THIS BENEFIT IS HANDLED BY THE STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OFFICE
For more information, please contact one of our Financial Assistance Professionals at:
Local Phone: 812-464-1767 Toll Free Phone: 800-467-1965 Fax: 812-461-5305
Email: finaid
Location: Orr Center, first floor across from Admission
University of Southern Indiana School Code: 001808
Visit: http://www.usi.edu/financial-aid
Office Hours
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
INDIANA STATE CONTACT AND BENEFIT INFORMATION:
If you have any questions, please contact the Financial Aid and Student Support Services for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education at CollegeFA@che.in.gov.
Student and parents with questions regarding any of the Commission's student aid programs may contact us at Awards@che.in.gov or 1-888-528-4719.
There are three State Aid Programs for Tuition and Fee Exemption administered by IDVA through Scholar Track. (Students must be eligible for the resident tuition rate for state supported schools in Indiana to use these state aid programs.)
A note about in-state residency:
Attendance at state-supported colleges or universities while using the Tuition and Fee Exemption program requires that students receive in-state tuition and fees at the school they are attending. A letter from the state does NOT guarantee eligibility to this benefit. Please see the professionals in our Financial Assistance Office for further details.
1.Tuition and Fee Exemption for the Child(ren) of a Disabled Veteran or POW/MIA or Purple Heart Recipients
Documents needed for eligibility determination:
a. Proof of relationship to the veteran (step-children are not eligible for this benefit)
b. A DD214 showing veteran's wartime service OR award of Service, Campaign or Expeditionary Medal if all active duty was during peacetime and equally hazardous duty was performed. If the student is applying as the child of a Purple Heart recipient or child of a POW, and the veteran is not service-connected disabled, proof of award of the Purple Heart Medal or POW status is required
c. USDVA service-connected disability rating award letter
2. Tuition and Fee Exemption for Indiana Purple Heart Recipients
Documents needed for eligibility determination:
a. Proof of award of the Purple Heart Medal if not already annotated on the DD214 or DD215
b. DD214 showing an Indiana Home of Record address at the time of entry
3. Tuition and Fee Exemption for Former Students of the Morton Memorial High School/ Soldier's and Sailor's Home
IDVA will verify the student's attendance at the Morton Memorial High School from the cumulative list IDVA has on file. No documents need be uploaded when applying for this program.
ALL STUDENTS MUST FILE A FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) BEFORE APPLYING FOR THIS BENEFIT IN SCHOLAR TRACK. FAFSA INFORMATION IS FED INTO SCHOLAR TRACK AND MAKES THE APPLICATION PROCESS EASIER. CLICK HERE FOR THE FAFSA WEB SITE
HOW TO APPLY ONLINE THROUGH SCHOLAR TRACK
All students should create an account in Scholar Track. Once the account is verified the student can access their account and apply for the appropriate state aid progam. Parents cannot apply for the student it must be completed under the student's account.
Before the student submits the application, proof of relationship to the veteran parent must be uploaded or the application cannot be processed. A birth certificate, Consulate Report of Birth Abroad, or appropriate adoption paperwork are all acceptable. All documents need to list the veteran parent. If available, please also upload proof of veteran's active duty wartime service and proof of service connected disability and, if needed, proof of Indiana residency. (see NOTE below)
If you are the Child of the Veteran:
The biological or legally adopted child(ren) of eligible disabled Indiana veterans may be eligible for Tuition and Fee Exemption at any state-supported post-secondary school or university in the State of Indiana. Children of veterans must upload a copy of their birth certificate or adoption papers with their online application. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT APPLICATIONS WITHOUT UPLOADING PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP TO THE VETERAN. The child must have been legally adopted before age 18. Stepchildren are not eligible
A person who entered active duty from a permanent home address in Indiana, received the Purple Heart Medal and received an honorable discharge, is eligible to pay the resident tuition rate at a state supported college or university and, if otherwise possesses the requisite academic qualifications, is entitled to Tuition and Fee Exemption for 124 semester credit hours. If the student receives financial aid through any other source, the remission of fees is adjusted accordingly. Reference IC 21-14-10 for complete details and criteria.
Applications:
Applications are located at the following site: