[9] The school has allegedly championed conservative causes and Christian Nationalism while silencing moderate or liberal-leaning viewpoints from students, faculty, and staff.

[13] Marian University was founded in 1851 by the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana, as a liberal arts school with a program for training teachers.

Under the direction of Father Francis Joseph Rudolph and Mother Theresa Hackelmeier, teachers were trained at Oldenburg for more than a decade before Indiana adopted its first tax-supported normal school.

In November 1936, the Sisters of St. Francis purchased the former James A. Allison estate, "Riverdale," located in Indianapolis, as a site for Marian College.

In 1937, the institution moved to Indianapolis under the direction of Mother M. Clarissa Dillhoff, after securing a state charter and purchasing the Riverdale estate in 1936.

The library's square form has an exposed structural frame and open staircase with stacks arranged around reading areas.

On August 23, 2011, during the groundbreaking ceremony, the new school of osteopathic medicine building was officially named after the erstwhile anonymous donor, AIT Labs CEO Michael A.

[16] Additionally, Margaret Mary Community Hospital pledged $150,000 to the College of Osteopathic Medicine dedicated to building a simulation lab and seminar room for the medical students.

[17] The Student Government Association of Marian University (SGA) is actively involved with campus events such as homecoming and the fall festival.

The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Crossroads League (formerly known as the Mid-Central College Conference (MCCC) until after the 2011–12 school year) for most of its sports since the 1987–88 academic year; while its football team competes in the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA).

[31] Several football program alumni have earned contracts at the professional level, such as Krishawn Hogan[32] and Julian Williams.

[33] The men's basketball program, established for the 1954–1955 season, claims to be the oldest intercollegiate athletic team at Marian.

Marian University is nationally known[34] for its cycling team, which practices and competes at the Indy Cycloplex, home of the Major Taylor Velodrome.