City: Indianapolis, IN

Category: Education

Telephone: (317) 543-3243

Address: 2171 Avondale Place

Description: Founded by a Benedictine priest in 1977, Martin University’s original mission was to serve low-income, minority, and adult learners. That goal, as envisioned by Rev. Boniface Hardin, has not changed. The average age of students at Martin continues to be about 40, although the university is enrolling a growing number of young people. Dramatic changes have taken place over the years. More than two dozen buildings used by the university were razed to make way for parking lots, landscaping, and the new $10 million Educational Center. The building opened in 2001, along with the Peace Garden connecting it with the Bernice Fraction Performing Arts Center and the Dr. Andrew J. Brown Building. Martin University was named in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Martin de Porres. The school offers 17 undergraduate degrees and two graduate degrees in community psychology and urban ministry studies. Classes are offered during the day as well as at night and on Saturday. Martin University has about 1,075 undergrad students and 48 graduate students. Tuition is about $14,000. More than 75 percent of Martin University students receive some form of financial aid.