Herron School of Art and Design

What Herron School of Art and Design does

Herron School of Art and Design is a professional school within Indiana University Indianapolis (IU Indianapolis), a public research university system. Founded in 1902 as the John Herron Art Institute, the school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees (B.A.E., B.A., B.F.A., M.A., M.Des., M.F.A., M.S., Ph.D.) across disciplines including fine art, design, music technology, and music therapy. It enrolls roughly 650 art and design students, supported by 43 full-time faculty and approximately 175 total staff, operating across 215,000 square feet of facilities in three buildings in Indianapolis.

The school's product surface is built around studio-based instruction, dedicated research and fabrication labs (Think It Make It Lab, CLEAR Lab, and the Tavel Center for Research and Design in the Humanities, Technology, and Arts), and structured community engagement through the Basile Center for Community Practice, which connects students with 120+ regional partners in healthcare, nonprofits, schools, and museums. International exchange partnerships extend its footprint to institutions in Mongolia, Iceland, South Korea, Germany, and the Venice Biennale. Revenue mechanics are characteristic of a public university professional school: tuition, state appropriations, and grant/auxiliary funding flow through the IU Indianapolis budget envelope rather than via a commercial pricing model. The institution is non-profit and does not raise external venture or growth equity.

Accreditation spans four bodies (NASAD, CAAHEP, NASM, AMTA), reinforcing its standing as one of a limited number of U.S. professional art schools with both visual arts and music therapy credentials. The 2024 integration of the Department of Music and Arts Technology into Herron materially expanded its disciplinary breadth and STEM-adjacent research profile.

Name

Herron School of Art and Design

Legal name

Herron School of Art and Design

Website

https://herron.iupui.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Herron School of Art and Design is a professional school within Indiana University Indianapolis offering accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees in art, design, music technology, and music therapy to roughly 650 students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Art and Design Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

akta.pro primary industry

Fine Arts Colleges (Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking) (EDAHAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB), Art & Design Teacher Education Colleges (Art Education, Music Education) (EDAHAJAJ), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)

Keywords

• Art education
• Design programs
• Music technology
• Music therapy
• Graduate degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Herron generates revenue primarily through tuition from undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The school is part of Indiana University Indianapolis, and tuition rates vary by program and student residency status. The school offers the Graduate Certificate in Design Thinking at $400 per credit hour ($2,400 per semester).
2. Scholarships and Financial Aid: Revenue is offset by scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships awarded to students. Graduate students can receive fee remission, graduate appointments, and fellowships. Scholarship awards include David K. Rubins Scholarship (up to $1,600), Frank A. Vietor Scholarship (up to $2,000), Joseph L. Van Sickle Scholarship (up to $3,000), and Holly Fehnel Heck Art Therapy Fellowship (minimum $5,000).
3. Community Learning Programs: The school offers community learning programs including Saturday School, Summer Programs, and Adult Classes through the Basile Center for Art, Design and Public Life.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Herron School of Art and Design is a school within Indiana University Indianapolis that delivers accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs across art, design, music technology, and music therapy. Students learn through studio-based curricula, dedicated fabrication and research facilities (including the Think It Make It Lab, CLEAR Lab, Tavel Center, and Basile Center for Community Partnerships), and engagement with 120+ regional community partners.

Product overview

Herron School of Art and Design is Indiana University's premier art, design, and music school offering a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs across undergraduate and graduate levels. The school provides B.F.A. degrees in studio arts (Ceramics, Drawing & Illustration, Furniture Design, Integrative Studio Practice, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Visual Communication Design), B.A. degrees in Art Education and Art History, and graduate degrees including M.A. in Art Therapy, M.Des. in Communication Design, M.F.A. in Visual Art, and M.S./Ph.D. programs in Music Technology and Music Therapy. Supporting these academic offerings are specialized facilities including the Think It Make It Lab (digital fabrication with 3D printing and CNC), CLEAR Lab (audio recording and mixing), Tavel Center (music and multimedia research), Basile Center (community engagement), and five public galleries with 10,000+ square feet of exhibition space. The school also offers certificate programs including Design Thinking and Pre-Art Therapy, plus minors in areas like Studio Art and Technology, Book Arts, Graphic Design, and Music Technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs (BFA and BS) Studio-based bachelor's degrees in art, design, music technology, and music therapy for prospective undergraduate students seeking professional arts and design credentials.
• Graduate Degree Programs (MFA, MA, PhD, Graduate Certificate) Graduate-level degrees and certificates in art, design, music technology, and music therapy for post-baccalaureate students and practicing professionals.
• Think It Make It Lab Hands-on fabrication lab providing access to tools, equipment, and making spaces for Herron students and faculty across art and design disciplines.
• Basile Center for Community Partnerships Community-engaged learning hub that places Herron students with regional partners for applied art, design, and music therapy projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 650+ art and design students enrolled
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale Sessions)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Since 2009, Herron has been an official educational partner for Venice Biennale Sessions. Students attend the international art exhibition through study abroad programs, with Herron very grateful for the involvement. 2026 marks participation in the 61st Venice Biennale.
• Businesses across IndianapoliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHerron students collaborate with businesses across Indianapolis through the Basile Center for Art, Design and Public Life, providing students with professional opportunities while serving 120+ clients and community partners.
• Nonprofit organizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organizations partner with Herron through the Basile Center, enabling students to gain real-world experience while contributing to the community.
• Healthcare facilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt therapy and music therapy programs partner with healthcare facilities across Indianapolis for clinical training and real-world application of therapeutic techniques.
• Local schools and museumscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents teach art in schools and museums across Indianapolis, gaining teaching experience while enriching the cultural landscape of the city.
• National Gallery of MongoliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership facilitating research, exhibitions, and cultural exchange between Herron and the National Gallery of Mongolia.
• University of IcelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership for student exchanges, research collaborations, and cultural programs between Herron and University of Iceland.
• Yonsei University (South Korea)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with Yonsei University in South Korea for virtual global learning collaborations and academic exchanges.
• Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with German university for virtual learning programs and collaborative educational projects.
• IU Indianapolis Schools and DepartmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHerron faculty and students work with nearly every school on the IU Indianapolis campus, including Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Computer Science, Liberal Arts, and Informatics for cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual learning partnership for bookbinding courses where students collaboratively design and build books across international boundaries.
• Newcastle University (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partnership exploring common histories and their impact on anti-Black racism in healthcare planning and delivery.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pratt Institute: Pratt is a private art, design, and information school offering undergraduate and graduate programs spanning fine arts, design, and architecture. It overlaps with Herron's design, fine arts, and communication design offerings and competes for the same applicant demographic.
• School of Visual Arts (SVA): SVA is an accredited for-profit art school in New York offering BFA and MFA programs in visual and applied arts including design, illustration, and photography. It directly parallels Herron's studio-based BFA offerings with a heavier design emphasis.
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): RISD is a leading accredited art and design college offering BFA and graduate programs in fine arts, architecture, and design disciplines. It competes with Herron for top creative students and operates similar facilities including digital fabrication labs and gallery spaces.
• Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA): MICA is a leading art and design college in Baltimore offering BFA and MFA programs across fine arts, design, and art education. It mirrors Herron's portfolio with similar studio-based BFA programs and minor/certificate options for non-art majors.
• Cranbrook Academy of Art:
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC): SAIC is one of the largest accredited U.S. colleges of art and design, offering BFA/MFA programs across fine arts, design, and art therapy. It directly competes with Herron for the same applicant pool in studio arts and design, with substantially larger enrollment and stronger national brand.
• California Institute of the Arts (CalArts): CalArts offers BFA and MFA programs in art, design, film, and music — including music technology — closely paralleling Herron's 2024 expansion into the Department of Music and Arts Technology and serving the same creative-applicant pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HerronSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/herronschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/IUIHerron
• Xx.com/HerronSchool

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Herron School of Art and Design