Taking classes at two institutions
Do you have a CVO award?
If you have tuition and fees assistance through a CVO grant, you can use it at both schools
Your home school vs. your host school
Your home school is the school where you’re enrolled in a degree program and from where you’ll earn your degree. Your home school will also process, monitor, and disburse your financial aid.
Your host school is the school you’re visiting to complete part of your degree program requirements. Your host school will not process financial aid for the semester specified on your agreement.
Your financial aid will be determined based on your overall enrollment at both schools. Only classes that apply to your degree objective will be included when we determine your financial aid eligibility.
File FAFSA
Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15 every year, listing the code for your home school:
- IU Indianapolis: 001813
- IU Columbus: E01033
- Ivy Tech (all campuses): 009917
Provide any requested documentation to your home school.
(For CVO, list your home and host school. You must have FAFSA on file at both.)
Stay on top of your work
Complete your financial assistance agreement
Your financial assistance agreement must be filed before the posted deadline every semester.
Completing this form is critical because Federal regulations state that you can receive financial aid for any given enrollment period only at the school where you’re seeking a degree. You cannot receive aid at both schools during the same semester. You must complete the form each semester to avoid overpayment of financial aid funds—and to keep from having to untangle a money mess.
Make sure you allow at least one month for the entire process to be completed:
- One week for your academic advisor to complete their section.
- One to two weeks for your host school to complete their section and return the form to your home school. When you submit the form to your host school, check with their financial aid office to determine if you need to pick up the completed form from them or if they will deliver it directly to your home school.
- One to two weeks for your home school to verify your enrollment and process your financial aid awards.
Your home school can’t disburse your financial aid funds until this process is complete. You’re responsible for any charges to your student account at both schools until your financial aid has been awarded.
The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships can provide you with the forms you need.
Meet enrollment minimums
Understand how to pay your bill
Tuition, fees, books, and other charges at your host school are your responsibility. In most cases, your home school won’t make payments directly to your host school. You are expected to use any financial aid refund from your home school to pay your expenses at your host school.
Exceptions: If you receive any awards from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE), your home school will pay those directly to your host school. These awards can be used only for tuition and mandatory fees and may not be enough to cover all of your charges at both schools. Be prepared to cover the balance if necessary.
If you receive aid through Indiana’s Child of a Disabled Veteran Program and Public Safety Officer Supplemental Grant Program (CVO), your home and host institution each need to be on your FAFSA. The CVO grant will be awarded at each campus. If you receive 21st Century Scholars Award or the Frank O'Bannon award, it will process first at your home institution. If funds are left over, the host institution can claim up to what's left.
IU Indianapolis
Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
420 University Blvd
Indianapolis, IN 46202
USA