Last summer, Luna Castillo and her dad set out to tour the University of Indianapolis.
Instead of heading to Indy’s south side, though, they accidentally went to Indiana University Indianapolis’ downtown campus. When Castillo and her dad arrived, they quickly discovered they were in the wrong place.
“Honestly, I just thought it was hilarious,” the UIndy freshman said. “My dad wasn’t even mad. He thought it was funny too.”
Castillo’s experience, though, is part of what UIndy leaders see as a troubling trend: People are mixing up University of Indianapolis and IU Indianapolis. It started about two years ago when IUPUI split and IU reestablished itself as IU Indianapolis.
It’s gotten so bad, UIndy administrators say the similar names and branding between the two colleges has led to confusion among job applicants, delivery drivers and even students filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Leaders are perhaps most alarmed by IU Indianapolis calling itself “IU Indy,” a term they say is confusing and far too similar to their own “UIndy” nickname. When IU Indianapolis filed an application to trademark the words “IU Indy,” the University of Indianapolis filed a 71-page opposition in February 2025.
“It’s not hurting just us,” UIndy president Tanuja Singh said of the name confusion. “It’s hurting them as well.”
In response to questions about the university’s name and the trademark complaint, IU spokesperson Mark Bode told Mirror Indy the university does not comment on pending legal matters.
What’s in a name?
This is not the first time that University of Indianapolis and what’s now IU Indianapolis have competed for the right to use a name.
In 1986, then-President Gene Sease changed UIndy’s name from Indiana Central University to University of Indianapolis.
“We want to attach our wagon to a rising star,” Sease said at the time, according to Indianapolis Star archives.
But many people expected IUPUI — founded in 1969 — to eventually change its name to University of Indianapolis and possibly even separate from IU and Purdue altogether, according to the newspaper’s archives.
When former Mayor Richard Lugar called for the creation of what would become IUPUI in 1968, he spoke of a new “University of Indianapolis.”
Former state Sen. Larry Borst, R-Indianapolis, filed bills annually for years to change IUPUI’s name to University of Indianapolis, according to archives. But such changes never materialized.
“I am disappointed and surprised and will have to give up the name,” Borst said of Sease renaming University of Indianapolis, according to Indianapolis Star archives. “A part of the dream evaporated.”
UIndy vs. IU Indy
The University of Indianapolis has had the term “UIndy” trademarked since 2003, according to the opposition filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
So when IU Indianapolis first changed its name, UIndy administrators weren’t concerned, knowing they owned the right to use “UIndy.” But when they started to see IU Indianapolis call itself IU Indy more and more — especially for the school’s sports — Singh said they started to grow concerned.
“If you see it in the apparel that IU Indianapolis players wear, you can’t make out the difference,” Singh said. “It looks identical. And that’s the confusion.”
Left: UIndy Greyhounds forward Shaun Arnold dribbles during a game Nov. 22, 2025. Credit: MaKenna Maschino/UIndy Athletics. Right: IU Indy guard Maguire Mitchell drives the ball up the court during the NCAA ‘Read to the Final Four’ game on Nov. 11, 2025, at Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis. Credit: Brett Phelps/Mirror Indy/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Though UIndy filed their complaint early last year, UIndy vice president and general counsel Cyndi Carrasco said the process takes time and both parties are gathering witnesses and evidence from each other through the legal discovery phase. Carrasco is also a Republican state senator representing Indianapolis.
In the meantime, confusion over college names is just part of life for many UIndy students.
Sophomore Annika Brooks said people often mix up UIndy with IU Indianapolis when she tells them where she goes to school.
But, Brooks said, she gets it.
“I’d probably be confused too,” she said.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire by email claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org, on most social media @clairerafford or on Signal 317-759-0429.
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