Financial assistance comes in two forms:
Funded by the federal government, Federal Pell Grants range from $890 to $4,731 per year for U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens who are enrolled at least half time. To apply for the Federal Pell Grant, learners must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
External Degree Program Learners: All coursework must be completed by August 15 of the academic year in which the Federal Pell Grant is awarded for full disbursement.
Funded by the State of Iowa, these grants are available only for Iowa residents who qualify based on financial need. The amount of the grant is the difference between Upper Iowa University tuition and the average tuition at the Regent universities. The filing deadline for these grants is July 1 for the following academic year. The per credit award differs for full-time and part-time learners and changes every year.
Federal Stafford Loans are financed through participating local banks and other lenders to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans are awarded to those who show financial need. The interest is paid by the federal government
while the recipient is enrolled at least half time. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans are awarded to those who show less financial need. The interest is paid by the recipient while enrolled at least half time. The annual combination of both subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans may not exceed $3,500 (dependent) or $7,500 (independent) for the freshman year, $4,500 (dependent) or $8,500 (independent) for the sophomore year, and $5,500 (dependent) or $10,500 (independent) for junior or senior years. The aggregate lifetime maximum for both loans may not exceed $23,000 (dependent) or $46,000 (independent) for undergraduate study. Repayment begins six months after withdrawal or when your enrollment status is less than half-time. Current interest rates are available from your lender. Disbursement of loan proceeds is equally distributed among the number of terms in the loan period. Loan applications must be submitted before the learner's last date of attendance.
Follow these steps at least ten weeks before the start of your first enrollment:
PLEASE NOTE: If your program has not received your admission application, high school information and official academic transcripts from all previously attended schools, your financial aid will be delayed. You must be officially accepted for admission to the University to be eligible for financial aid.
External Degree Program Learners: To be eligible for federal financial aid funds through the External Degree Program, you must be enrolled at half-time status. To qualify for half-time status, you must be enrolled in a minimum of six semester credits within the same enrollment period.
International Center Students: U.S. federal financial aid funds are not available. Check with local center staff for other types of aid available by country.
Follow these steps:
Cash Overpayment Disbursements for loan funds exceeding tuition and fees will be processed upon verification of enrollment. For center program learners this means actual attendance at the time the funds arrive at the center. For Online Program learners this means verified participation in the online environment. For External Degree Program learners this means until appropriate coursework is completed and graded.
Your total grants will be divided among five or six terms, based on full-time enrollment. Once the program verifies your attendance,
your grant(s), after being adjusted for part-time enrollment if necessary, will be credited to your account.
Upper Iowa University's Summer Term (Term 6) is considered the end of the academic year. Any Federal Stafford Loan eligibility or Federal Pell Grant monies remaining can be applied to Term 6. If all Federal Stafford Loan eligibility and Federal Pell Grant funds have been used for the year, you may have eligibility for an alternative loan.
U.S. Center, Online and External Degree Programs are approved by the Department of Education of the State of Iowa to certify qualifying learners to receive veterans' benefits. For additional information on applying for veterans' benefits, changing your place of training or how courses are certified, contact the Veterans' Administration certifying official at your program office. It is extremely important that you indicate on your registration for each class that you want the course certified for veterans' benefits.
Upper Iowa University will also notify the Veterans Administration of any change in status including administrative withdrawal or withdrawal from a course. With a change in status, the learner may be required to refund benefits. Student reimbursement will
be calculated by the VA and is determined separately than any eligible refund under Upper Iowa University's policy.
If you have any questions regarding financial aid, please contact your program or the Financial Aid Office, 1-800-553-4150, Extension 3, or email: financialaid@uiu.edu, or write to:
Financial Aid Office, Upper Iowa University
PO Box 1859
Fayette, IA 52142
Any questions about billing should be directed to your program office.