Financial Aid
Types of Financial Aid
Financial aid at IUPUI is based on financial need, enrollment status, and academic progress. The Office of Student Financial Aid Services administers federal, state, university, and private funds. Funds are available in the form of scholarships, grants, fee remission, loans, and part-time employment.
Eligibility
To be considered for most types of aid, students must be accepted for at least half-time enrollment at IUPUI in a degree-granting program or University College. If a student enrolls and later drops classes, the financial aid awards may be changed to the level appropriate to the new enrollment. Students should always check with a financial aid counselor before dropping classes.
Federal regulations require IUPUI to establish and apply reasonable standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for the purpose of receiving financial assistance. To receive financial aid, a student must maintain a minimum grade point average as outlined below:
| Class level Credit hours Minimum
completed cumulative GPA |
|
Freshman | 0–25 | 1.6 |
|
Sophomore | 26–55 | 1.8 |
|
Junior | 56–85 | 2.0 |
|
Senior | 86 + | 2.0 |
In addition to GPA standards, there are policies regarding course enrollment and completion rates, duration of eligibility, repeating classes, and unofficial withdrawals. Special rules apply to transfer and second-degree students regarding the duration of eligibility. Students failing to meet standards of satisfactory academic progress will be placed on financial aid probation and will be required to submit a completed Academic Progress Contract. Students on contract will be eligible only for limited amounts of student loans. If students fail to meet the terms of their contract, they will be denied financial aid until satisfactory progress is achieved. Students may, within 10 days of notification of denial of aid, petition if documentable mitigating circumstances contributed.
Course Enrollment and Completion
In addition to GPA standards, students must complete a minimum of 75 percent of the credit hours for which they receive a grade each semester. Example: if students enroll in 12 or more credit hours (full time) they must complete 9 credit hours. Completion of a course for credit requires a grade that indicates students have finished all work for the course during the semester for which assistance was received. Course work grades of A, B, C, D, P (pass), or S (satisfactory), are indicators that meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Grades that do not indicate course completion are W (withdrawal), F (failing), I (incomplete), and U (unsatisfactory).
Financial Aid Probation
Each academic year, the OSFAS will review academic transcripts to confirm that the standards of SAP are being met. Students who have not met the requirement above will be placed on financial aid probation and will be required to complete an Academic Progress Contract. Once the completed contract has been returned to the office, financial aid funds will be credited to the students’ accounts, if all other eligibility requirements have been met. Students on probationary status will also be limited in the amount of student loan funding they may receive in one semester. Students who have not met the terms of the contract will be denied financial aid until satisfactory academic progress is achieved.
Duration of Eligibility
In addition to meeting the minimum GPA and course completion requirements, a student must also meet the duration of eligibility requirements. Undergraduate students may not exceed 150 percent of the published length of the educational program. All courses in which students receive a grade will be counted toward the duration of eligibility. Grades will include W, F, I, U, S, A, B, C, D, and other grades not listed. Once students have exceeded the 150 percent level of their program, they will no longer be eligible for financial assistance as an undergraduate student.
The duration of eligibility is divided into yearly increments. The maximum credit hours for which students can receive assistance as follows:
| Freshman | 47 credit hours |
| Sophomore | 93 credit hours |
| Junior | 140 credit hours |
Failure to meet this schedule will result in denial of financial assistance until students complete enough credit hours to advance to the next grade level. Also, failure to meet any of the other SAP requirements may result in loss of financial aid eligibility.
Transfer and Second-Degree Students
All transfer credit hours that appear on the academic transcript will be counted towards the duration of eligibility. For second undergraduate degree students, only credit hours that apply toward that degree are counted toward the duration of eligibility.
Students who enroll in a class and receive a grade for it more than two times will not receive aid for that class if they enroll a third time. In addition, that course will not be counted in determining the level of enrollment for financial assistance, i.e., full time, three-quarter time, half time.
Unofficial Withdrawals
If students receive all grades of F or a combination of all F and W grades, they will be asked to prove that they attended classes. Failure to properly respond to an information request from the financial aid office will result in repayment of all grants and loans.
Mitigating Circumstances and Appeals
If mitigating circumstances affect students’ ability to meet the SAP policy, those students are required to submit a detailed explanation of the reasons for poor academic performance. In addition, an academic advisor’s recommendation is required. Possible mitigating circumstances are the death of a relative, an injury to or illness of the student, and other special circumstances that can be documented on a case-by-case basis. Appeal forms may be printed from the financial aid Web site. The form may also be picked up at the OSFAS. Note: Being unable to continue attendance without financial assistance is not recognized as mitigating circumstances. Also, appeal must be submitted within 10 working days of being notified that financial aid has been denied.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a renewal FAFSA. These forms are available at high schools or at the IUPUI Office of Student Financial Aid Services. A FAFSA is mailed to all Indiana high school seniors and continuing financial aid students should receive a renewal FAFSA in the mail as well. Students are encouraged to submit FAFSA data electronically using
FAFSA on the Web. Computers are available in the Office of Student Financial Aid Services, the Enrollment Center, and computer clusters on campus. THE PRIORITY DATE FOR FILING THE FAFSA IS MARCH 1. Students should expect to receive a Student Aid Report approximately four weeks after filing the FAFSA.
Students or parents applying for student loans will need to complete a Loan Data Form in addition to the FAFSA. This form should be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid Services.
Financial aid award notifications are mailed during the months of April and May.
Checking on Status of Financial Aid
The Financial Aid System Touchtone (FAST) enables students to get information about their financial aid file through the same interactive voice response system used for telephone registration. Students can call (317) 278-FAST (3278) to learn more about the features of the system. One very helpful feature is the Question & Answer track that allows students to leave a voice mail question for a financial aid counselor and call back the following day for the answer. To leave a message, press 1-SSN-3-PIN#-5-1.
Financial aid information and award status also may be obtained online through INSITE at INSITE.INDIANA.EDU
Financial aid counselors are available on a walk-in basis Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
Students may contact the Office of Student Financial Aid Services by:
Phone: (317) 274-4162
FAST: (317) 278-FAST (3278)
FAX: (317) 274-5930
E-mail: finaid@iupui.edu
Location
425 University Blvd.
Cavanaugh Hall
CA 103
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Web site: www.iupui.edu/FINAID
Aid for Graduate and Professional Students
Graduate and professional students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a renewal FAFSA to apply for financial aid. These forms are available at IUPUI. Continuing financial aid students should receive a personal identification number (PIN) to allow filing of the renewal FAFSA on the Web. Students are encouraged to submit FAFSA data electronically using
FAFSA ON THE WEB. Computers are available in the Office of Student Financial Aid Services.
Students applying for student loans will need to complete a loan application and other forms available from the Office of Student Financial Aid Services.
The main source of financial assistance to graduate and professional students is through the various loan and part-time employment programs. Students are encouraged to check with their school or program for information concerning scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships available for their particular area of study.
Students are encouraged to contact one of the graduate and professional student financial aid advisors for more information:
Phone: (317) 278-GRAD (4723)
FAX: (317) 274-3664
E-mail: finaid5@iupui.edu
Walk-in Counseling: M, W, Th, Fr, 1-5 p.m.
