Educational opportunity holds the key to economic vitality. According to 2007 U.S. census information, more than 75 percent of Bloomington residents have attained at least an Associate's degree, the highest of any city in Indiana. It helps that the City is home to internationally renowned Indiana University and Ivy Tech Community College.

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 Bloomington has long been recognized as a springboard for successful careers in Fine Arts or Industrial Technology. Recently, ITB and the Monroe County Government joined together to build the Indiana Center for the Life Sciences. Offering degrees, convenient class schedules and online course options to accommodate traditional and nontraditional students, the campus' enrollment recently exceeded 5,000. In fact, ITB was named by “Community College Week” as the third fastest-growing community college in the nation for its size.