of St. Francis (Oldenburg, Indiana)|Sisters of St. Francis]])
 | endowment              = $107.7 million (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marian.edu/about-marian/give-to-marian/make-a-difference/presidents-report|title=Annual President's Report}}</ref>
 | budget                 = 
 | rector                 = 
 | officer_in_charge      = 
 | chairman               = 
 | president              = Daniel J. Elsener
 | chancellor             = Kenith Britt
 | vice-president         = 
 | superintendent         = 
 | provost                = Binh Q. Tran
 | vice_chancellor        = 
 | principal              = 
 | dean                   = 
 | director               = 
 | head_label             = 
 | head                   = 
 | academic_staff         = 166 full time
 | administrative_staff   = 
 | students               = 3,595
 | undergrad              = 2,431
 | postgrad               = 1,164
 | doctoral               = 650
 | other                  = 
 | city                   = [[Indianapolis, Indiana|Indianapolis]]
 | state                  = Indiana
 | country                = United States
 | coor                   = {{Coord|39|48|51|N|86|12|11|W|format=dms|display=inline,title|type:edu_region:US-IN}}
 | campus                 = [[Urban area|Large city]]
 | campus_size            = {{cvt|120|acre|km2}}<ref name="USNews" />
 | former_names           = St. Francis Normal School (1851–1936)<br>Immaculate Conception Junior College (1924–1936)<br>Marian College (1936–2009)<br>[[Ancilla College|Ancilla Domini College]] (1937–2021)
 | free_label2            = Newspaper
 | free2                  = ''The Marian Phoenix''
 | sporting_affiliations = {{hlist|[[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] – [[Crossroads League|Crossroads]]|[[Mid-States Football Association|MSFA]]}}
 | colours                = 
 | colors                 = Dark blue, gold, and old gold<ref>{{cite web|url=https://connect.marian.edu/organization/graduatestudentlife/documents/view/739654&ved=2ahUKEwjJ7d2Exc_5AhUgBjQIHUoJBiMQFnoECAYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3ZYniWEMIDesVnZPF6qWOz|title=Brand Identity}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><br>{{color box|#001c44}}&nbsp;{{color box|#fdb813}}&nbsp;{{color box|#a39161}}
 | sports                 = 
 | sports_nickname        = Knights
 | mascot                 = Knightro
 | website                = {{URL|http://www.marian.edu}}
 | logo                   = Marian University Logo.png
 | footnotes              = 
 | accreditation          = [[Higher Learning Commission|HLC]]
 | free_label             = Other campuses
 | free                   = {{hlist|[[Plymouth, Indiana|Plymouth]]|[[Donaldson, Indiana|Donaldson]]}}
}}

'''Marian University''' is a [[private university|private]] Roman Catholic university in [[Indianapolis]], Indiana, United States. Founded in 1851 by the Sisters of St. Francis in [[Oldenburg, Indiana]], the college moved to Indianapolis in 1937. Marian was known as '''Marian College''' from 1936 until 2009.<ref name="History" /> As of 2017, enrollment included 2,431 undergraduate students, 1,164 graduate students, and 650 doctoral students.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://marian.edu/admissions/at-a-glance|title=At a Glance|website=marian.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-09-22}}</ref> Marian University athletes have won national championships in several sports.

==History==
[[File:Allison Mansion, southern end.jpg|thumb|right|The Allison Mansion]]

Marian University was founded in 1851 by the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana, as a liberal arts school with a program for training teachers. Under the direction of Father Francis Joseph Rudolph and Mother Theresa Hackelmeier, teachers were trained at Oldenburg for more than a decade before [[Indiana]] adopted its first tax-supported [[normal school]].

Originally known as '''St. Francis Normal''', the school became a four-year, state-approved institution which merged with '''Immaculate Conception Junior College''' to form Marian College. In November 1936, the Sisters of St. Francis purchased the former [[James A. Allison]] estate, "Riverdale," located in Indianapolis, as a site for Marian College.

In 1937, the institution moved to [[Indianapolis]] under the direction of Mother M. Clarissa Dillhoff, after securing a state charter and purchasing the Riverdale estate in 1936. Allison Mansion became the new location of Marian College. The building housed the library, administrative offices, classrooms, and sleeping quarters for the Sisters. Classes began on September 15, 1937.

In 1948 the institution began an expansion project that included the addition of Clare Hall, the Gymnasium, and Marian Hall. In 1954, as the new Marian Hall was completed, the institution became the first co-educational Catholic college in Indiana. Two years later, the North Central Association accredited Marian College.

The university's [[Modern architecture|Modernist]]-style library was designed by Indianapolis architect [[Evans Woollen III]] and completed in 1966. The library's square form has an exposed structural frame.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Recent Work of Evans Woollen |magazine=Architectural Record |volume=141 |issue=5 |pages=140–141 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York City |date=May 1967}}</ref>

The [[National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education]] formally accepted all teacher education programs of the college in 1976. The Indiana State Board of Nursing approved the associate level nursing curriculum in 1977 and the baccalaureate program in 1987. The National League of Nursing has accredited both programs—the associate in 1986 and the baccalaureate in 1992. In 2000, Marian's Adult Programs (MAP) began offering bachelor's and associate degrees in business.

On July 1, 2009, Marian College became Marian University.<ref name="History">{{cite web|title=Marian University: History|url=http://www.marian.edu/about-marian/history|publisher=Marian University}}</ref> On January 15, 2010, Marian University announced plans to begin a college of osteopathic medicine; the second in the state of Indiana and the first Catholic osteopathic medical school<ref name="marian1">{{cite web|title=Margaret Mary Community Hospital Pledges $150,000 to Support the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine|url=http://www.marian.edu/pages/news.aspx?NewsID=787|publisher=Marian University|access-date=8 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516100657/http://www.marian.edu/pages/news.aspx?NewsID=787|archive-date=16 May 2012}}</ref> due to the generosity of an anonymous donor's $30 million pledge. On August 23, 2011, during the groundbreaking ceremony, [[Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine|the new school of osteopathic medicine building]] was officially named after the erstwhile anonymous donor, AIT Labs CEO Michael A. Evans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marian.edu/Pages/news.aspx?NewsID=560 |title=Comments |publisher=Marian.edu |access-date=2012-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320044123/http://www.marian.edu/Pages/news.aspx?NewsID=560 |archive-date=2012-03-20 }}</ref> Additionally, Margaret Mary Community Hospital pledged $150,000 to the College of Osteopathic Medicine dedicated to building a simulation lab and seminar room for the medical students.<ref name="marian1" />

In July 2021, [[Ancilla College]] and Marian officially merged and opened as the '''Marian University's Ancilla College''' in [[Donaldson, Indiana]].<ref name="AC">{{cite web|url=https://www.marian.edu/ancilla|title=Ancilla College |accessdate=2023-04-21 |website=marian.edu}}</ref>

==Campus==
Marian University is located about four miles northwest of [[downtown Indianapolis]], on a 200-acre campus.<ref name="USNews">{{cite web|title=Marian University|url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/marian-college-1821|work=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref> The Marian University campus includes: 
* The Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab, a 55-acre [[wetland]] and lowland forest located on the north end of the Marian University campus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marian.edu/ecolab |title=Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab |publisher=Marian.edu |date=2014-01-21 |access-date=2014-05-26}}</ref>
* The Riverdale Estate, which includes Allison Mansion and Indiana's largest and most intact landscape designed by Jens Jensen. The mansion holds the offices of the president.
* The Lake Sullivan Sports Complex, now known as the Indy Cycloplex, which Marian operates for the City of Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department. This park is home to the [[Major Taylor Velodrome]] and Indy Cycloplex BMX track, as well as single track MTB trails and a [[dual slalom]] course, and hosts races, clinics, and other events in all cycling disciplines, as well as community events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indycycloplex.com/|title=Indy Cycloplex|website=Indy Cycloplex|language=en-US|access-date=2020-11-22}}</ref>

==Academics==
As of 2017, Marian University served 2,431 undergraduate students, 1,164 graduate students, and 650 medical students with a student-faculty ratio of 14:1.<ref name=":0" /> Marian University is accredited by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.<ref name="CollegeNav">{{cite web|url=http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Marian+University&s=IN&l=94&id=151786|title=Marian University|website=College Navigator|publisher=U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences National Center for Education Statistics}}</ref> Marian University has several locations including 

Marian University is organized into six schools with 40+ majors.<ref name=":0" />
* School of Business<ref>{{Cite web |title=School of Business at Marian University |url=https://www.marian.edu/school-of-business/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=marian.edu |language=en}}</ref>
* Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to the Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine! |url=https://www.marian.edu/osteopathic-medical-school/ |access-date=June 24, 2025 |website=Marian University}}</ref>
* College of Arts and Sciences<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://marian.edu/college-of-arts-and-sciences|title=College of Arts and Sciences|website=marian.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-11-20}}</ref>
* Fred S. Klipsch Educators College<ref>{{Cite web |title=Klipsch Educators College |url=https://www.marian.edu/educators-college/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=marian.edu |language=en}}</ref>
* Alan and Sue Leighton School of Nursing<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://marian.edu/school-of-nursing|title=Leighton School of Nursing at Marian University Indianapolis|website=marian.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-11-20}}</ref>
* E. S. Witchger School of Engineering<ref>{{Cite web |title=E. S. Witchger School of Engineering Home {{!}} Marian University |url=https://www.marian.edu/school-of-engineering/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250711162042/https://www.marian.edu/school-of-engineering/ |archive-date=July 11, 2025 |access-date=August 29, 2025 |website=Marian University |url-status=live }}</ref>

Marian University offers several routes to earning a teaching license via Indianapolis Teaching Fellows, traditional education program, Master's Bridge to Teaching, the Master of Arts in Teaching program, and the ACTION program. Marian University is one of the few universities to offer the Leadership Academy for Principals.

Marian University Leighton School of Nursing offers several degree programs including an online Accelerated BSN program that can be completed in as few as 16 months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://onlineabsn.marian.edu/indianapolis/|title=Accelerated Nursing Program {{!}} Marian University for St. Vincent|website=Indianapolis|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-27}}</ref>

Marian University's Tom and Julie College of Osteopathic Medicine opened in August 2013 with the first-class graduated 133 doctors of osteopathic medicine.<ref name="FirstCOMclass">{{cite web|title=Indiana's first osteopathic medical school welcomes first class|url=http://www.ismanet.org/news/RSSArticle802.aspx#.U4jalCj4KSo|publisher=Indiana State Medical Association|date=Aug 19, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Indianapolis Star">{{Cite news |title=It's a first for Marian: 133 new doctors |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2017/05/07/s-first-marian-133-new-doctors/101243820/ |access-date=2017-10-25 |work=Indianapolis Star |language=en}}</ref> The university also offers accelerated degree programs in business for adults through Marian's Adult Programs (MAP).

On the Ancilla College campus, eight degree programs are offered as of Fall of 2025. These include a Bachelor's in Elementary Education and Nursing as well as Associate's in Agriculture, Business, Education, Exercise Science, Liberal Arts, and Veterinary Nursing.<ref name="AC" />

==Student life==
The [[Student Government]] Association of Marian University (SGA) is actively involved with campus events such as [[homecoming]] and the fall festival. [[Intramural sports]] are popular, especially [[basketball]], [[flag football]], and [[ultimate frisbee]]. The speech team competes regularly; Audra Casterline, a member of the speech team was named Miss Indiana in 2014.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

There are nearly 30 student run clubs and organizations at Marian University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://collegementors.org/ |title=Volunteer Organization &#124; Mentoring &#124; College Mentors for Kids |publisher=Collegementors.org |access-date=2012-07-02}}</ref> 

Adjacent to campus, though not located on campus property, is [[Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary]], a college seminary for [[Catholic seminary|Catholic seminarians]], operated by the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis|Archdiocese of Indianapolis]]. Approximately 20-30 young men, who are also Marian students, live at the seminary and receive formation there.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bishopsimonbrute.org/history-of-the-seminary|title=Bishop Simon Brute Seminary {{!}} History of the Seminary|website=Bishop Simon Brute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026001753/https://bishopsimonbrute.org/history-of-the-seminary|archive-date=2017-10-26|url-status=dead|access-date=October 25, 2017}}</ref>

==Athletics==
The Marian athletic teams are called the Knights. The university is a member of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA), primarily competing in the [[Crossroads League]] (formerly known as the Mid-Central College Conference (MCCC) until after the 2011–12 school year) for most of its sports since the 1987–88 academic year; while its football team competes in the Mideast League of the [[Mid-States Football Association]] (MSFA).

Marian competes in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, rugby, soccer, tennis, track & field and wrestling; women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cycling, cheerleading and dance.

{| class="wikitable" style=
|+ '''Conference sports'''
! Sport || Men's || Women's || Co-ed
|-
| [[Baseball]] || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} ||
|-
| [[Basketball]] || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Bowling]] || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Cheerleading]] || || || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} 
|-
| [[Cross country running|Cross country]] || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Cycle sport|Cycling]] || || || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} 
|-
| [[Dance squad|Dance]]|| || || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} 
|-
| [[American football|Football]] || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Golf]] || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Lacrosse]] || || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Rugby football|Rugby]] || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Soccer]] || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Softball]] || ||style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Tennis]] || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Track and field]] || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Volleyball]] || ||style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|-
| [[Collegiate wrestling|Wrestling]] || style="text-align:center" | {{Y}} || 
|}

The university's mascot is Knightro, the Knight. 

===Football===
[[File:Marian Cheer.jpg|thumb|Marian cheerleaders at a home football game, 2014]]
Marian began a football program in 2007 under head coach [[Ted Karras Jr.]] Since then, the Knights have won two NAIA national championships. In 2012, in only their sixth year of play, the Knights won their first NAIA football championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/21395930/marian-wins-naia-title-beating-morningside-in-ot |title=Marian wins NAIA title, beating Morningside in OT - NCAA Football |work=CBS Sports |access-date=2014-05-26}}</ref> In 2014, the #7 Marian Knights became the NAIA runner-up after losing to #8 [[Southern Oregon University]] 55–31.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muknights.com/article/4022.php|title=Marian University - Indianapolis Athletics News|work=muknights.com|access-date=6 August 2015}}</ref> The next year, the Knights won the NAIA championship, a rematch of the 2014 national championship against the SOU Raiders, 31–14. This marked their third championship game appearance and second victory in four years. The head coach for that victory was [[Mark Henninger]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=210593935|title=Marian (Ind.) Wins Second National Championship |publisher=National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics |date=December 19, 2015 |access-date=2016-01-12}}</ref> Several football program alumni have earned contracts at the professional level, such as [[Krishawn Hogan]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Cardinals Collect 17 Undrafted Rookies|url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Collect-17-Undrafted-Rookies/9fadb257-fe8e-4b8b-a8b2-79cb269e0da0|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=May 2, 2017|access-date=May 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502233732/https://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Collect-17-Undrafted-Rookies/9fadb257-fe8e-4b8b-a8b2-79cb269e0da0|archive-date=May 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Julian Williams (American football)|Julian Williams]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.khq.com/story/24986774/shock-season-opener |title=Shock Storm Iowa in 2014 AFL Opener |author=Josh Ouellette |date=March 15, 2014 |publisher=WorldNow and KHQ |work=khq.com |access-date=March 27, 2014 |archive-date=March 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320101501/http://www.khq.com/story/24986774/shock-season-opener |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Men's basketball===
The men's basketball program, established for the 1954–1955 season, claims to be the oldest intercollegiate athletic team at Marian.

===Cycling===
Marian University is nationally known<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muknights.com/article/2639.php |title=Marian University|work=Muknights.com |date=2012-06-19 |access-date=2012-07-02}}</ref> for its cycling team, which practices and competes at the Indy Cycloplex, home of the [[Major Taylor Velodrome]]. The cycling team is a Division I varsity team underneath the collegiate cycling umbrella of USA Cycling.

==See also==
*[[The Indiana College Mathematics Competition]]
*[[Indianapolis Art Center]] provides educational programming for Marian University

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Official|http://www.marian.edu}}
* [http://www.muknights.com Official athletics website]

{{Colleges and universities in metropolitan Indianapolis}}
{{Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities}}
{{Indiana Colleges and Universities}}
{{Crossroads League navbox}}
{{Mid-States Football Association navbox}}
{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Marian University (Indiana)| ]]
[[Category:Franciscan universities and colleges]]
[[Category:Liberal arts colleges in Indiana]]
[[Category:Catholic universities and colleges in Indiana]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Indianapolis]]
[[Category:Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:1936 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1851]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1936]]
[[Category:Archdiocese of Indianapolis]]