Applying for Financial Aid

Understanding how to apply for financial aid is key to planning your graduate education. Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to help you apply with confidence and clarity.

Step 1: File Your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

• Why it matters: FAFSA is your gateway to federal loans, grants, and some university-based aid.
• Where to file: FAFSA.gov
• IU School Code: 001813
• Tip: Submit as early as possible to maximize your aid eligibility.

Step 2: Review Your To-Do List in One. IU

• Log in to One. IU
• Search for “View Financial Aid” or “Financial Aid Summary“

• Check for any missing documents or actions under your To-Do List

Step 3: Respond to Verification Requests

Sometimes the government selects students for verification. If so:

• Watch your IU email for a message from the Office of Student Financial Services (SFS)
• Submit any required documents through StudentForms

Tip: Turn in requested items ASAP to avoid delays.

Step 4: Accept/Decline Your Loans

During your admissions process, you should have received information about your financial aid package, which could include scholarships, grants, fellowships, and loans. Any time your current financial aid is adjusted (increased, decreased, or canceled) or new awards are added, you will receive an email update advising you to log in to One.IU to review the changes.

To view your financial aid package,

• Go to View Financial Aid on One. IU 
• If you are awarded Federal Direct Loans, you will need to accept, reduce, or decline them at one.IU by going to your Student Center and clicking “Accept/Decline Awards.”

For more questions about your award or any other student financial services, contact the below –

• • IU Indianapolis (IU Indy) Financial Aid Services
  • IU Indy Scholarship Services
  • IU Indy Tuition & Fees Calculator

Graduate Funding

As an IU Indy graduate or professional student, you have access to various funding opportunities to support your academic pursuits. The Office of Student Financial Services is your first stop for understanding financial options and planning for your future.

For those seeking grants and awards, the GradGrants Center (GGC) offers valuable assistance. Fellowships at IU Indy provide unrestricted, non-service-related stipends to support your study, training, or research. As a Graduate Fellow, you’ll focus primarily on your academic and research goals.

Remember to explore both internal and external funding sources. The Office of Student Scholarships, the Office of Student Financial Services, and the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs offer additional resources.

For conference presentations, consider applying for Travel Fellowships through the Fellowship Committee, which can award up to $1,000. The Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) also offers the Graduate and Professional Education Grant (GPEG) for conference attendance, research, and training.

Your department or school may offer financial support through tuition remission, fellowships, or assistantships. Graduate Assistantships (GA) often include stipends and tuition waivers. Explore opportunities on IU Classifieds, GradGrants, Handshake, and Student Affairs. Some schools also offer teaching assistantships with stipends or tuition support.

For specific details on departmental funding, reach out to your graduate program directly.