Grants
Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grants
The Federal Pell Grant is awarded by the Department of Education based
on financial need as determined through the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA). The Pell Grant is awarded only to undergraduate students without a
first baccalaureate or professional degree. The Pell Grant does not need to be repaid (unless, for example, the
student withdraws from school and owes a refund).
The amount of Pell Grant received varies from
year to year and is prorated based on the student's enrollment status. Enrollment status is determined at the end of the first full
week of class for federal programs.
The amount of Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime is
limited by a new federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant
funding. Students who have already used the equivalent of six years or more over
their lifetime will no longer have Pell Grant eligibility. For more
information about Pell Lifetime Eligibility and how it is calculated please
visit
www.studentaid.gov/pell-limit.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is also a need
based grant awarded using FAFSA results. The FSEOG is awarded only to undergraduates without a first baccalaureate or
professional degree. First priority is given to Pell Grant recipients who demonstrate "exceptional
financial need." Funds are limited and not all students who are eligible will receive the FSEOG.
State of Indiana Grants
Indiana Higher Education Awards
The State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) administers the O’Bannon Grant/Higher Education Award Program. It is awarded on the
basis of need and is restricted to the payment of academic year tuition. It is available for a maximum of eight full-time semesters of undergraduate study.
The student must be full-time as of the SSACI census date (the end of the fourth week of classes). Application is made on the FAFSA by releasing FAFSA data
to an eligible Indiana institution such as USI.
The FAFSA must be received by the federal processor by March 10 to be considered on time and any FAFSA
errors must be cleared by May 15.
Twenty-First Century Scholars Program
Income-eligible 7th- and 8th-graders who enroll in the program and fulfill a pledge of good citizenship to the state are guaranteed
the cost of four years of college tuition at any participating public college or university in Indiana. Note: At universities that
charge tuition by the credit hour, as does USI, the Twenty-First Century Scholars award is limited to a maximum of 15 semester hours
in the fall and 15 semester hours in the spring.
The FAFSA must be received by the federal processor by March 10 to be considered on time.
Indiana National Guard Supplemental Grants
Grants are awarded to eligible members of the Indiana National Guard and are restricted to payment of academic year
tuition. Application is made on the FAFSA by releasing FAFSA data to an eligible Indiana institution such as USI. The FAFSA must be received by the federal
processor by March 10 to be considered on time.
Child of Disabled or Deceased Veteran (CDV)
State universities in Indiana waive certain fees for the natural or
adopted children of service-connected disabled or deceased Indiana
veterans. The veteran must have received an honorable discharge and
be an Indiana resident or have an Indiana 'home of record' address
on the DD214 form. At USI, waivers of all tuition and instructional
fees are available for a total of four years of study (124 semester
hours) under the CDV program including study at other state
universities. This benefit is available for both undergraduate and
graduate study. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) is required each year and recipients must maintain
satisfactory academic progress.
Applications are available in the Student Financial Assistance
Office and must be certified by the Indiana Department of Veterans'
Affairs in Indianapolis. Student applicants must provide a copy of
their birth certificate if the veteran's surname is different from
their own. Room, board, books and certain fees are not covered.
For more information, see the
State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana web site.
Child of POW/MIA (CDV)
State universities in Indiana waive all tuition and
instructional fees for the child of any person who was a resident of
Indiana at the time of entry into the U.S. Armed Forces and was
classified as a prisoner of war or missing in action after January
1, 1960. Eligible children must have been born before or during the
time their parent served as a POW or was declared MIA.
Applications are available in the Student Financial Assistance
Office and must be certified by the Indiana Department of Veterans'
Affairs in Indianapolis. Student applicants must provide a copy of
their birth certificate if the veteran's surname is different from
their own. Room, board, books and certain fees are not covered. The Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required each year
and recipients must maintain
satisfactory academic progress.
For more information, see the
State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana Web site.
Child of Indiana Police Officer or Firefighter Killed in the Line of Duty (CVO)
State universities in Indiana waive tuition and
certain mandatory fees for the children and spouses of Indiana
police officers, firefighters, or EMTs killed or permanently and
totally disabled in the line of duty. USI waives full tuition and
certain mandatory fees for a maximum of 124 semester hours of study
(through age 23 for children). This benefit may be used for
undergraduate or graduate study. Full-time enrollment in a degree
program is required. Room, board, books and certain fees are not covered. The
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required each
year and recipients must maintain
satisfactory academic progress.
For more information or an application, see the
State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana Web site.
Minority Teacher Scholarships
State funded and administered by the University,
Minority Teacher Scholarships are awarded to outstanding black or
Hispanic students majoring in education. Recipients must be Indiana
residents who are or will enroll full-time. Applications
are available online at
www.in.gov/ssaci. The application deadline is May
1.
Nursing Scholarship Fund Programs
Tuition-only scholarships are available to Indiana
residents who are or will be enrolled in the first- or second-year
nursing program. Recipients must be enrolled at least half-time (6
semester hours) and demonstrate financial need by completing the
FAFSA. Applications are available online at
www.in.gov/ssaci. The
application deadline is May 1. In addition, the FAFSA must be
received by the federal processor by March 10 to be considered on
time.
Vocational Rehabilitation Education Assistance
Indiana Rehabilitation Services provide educational assistance to
eligible Indiana residents through the Vocational Rehabilitation
Division. The Student Financial Assistance Office will coordinate
this assistance with other types of aid which may be available.
Students should contact the Vocational Rehabilitation Division
Office in their region if they think they might qualify for
rehabilitative services. Vocational Rehabilitation is listed under
"Family and Social Services" in the State Offices section of the
phone directory.