Martin University

Martin University was a private liberal arts university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1977, it was established to serve low-income, minority, and adult learners, and it became Indiana’s only predominantly Black institution of higher education. The university offered undergraduate and select graduate programs, with a focus on providing access to students who were often underrepresented in traditional higher education settings. Many of its students were working adults and first-generation college students. Martin University played a distinctive role in Indianapolis by emphasizing community engagement and flexible educational pathways. After nearly five decades of operation, the institution closed in 2025.

Martin University was founded in 1977 in Indianapolis, Indiana, by Rev. Boniface Hardin, O.S.B., and Sister Jane Schilling. Originally known as Martin Center College, it was created to provide higher education opportunities for low-income, minority, and adult learners who faced barriers to traditional colleges. Named in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Martin de Porres, Martin University developed as a private, non-denominational liberal arts institution rooted in community access and social justice. The campus moved to North Sherman Drive in 1987, expanding into former church and school buildings, and later added new facilities in the early 2000s. Over time, Martin University introduced undergraduate and graduate degree programs and became recognized as Indiana’s only predominantly Black institution. After years of financial challenges, Martin University closed in 2025, marking the end of nearly five decades of educational service in Indianapolis.