Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I start my program at any time?
- Will I be assigned an advisor, and will I be able to communicate with that person on a regular basis?
- How much of the degree has to be taken through UIU to meet residency requirements?
- Will courses from other colleges transfer into your partnership school?
- How will classes be delivered?
- Where do I get my textbooks and course materials?
- Is there a placement test?
- Do you have study guides for the courses offered?
- Do I have to own a computer to do distance learning?
- Does your school accept credits from foreign institutions?
- Can I take CLEP and other tests for credit towards a degree?
- Can I continue my degree while at sea?
- How many courses can I take at a time?
- Will tuition assistance cover the costs for this type of study?
- How do I apply for grants/financial aid?
- Does your school offer scholarships to military and family members?
- How do I use my VA benefits?
- Do I pay in-state or out-of-state fees?
- What other degrees are available from your institution through distance learning?
1. Can I start my program at any time?
External Degree Independent Study Program: Features an open enrollment style of program that gives you up to six months to complete your coursework (with extensions available for special circumstances). There is no participation-per-timeframe requirement for enrollment in this program - you work at your own pace and on your own schedule.
Online Program: Features six eight-week terms annually beginning in July, August, October, January, March and May. You may begin your program with the start of any of the terms.
2. Will I be assigned an advisor, and will I be able to communicate with that person on a regular basis?
Yes, each student is assigned an academic advisor that works with the student throughout his/her degree program. Advisors are available by email, fax, or phone. Other support staff members are also available to assist you and answer questions.
3. How much of the degree has to be taken through UIU to meet residency requirements?
For an associate degree, 60 semester credits are required for degree completion. Of these, 15 must be taken from our institution. For a bachelor's degree, 120 semester credits are required for degree completion. Of these, 30 must be taken from our institution.
4. Will courses from other colleges transfer into your partnership school?
Yes. Upper Iowa University will transfer credit acquired at another accredited college or university, provided that it is relevant to the degree program.
5. How will classes be delivered?
External Degree Independent Study Program: The program, modeled after traditional correspondence learning, is a paper/email based program specifically designed to make learning as flexible as possible. Using texts, study guides, and other course materials, you will learn by completing specific lessons and assignments. Coursework and communication are delivered via mail or email and you work at your own pace with your instructors using email, mail, or fax.
Online Program: This progam delivers courses over the Internet. Microsoft Outlook Express™, a standard Microsoft product that comes bundled with Microsoft Internet Explorer™, is the course access software. Outlook Express is available for PCs. Entourage™ is a similar program available for MACs.
6. Where do I get my textbooks and course materials?
MBS Direct is the textbook provider for UIU. Select the appropriate location/program for your current enrollment and locate appropriate textbooks.
7. Is there a placement test?
No. Minimum acceptance requirement is graduation from an accredited public or private high school, or completion of a GED equivalent.
8. Do you have study guides for the courses offered?
In the External Degree Program you will have a course overview and syllabus for each course. The course syllabus will provide you with all of the information you need to complete your course requirements. The syllabus is your guide to the course and you have the flexibility to determine the pace at which you complete the requirements.
The Online Program learners will be given a course syllabus that includes a broad outline of the requirements for the class. Each week you will receive additional lecture notes as well as assignments.
9. Do I have to own a computer to do distance learning?
No. You don't have to own a computer, however, you must have regular access to one with Internet capability to to take classes in the Online Progam. A computer, while advantageous for the External Degree Independent Study Program, is not required.
10. Does your school accept credits from foreign institutions?
Yes. UIU will consider acceptance of course work from international institutions that are approved/registered by their country's Ministry of Education or other national educational governing body as reviewed and approved by Upper Iowa University. Additionally, international institutions where transcripts are reviewed and evaluated by an approved foreign credential evaluators service and approved by Upper Iowa University will be considered.
11. Can I take CLEP and other tests for credit toward my degree?
You may earn credit through CLEP, DSST, and Excelsior College examinations. Credit by examination is transcripted without charge when the learner's score is at the level recommended by ACE for credit. These exams are accepted to fulfill requirements in very specific ways. See your academic advisor before taking any credit-bearing exams to ascertain the appropriate exam for your degree plan.
12. Can I continue my degree while at sea?
Yes. You can keep in touch with instructors through the mail, phone, fax and e-mail through the External Degree Independent Study Program. Online courses will require regular access to the Internet during each eight week term.
13. How many courses can I take at a time?
Depending on your military responsibilities, students may normally take up to two courses at a time. Students who maintain a 3.0 GPA may enroll in three courses, with a 3.5 GPA four courses may be taken. However, these times are extremely rare and may affect your ability to complete all courses satisfactorily.
14. Will tuition assistance cover the costs for this type of study?
Navy TA pays 100% of tuition for 16 semester hours per fiscal year and up to a $4500 cap, for all eligible Sailors in the program. Sailors are responsible for the remaining tuition, fees and the cost of course materials. All Upper Iowa University tuition rates are within the TA credit hour cap. Textbooks and other requirements are not included in the tuition cost.
15. How do I apply for grants/financial aid?
Follow these steps at least ten weeks before the start of your first enrollment:
- Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
- You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) within approximately two weeks. Or, if you provide them with a valid email address, you will receive an email with a link to your SAR information within five days. The SAR summarizes the information you provided on your application. Review your SAR carefully to ensure all the information is correct and no changes are necessary. If you need to change any information on the SAR, return to www.fafsa.ed.gov and correct any errors. Then resubmit the corrected data to the processing center.Even if your SAR indicates that you are not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, it will be used to determine whether you are eligible for other financial assistance.
- The Department of Education or UIU's Financial Aid Office may select you for "verification." If selected, you will be sent a verification work sheet, which must be completed and returned to either your program or the Financial Aid Office with a copy of your previous year's signed U. S. income tax return. If you are married and your spouse filed separately, your spouse's return must also be included. If you filed as a dependent student, a copy of your parents' signed tax return must also be included.
- If you have attended another institution in the past 30 days, we must have a financial aid transcript from that institution.
- If the Financial Aid Office is unable to determine which program you will be attending, you will be sent a Center Enrollment Form, which you must complete and return to the Financial Aid Office. (External Degree Program learners may receive an Additional Funding worksheet in place of the Center Enrollment Form.)
- In order to be eligible for any aid programs, all required documentation for your acceptance to Upper Iowa University must be received by your program.
- Once the Financial Aid Office has received all required correct information in your file, you will receive an email notification that your Financial Aid Award eligibility is available online. You must go into the online award letter and accept the funds. To access the award letter, you will need to provide your Student ID#, your social security # and your birthdate.
- If you have been awarded Federal Stafford Loan eligibility and wish to borrow these funds, you must accept the amounts on the online award letter.
- If you are a first time borrower with Upper Iowa University, you will be required to fill out a Master Promissory Note. Upper Iowa University utilizes the Master Promissory Note (MPN) for all Federal Stafford Loans. The MPN eliminates the need to complete a new promissory note for loans each year. By completing the MPN, you are authorizing Upper Iowa University to certify Federal Stafford Loans requested by you on the loan request form.
- If you are a first time borrower of Federal Loan funds, federal regulations require that you complete Loan Entrance Counseling. You may do this by either visiting http://www.mapping-your-future.org/or contacting your program. Federal Regulations also require that the first disbursement for all first time borrowers be delayed for 30 days after the start of your first term.
- If you are not degree-seeking, you are not eligible for financial aid, unless you are seeking additional teaching endorsements.
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 Independent Study 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.
16. Does your school offer scholarships to military and family members?
Military personnel and family members may be eligible for scholarships. For additional information, visit our scholarship website at http://www.uiu.edu/current_students/resources/scholarship.html.
17. How do I use my VA benefits?
For those veterans who have not used their Montgomery GI bill benefits, an application for benefit's is required, form 22-1990, and a copy of their DD 214 is needed for the certifying official's file. If they have used their veterans benefits in the past but at a different school, a change of program or place of training form is required, form 22-1995. The appropriate form can be obtained on the VA website at www.gibill.va.gov, click on education benefits and then education forms. If submitting either form electronically through the web, obtain a copy and forward to the school's certifying official for their file.
Once veteran is officially enrolled, a 22-1999 certification of enrollment will be processed by the school. The VA will calculate training time based on number of credits and length of term.
External Degree Independent Study Program:
| TRAINING TIME | NUMBER OF CREDITS | ENROLLMENT TERM LENGTH |
| 1/4 time or less |
3 |
6-months |
| Less than 1/2 time |
6 |
6-months |
| 1/2 time |
9-12 |
6-months |
| 3/4 time |
15 |
6-months |
| Full-time |
18 |
6-months |
Veterans may increase their benefits by completing courses earlier than the standard 6 month enrollment term with the External Degree Independent Study Program. The school will complete a 22-1999b notifying of any change in enrollment. The VA will recalculate the award and issue any back pay to the veteran. (i.e. Veteran enrolled in 6 credits with 6-month enrollment period = less than ½ time status. If complete 6 credits at a 4-month time frame, changes from less than ½ time to ½ time status.)
Online Program: (undergraduate)
| TRAINING TIME | NUMBER OF CREDITS | ENROLLMENT TERM LENGTH |
| 1/2 time |
3 |
8-weeks |
| Full-time |
6 |
8-weeks |
The VA will process the claim making payment directly to the veteran.
18. Do I pay in-state or out-of-state fees?
Upper Iowa Univeristy does not have in-state or out-of-state fees.Tuition is on a credit hour basis based on the distance learning program you are enrolled in.
19. What other degrees are available from your institution through distance learning?
Upper Iowa University offer two associates and seventeen bachelors programs at the undergraduate level.
