“I first started [volunteering] when I was in elementary school when I was in third grade... and I found that service was my passion."
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Home to internationally renowned Indiana University (IU) and Ivy Tech Community College, Bloomington is bursting with world-class educational opportunities. Now more than ever, institutions of higher education hold the key to economic vitality, and according to 2007 U.S. census information, more than 75% of Bloomington residents have attained at least an Associate's degree, the highest of any city in Indiana.
This access to top-notch higher education and the ability to pursue an associate, undergraduate, MBA, MA, Ph.D. or law degree is at your doorstep. This culture of learning permeates throughout the community and makes your ongoing personal and professional development possible. Both IU and Ivy Tech have built long-running partnerships with local businesses to provide training to employees year round, and programs through the Monroe County Community School Corporation and the City give adults the chance to engage in education experiences in a variety of fields.
IU is one of the largest and most diverse public research institutions in the United States and continues to produce highly skilled graduates in all fields. The Kelley School of Business and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs offer some of the most competitive graduate and undergraduate programs in the country, and the Jacobs School of Music has continually been ranked in the top 3 in the nation. With 100 degree programs ranked among the nation's top 20 and more than a half a million alumni nationwide, Indiana University provides students with the skills and education they need to succeed in their chosen profession.
Ivy Tech Community College – Bloomington (ITB) has long been recognized as a springboard for successful careers in Fine Arts or Industrial Technology. It is one of the most utilized educational resources in the community, and ITB programs are some of the most competitive in the country.
Offering degrees, convenient class schedules and online course options to accommodate traditional and nontraditional students, the campus recently exceeded enrollment of 5,000 students. In fact, ITB was named by “Community College Week” as the third fastest-growing community college in the nation for its size.
Committed to advancing life science initiatives in the Bloomington area, ITB and Monroe County Government have joined together to build the Indiana Center for the Life Sciences. This facility will accommodate the needs of local students and life science 
employees, and the Center will allow ITB to continue to fulfill workforce needs in the community.
The college also is a partner with Indiana University in ensuring that students can seamlessly continue their education. Students can now begin the first two years of a wide variety of degrees, including six Liberal Arts degrees at ITB and finish their bachelor’s degrees at IU.
This culture of learning is very much a part of Bloomington's community character, and the educational opportunities available to all residents have yielded an incredibly prepared talent pool. It is no wonder that so many IU and ITB graduates begin entrepreneurial ventures right here in Bloomington and why companies relocated to the community have had so much success in identifying the talent necessary to make their businesses grow.
