Costs and Financial Aid

Tuition
Office of Student Financial Assistance
Scholarships and Fellowships
Merit-Based Awards
Service Corps
Other Sources of Funding

Tuition

Indiana University Graduate Student Fees
Bloomington Campus 2008-2009:

Additionally, there are mandatory fees assessed to all students per semester, based on the number of on-campus credit hours. Mandatory fees for full-time students enrolled in more than three through six credit hours (both graduate and undergraduate) are $308.91 per semester or enrolled in more than six credit hours $431.52 per semester. These fees include the student activity fee, the student health fee, the technology fee, and the transportation fee.

Merit-Based Awards

How do I apply?
To apply for merit-based aid, check the appropriate box in the online or printed application.

Who is eligible?
Anyone can apply for merit-based aid. However, because we have more applications than available funds, these awards are competitive. Academic and professional achievements, extracurricular and volunteer activities, recommendation letters, and responses to application questions are among the factors considered when determining aid awards.

What types of awards are available?

• Graduate Assistantships: The duties of graduate assistants are determined by the faculty member to whom they are assigned, but usually involve helping with teaching and /or research. The amount of financial assistance awarded varies, normally including a stipend and the possibility of partial fee remission.
  
• Tuition Scholarships: Tuition scholarships are available to first-year students.
  
• Faculty Support: Research assistantships are generally supported by external funding. aculty members who have external research grants often utilize research assistants. Award levels vary and the awards are open to incoming and continuing students. Individual faculty members in your area of interest may be contacted to determine availability of funds.

If I receive first-year funding, will it continue for my second year?
Financial aid will be renewed for a second year if a student maintains satisfactory academic performance and performs her/his duties as a teaching or research assistant in a satisfactory manner.

Additional Information
If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact us:

Graduate Programs Office
School of Public and Environmental Affairs
SPEA 260
1315 E. Tenth Street
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405-1701
Toll Free: (800) 765-7755
Fax: (812) 855-7802
speainfo@indiana.edu

Interviews or School Visits
SPEA does not require a formal interview as part of the admission process; however, a campus visit is strongly encouraged. Appointments with faculty, staff, and current students and class visits can be scheduled. Please contact us to arrange a visit and, if possible, allow at least one week's advance notice.

Equal Opportunity
Indiana University pledges itself to continue its commitment to equal opportunity within the university and throughout American society. In this regard, Indiana University will recruit, hire, promote, educate, and rovide services to persons based upon their individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on arbitrary consideration of such characteristics as age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Other Sources of Funding

Indiana University Grad Grants Center
The Grad Grants Center provides Indiana University graduate students with training, one-on-one assistance with proposal writing, and a centralized area to access funding information for fellowships, prizes, awards, independent projects, scholarships, work cooperative programs, and research opportunities. For additional information, please contact:

Grad Grants Center
Main Library, Research Collection, Room 1052E
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
(812) 855-5281
http://graduate.indiana.edu/gradGrants.php

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships
Each year, the United States Department of Education awards Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships to universities to promote the graduate training of students who intend to make their careers in college or university teaching, government service, or other employment where knowledge of foreign cultures is a prerequisite for success. Approximately 800 FLAS Fellowships are distributed nationally, and generally five Indiana University programs—African Studies, East Asian Studies, Russian and East European Institute, Central Eurasian Studies, and Western European Studies—apply to Washington for institutional FLAS funding. Contact the appropriate program for information. A FLAS application is available at http://www.indiana.edu/~flas.

Residence Hall Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are available in the Residential Programs and Services. These positions usually provide room, board, and either a fee scholarship, stipend, or both. Selection for these positions is based on undergraduate academic records and personal qualifications required for working with undergraduates who live in a residence hall setting. For further information, please contact:

Residential Program Services
801 North Jordan, 2nd Floor
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
(812) 855-1764  Fax: (812) 855-3287
http://www.rps.indiana.edu/racueapp.html

Student Affairs Assistantships
Several offices in the student affairs division of Indiana University hire graduate assistants to perform various tasks. The location and availability of these awards vary from semester to semester. Offices hiring graduate assistants include the Alcohol-Drug Information Center, Student Activities Office, Career and Placement Office, Student Academic Center, Health and Wellness Education and Office of Student Financial Assistance. Remuneration for these positions varies, but normally includes a stipend and fee scholarship. The deadlines for applications range from March 1 to April 1. For application materials, please contact:

Division of Student Affairs
Franklin Hall 108
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
(812)-855-8187

IU Educational Opportunity Fellowships (EOF)
Indiana University Educational Opportunity Fellowships are provided primarily to enable first-year graduate students, who are first-generation college attendees and/or whose economic backgrounds made educational pursuits particularly difficult, to begin graduate study. The application deadline for this award is January 15. The application must be submitted to the SPEA Graduate Program Office so that the Director can nominate applicants. For further description of this award, visit:
http://www.indiana.edu/~grdschl/eof.php

The Bonser Scholarship
Established by Glenn Montgomery, MSES 1977, to honor the accomplishments of SPEA's founding dean, Charles F. Bonser. Recognizes Bonser's entrepreneurial spirit and the contribution he made in the formation of the school. Criteria for the award include outstanding academic achievement and demonstrated leadership potential.

Special Fellowship Opportunities for the Public Finance Concentration
The Eads Fellowship provides financial assistance and support for one incoming graduate student each year in SPEA. Prospective recipients will satisfy the following criteria:

• S/he should express an interest in concentrating in public financial administration in the Master of Public Affairs program in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Bloomington
• S/he should express a strong interest in a career in public service
• S/he should be a citizen of the United States
• S/he should possess a superior academic record

For further information about the availability of and the criteria for an Eads Fellowship, contact Rebecca Lowe at mrslowe@indiana.edu.

Need-Based Aid
All U.S. citizens and permanent residents should apply annually for need-based aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 (the priority date), although applications after that date are considered. Many students rely on loans and part-time employment to fund their graduate education. Need-based aid may be used to supplement other assistance. The criteria to receive need-based aid for graduate students are different from the criteria used for undergraduate students. Students should complete the FAFSA after January 1 each year and as soon as they know they are considering going to graduate school. Admission is not required to complete this form, but no financial aid offer can be finalized until the student is admitted. The FAFSA can be completed online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

For additional information, visit the Office of Student Financial Assistance web site at http://www.indiana.edu/~sfa/ or contact:

Office of Student Financial Assistance
Franklin Hall 208
601 East Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405-1223
E-mail: speainfo@indiana.edu
Phone: (812)-855-0321
Fax: (812)-855-7615