Maharishi International University

What is the history of Maharishi International University?

Maharishi International University (MIU) was founded in 1971 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and moved to Fairfield, Iowa, in 1974. Its original purpose was to combine conventional academic study with an educational approach centered on the study of consciousness and Transcendental Meditation.

The institution later operated as Maharishi University of Management before returning to the Maharishi International University name in 2019. That history explains why some older catalogs, library listings, and public records use the former name. MIU is a private university, not part of Iowa's public university system.

What are the faculties and departments at Maharishi International University?

MIU offers undergraduate and graduate study across fields including business, computer science, creative writing, arts, sustainability, and integrative health. Applicants should use the current academic catalog to identify the credential, delivery format, and requirements of a particular program rather than assume every subject is available as an on-campus bachelor's degree.

A distinctive feature is MIU's block-based approach to coursework, in which students generally concentrate on one subject at a time. Program structure still matters: a graduate computer science applicant, for example, faces different academic prerequisites from someone applying to an undergraduate arts program. Students considering health-related study should also check whether the specific credential meets any licensing requirements in the state where they intend to work.

What is the location of Maharishi International University?

MIU's main campus is in Fairfield, a small city in southeastern Iowa. The setting offers a different daily experience from a large metropolitan campus: students should plan around local transportation and the availability of services in the surrounding community.

Fairfield has a community associated with the university's meditation tradition, but students need not assume that every local activity is a university program. Commuters and students traveling from outside Iowa should check their route to Fairfield rather than treating the nearest major airport as if it were on campus. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car at MIU.

What is the mission and vision of Maharishi International University?

MIU states that its educational mission combines academic learning with the development of consciousness. Its approach incorporates Transcendental Meditation and related ideas associated with its founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

This philosophy is not merely a historical detail: it influences the curriculum and campus routine. Prospective students should review their program's current expectations for meditation and consciousness-based coursework to decide whether that approach suits them. The university's stated aims describe its educational philosophy; they should not be read as independently established outcomes for every student.