Scholarship and Grant FAQ’s

How does your outside scholarship policy work?
All scholarships received from outside sources are to be sent to the financial aid office and will be counted as part of your financial aid package.  These scholarships are first used to reduce any unmet need.  Once unmet need has been met, the scholarships will be used to reduce loans first and student employment last.

Can I get financial aid to take a May Term travel course?
IWU will provide financial aid in the form of a loan for one international May Term travel course and one domestic travel course.  A student must receive need-based aid to qualify for a University loan for these programs.  Information about these programs is available each October during the May Term Fair.

How does the Study Abroad policy work and will my financial aid transfer?
The Study Abroad Office maintains a web site that discusses Study Abroad Policies and information regarding Financial Aid, costs and scholarships.  Please visit their site here: www.iwu.edu/studyabroad/ for more complete information.

I have seen information about a Jennings Scholarship for non-Music majors.  Can you tell me more about this?
The School of Music offers a scholarship to students who are interested in Music but who are not intending to make it their major.  Please refer to www.iwu.edu/music/admissions/aid.shtml for more information on how to audition for a Jennings Scholarship.  If you are chosen to receive a Jennings Scholarship you and your ensemble director will be required to sign a verification form indicating that you are participating.  This form is required every semester to maintain the scholarship.  If you choose not to participate in any part of the program, the scholarship is lost for the remainder of your semesters at IWU.

How many units do I need to take to be considered full-time for financial aid purposes?
For all institutional and federal student aid you are required to be enrolled in at least 3 units per semester.  For the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant you are required to be enrolled in at least 3.75 units each semester.

Is there some place I can search for private scholarships?
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission maintains a very helpful web site at collegezone.com.  Here you can find several sites that specialize in helping students search for private or outside scholarships free of charge.  This web site also offers a variety of other useful information regarding college preparation.  The IWU Financial Aid Office also maintains a file of any private scholarship information that is sent to us.  There is a limited amount of information but students are welcome to stop in and look through what is available.  No appointment is needed and can be done during our regular hours of operation.

Do I need to apply for my IWU Grant each year?
You do need to apply for financial aid each year in order to receive your grant from IWU.  This is a need-based grant and the amount of the grant can change from year to year based on the financial situation of your family.

Are IWU Alumni Scholarships ever reevaluated?  If I maintain a high GPA could my scholarship be increased?
When a student applies to IWU, the Admissions Office determines if the student is eligible for a Merit-based scholarship and in what amount based on high school GPA and results from the SAT or ACT.  This amount is not adjusted from year to year and cannot be reevaluated.  The IWU Alumni Scholarship is guaranteed each year as long as a 3.0 or above GPA is maintained.