College Town USA

Photo credit: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

​From the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau: Welcome to the brand new students and their loved ones. Thanks for choosing to explore the City of Terre Haute for the next four years. And to our returning students, welcome back! This fall 2023 semester will be the best one yet.

Terre Haute proudly houses four higher education institutions: Indiana State University (ISU), Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), Ivy Tech Community College, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. These educational institutions make up the highly astounding College Town USA.

• ISU, in the heart of downtown Terre Haute, has over 100 undergraduate majors and 70+ online programs, focusing on educational, personal and professional success. In June 2023, the ISU baseball team made it to the NCAA Regionals!
• SMWC, a Catholic Liberal Arts College founded in 1840, is exceptional for education and sports but has also become a well-known venue for Terre Haute. SMWC is known for its beautiful campus as well as its business and family events.
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a private university is a nationally recognized, top-ranked school in the U.S. consistently, especially for its undergraduate engineering program.
• Ivy Tech Community College focuses on serving surrounding communities, but the Terre Haute campus provides unique offerings in College Town USA, like equipping you with home-grown skills and strong connections.

Terre Haute is a hub for independent, young adults in college. Local restaurants and unique events make up College Town USA. Students often explore the city and study off campus at Java Haute and Federal Coffee + Fine Foods. If your tired of microwaving ramen every night, Scout’s Pizzeria is a local hot spot as well. The Terminal Public House is a local restaurant, perfect for loved ones looking for dinner spots when visiting!

Not so much of a foodie? That is a-okay because we have countless activities throughout the city. Each university offers a calendar online, highlighting big city-wide events each year. When heading off-campus, visit one of Terre Haute’s local nature spots, like Deming Park, to catch some fresh air or even a peaceful study spot. Deming Park also offers a frisbee golf course, where you could start an intramural team!

Got a green thumb? Visit The Pickery. If you’re seeking an adventurous change of pace, visit Griffin Bike Park. More of a cinematic mastermind? The best spot in town to watch a good movie is The Moon Lite Drive-In. It shows new movies all the time.

Don’t take our word for it, hear from a current ISU student, Julia Pomfret:


With move in coming up and family weekend occurring this fall, just know, this is just hitting the surface on your epic guide to College Town USA. Check out See You In Terre Haute for lodging, playing and planning.

​That being said, welcome back to College Town USA students, family and friends!

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