I am currently looking at attending IU for their business school, as it is one of the better ones in the nation. I know that Bloomington and the university are very liberal, but the state of Indiana as a whole is solidly republican. I am fairly socially conservative and extremely economically conservative, so would that cause problems at IU? Just as a FYI, my high school is left leaning, so the idea of going to a liberal school is not really a turn off, just as long as I’m able to find people with my views. Thanks.
Any large public state university is fine for conservatives. Even more so in the business schools at these Universities.
Don’t worry about it. 
I’d be astonished to discover that any business school at a big public university in a red state is a hotbed of liberal activism.
On the other hand … you may find that, not only at business schools but also in many large successful companies, or even whole industries (like tech), some rather liberal policies and practices are now more or less in the mainstream. Many smart, young employees are likely to expect for example a certain level of race/gender equity in recruitment, hiring, and promotion policies, or relatively generous family leave policies. In advertising and product labelling, you may notice increasing attention to consumer safety, labor, and environmental impact (Fair Trade certified coffee, GOTS certified textiles, etc.)
If you’re stridently, vocally dismissive of policies/practices like that, then in some business school circles, and in some companies or even whole industries, I’d expect you to face face fairly strong push-back (though I don’t know how that might play out at Indiana in particular.)
If you are too conservative to go to the (large) flagship state university in a solidly red state, then you need to rethink your priorities. Sure, college towns EVERYWHERE are full of small businesses run by all sorts of throwback oddballs or bars frequented by same, but a large state school will contain students from all over the state that presumably will mirror the citizens of the state.
You’ll be fine. Bernie Sanders came to IU to give a speech when he was campaigning, but that’s pretty much the extent of politics-related events I can think of.
As a fellow conservative, OP, I think conservatives should consider any college or university…especially liberal ones!
IU isn’t THAT liberal as far as universities go, especially not its business school. Obviously there’ll be people who are more liberal or progressive than you, including Socialists, but there’ll be plenty of conservative students representing the various groups (fiscally conservative/establishment, Evangelical Christian, MAGA, libertarians…)
However, beside the business policies described above, there’s now an assumption that students consider gender and racial equality a given, sexual harassment and discriminations are a business’s responsibility to fight, sustainable development and climate change are a huge business opportunity. Very few students will be against marriage equality. If those are not acceptable for you then universities such as Hillsdale, Hope, perhaps W&L, TAMU, or conservative Christian colleges such as Wheaton Il, John Brown…may be better.
In any case I think Hillsdale may be a good college for you to look into since it is relatively conservative socially and very conservative economically.
Just how conservative are you if IU might be too liberal ?
If concerned, then the University of Alabama & Auburn University both have business schools & offer a welcoming environment.
IU is big enough that you’ll find your people if you try.
But we need to, I think, get past seeing politics as a hindrance to polite relations and friendship. If we would skip the hyperbole I think we’d find that most of us desire similar results; we simply have differing ideas for how to get there. Much more important than political persuasion is how we treat one another, in the grand scheme of things.
Also, if you are a conservative and most of your classmates are not, you will have ample opportunity to argue your points and, in so doing, to learn good debate and research techniques… both of which are useful skills.
IDK. I don’t think IU is all that liberal. Seems more middle of the road to me – as far as colleges go. When I was there back in the day, there where “protesters.” Mostly they were laughed at, as we all had more important things to do like get ready for that next mid term, etc.
Although, the biz school does bring in those “comfort puppies” before finals. Way to prepare them for the mean cruel world.
Also, my impression is that business majors tend to lean conservative, and the business school at IU is quite large.
Just curious, did you end up applying?@cjsilverman24
I feel obligated to comment here for future college applicants. Indiana University is EXTREMELY liberal and especially in the business school, it is all about diversity and inclusion, not what actually makes sense. If you say or do anything that angers someone else, you will be attacked and your reputation will be on the line. Keep in mind, however, that I cannot think of any Big 10 college campus where you can where a Trump hat walking around and not have someone feel insulted.
An IU alumnus and his partner just created a LBGTQ+ scholarship for Kelley School of Business students with a $2.2 million gift. If that makes you uncomfortable, then IU or any State school isn’t for you.
I have comfort puppies at my desk at a financial services company. A coworker provided a puppy of the day calendar for me, and I pin the best ones up so my cube is becoming papered with them. Said coworker checks in on the puppy of the day every day. (And I saw a real puppy in the elevator last week). So there.
I completely agree with @tk21769 about corporations expecting their employees to value tolerance and inclusiveness of people of other races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender preferences. My company just had every single employee go through a half day training on the topic. Pretty sure our HR would show someone the door quickly if they weren’t behaving appropriately in this area. Just something to think about — the bigger world won’t put up with that type of conservatism in the workplace, if that is the type you mean.
Actually, most people are pretty tolerant. It’s the loud mouths on both ends that ruin it for everyone. IU did get rid of Chick Fil A on campus back a few years ago. Got to go out to the mall to get your fix.