Category: Cost

See LearnMoreIndiana.org/statefinancialaid for full details and requirements.

As a student, there are a number of ways you can save money during school. We’ve outlined some tips and ideas to help you manage your money: Fill out the FAFSA every year. Complete the FAFSA by April 15th before each new school year, regardless of your family’s financial status to see if you’re eligible to receive funds. The FAFSA helps you tap into federal, state and institutional grants and scholarships. Apply for scholarships and grants. These financial resources are designed to reward academic success and promote educational advancement. Check…

McDonald’s restaurants and Ivy Tech Community College have teamed up for McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity program to make college more affordable and offer training at more than 300 McDonald’s locations and 18 Ivy Tech campuses. Restaurant employees who work a minimum of 90 days at 15 hours per week will be eligible for tuition assistance of up to $2,500 per year as a crew member and up to $3,000 per year as a manager. Ivy Tech will offer crosswalk credits to McDonald’s restaurant employees for some on-the-job training and classes,…

Many employers offer tuition benefits for workers who want to start or continue their education. Some tips for achieving a school-work relationship: Check with your employer to see if they have partnered with colleges to provide free courses specific to your career or if they offer training incentives or certificate programs for skills that are relevant to your career and personal growth. Don’t be afraid to ask. Even if a company doesn’t mention tuition reimbursement on the website or in literature, it’s okay to ask if they can provide any…

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, otherwise known as FAFSA, is the first and most important part of your college financial aid strategy. Even if you are not sure about your college plans or think you won’t qualify, all seniors should file the FAFSA online between October 1 and April 15 to qualify for state and federal financial aid for the next academic year. Remember, you’ll have to file every year for the next year in order to keep receiving financial aid. Complete the application as soon as possible…

Gillienne Boyd entered to win the Next Indiana scholarship contest in 2019 and won $1,500 for college. Boyd will attend Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and major in pre-nursing, with a goal to someday work in a children’s hospital. Boyd took AP and honors courses and was a leader in several organizations, including the National Honor Society, Secretary and Treasurer of Key Club, Captain of the Social Studies Academic Superbowl Team, and a leader with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council and North High School Science Shows. She also…

Learning the language of financial aid is important as you begin the college application process. Here are some common terms or phrases you might hear: Award Letter This is a term sometimes used for an offer from a college or career school that states the type and amount of financial aid the school is willing to provide if you accept admission and register to take classes at that school. Cost of Attendance (COA) The total amount it will cost you to go to school—usually stated as a yearly figure. COA…

Many Indiana colleges offer application fee waivers to encourage students to apply regardless of financial difficulty or other circumstances. If you can’t find information about fee waivers on a college’s admissions web page, call and ask. Most colleges offer more fee waivers than students realize. Some special circumstances that can allow you to save money on fees include: 21st Century Scholars. If you’re a 21st Century Scholar, you may receive automatic fee waivers at some Indiana colleges. Campus Visits. Some colleges award an automatic fee waiver to students who have…

Need money for college? Millions of dollars in scholarships are awarded every year—and not just to students with perfect GPAs or outstanding athletic talent. Even if you get state or federal aid, additional scholarships—even small ones—can ease the financial stress of books, fees, study abroad or living expenses. The key is to look a lot, in a lot of places. Here’s where to find scholarships that can help reduce your out-of-pocket college expenses: Start local. Your first stop should be your school counseling office, which will have many resources for…

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, otherwise known as FAFSA, is the first and most important part of your college financial aid strategy. Even if you are not sure about your college plans or think you won’t qualify, all seniors should file the FAFSA online between October 1 and April 15 to qualify for state and federal financial aid for the next academic year. Remember, you’ll have to file every year for the next year in order to keep receiving financial aid. Complete the application as soon as possible…

College is an investment and families should know that money borrowed for college by Indiana students varies little by the type of institution, public or private. An Independent Colleges of Indiana study reveals the average debt for graduates of Indiana private colleges is $28,000, compared to $26,000 for public institutions. Lisa Norton, dean of admissions at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, cites these following reasons why attending a private institution is cost-effective: Indiana’s private colleges and universities offset tuition and reduce family costs with significant financial aid and scholarships. Students attending…

Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program helps income-eligible students earn up to four years of tuition at an eligible Indiana college. Make sure you earn (and keep!) your scholarship by completing the checklist below. You can visit Scholars.IN.gov for detailed information. Track your completion of the Scholar Success Program by June 30 of your senior year of high school at ScholarTrack.IN.gov. Graduate high school with a minimum of a Core 40 diploma. Achieve a cumulative high school GPA of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale). Apply for admission to an…

Many Indiana colleges offer application fee waivers to encourage students to apply regardless of financial difficulty or other circumstances. If you can’t find information about fee waivers on a college’s admissions web page, call and ask. Most colleges offer more fee waivers than students realize. Some special circumstances that can allow you to save money on fees: 21st Century Scholars. If you’re a 21st Century Scholar, you may receive automatic fee waivers at some Indiana colleges. Campus Visits. Some colleges award an automatic fee waiver to students who have participated…

Don’t be intimidated by financial aid language and don’t ever hesitate to ask financial aid professionals to spell out exactly what they mean. Some basic terms you might come across: Award Letter. This is a term sometimes used for an offer from a college or career school that states the type and amount of financial aid the school is willing to provide if you accept admission and register to take classes at that school. Cost of Attendance (COA). The total amount it will cost you to go to school—usually stated…

Worried about college costs? There are ways to get started on a great future without a lot of money up front, but you’ll have to be more personally invested. Some ideas: Military service has helped many Americans achieve their education goals and create meaningful careers in service to their country. Military tuition assistance is a benefit paid to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. Each branch is different and has its own way of calculating and awarding benefits, but up to 100 percent of…

There are lots of ways to pay for college, but one of the most important is to finish on time. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education estimates that every additional year that students spend in college costs them at least $50,000 in tuition, fees, and lost wages. If you are a full-time student, make sure you are earning 30 credit hours per year to stay on pace to earn a college degree in four years. Other strategies: Working, especially in a campus job, can provide some extra cash as well…