Indiana is a much better school — but only you can decide if that difference is worth an extra year.

As for “getting to start your GPA over” — that is a myth. Any B-School you apply to will want your transcript from Baruch as well as Indiana. The good news is that your GPA will be fine at any school. GPA is less important for getting into an MBA program than in getting into an academic program. A 3.5 or better is all you need (as long as everything else is high quality).

Unless, of course, Indiana is a top five or ten college in your major, and Baruch is known to suck in that major (but I doubt that). And even then, I’m not sure that you’ll be getting the boost you think you will.

Why do you think that going to Indiana, rather than Baruch, would help with your admissions?

My opinion… Prestige is temporary. You’re right that IU on your transcript will impact your job opportunities and/or grad school applications. But very shortly thereafter, you’ll have to be able to show on your resume accomplishments from AFTER college. All the prestige in the world won’t matter if you don’t succeed in the years between undergrad and your MBA (if you go out and work awhile first).

Good luck either way.