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IU’s commitment to affordability and financial wellness

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As we march toward the end of the semester, our graduating seniors are looking ahead to commencement, while many prospective Indiana University students are making choices about where they will enroll this fall. For both groups, higher education affordability—coupled with financial wellness—is crucial to their success and well-being at IU and beyond. 

For two years in a row, over half of IU bachelor’s degree graduates have left our campuses with zero debt. In fact, over the past decade, total debt loads have dropped by 24% for all students, 35% for all undergraduates, and 48% for in-state undergraduates. We owe this progress to intentional planning, the excellent work of our faculty and staff, and the careful stewarding of IU resources. 

In total, IU has increased its undergraduate gift aid by 57% over the past eight years. At the same time, IU Bloomington is among the most affordable institutions in the Big Ten and, when compared to our in-state peers, our regional campuses provide the most affordable path to a four-year degree in the state of Indiana.

We are equally dedicated to ensuring financial literacy and wellness for our students. IU’s MoneySmarts initiative pairs student financial educators with expert staff and faculty to offer complimentary guidance on various financial topics, including savings, budgeting, credit, student loans, debt, workplace benefits and major purchases. They offer virtual and in-person appointments year-round, equipping students across all IU campuses with the tools that lead to financial wellness.

Even as we must redouble our efforts to expand access, prioritize affordability, and help cultivate financial literacy for current and prospective students, it is unmistakably clear that the work of our faculty and staff is making a lasting impact across the entire IU student body.

 

Pamela Whitten

President
Indiana University

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