Apply for financial aid

FAFSA, Scholarships, Grants, oh my!

The process of applying for financial aid can feel a little complicated. We try to keep it straight-forward to help you discover all they opportunities available to you and your unique situation.

First things first...

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is your application for federal grants and loans, and some state grants and programs. It is also used to help determine your financial need for any other need-based grants and scholarships you may apply for.


Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible for the best financial aid opportunities. Filing early is especially important if you plan to:

  • apply for additional need-based scholarships, most of which require FAFSA
    documentation of your need, and can have early deadlines
  • apply for need-based grants that have limited funds (you'll want to apply before the funds run out!)

Learn how to file your FAFSA

Then, apply for aid at IU East

In order for us to compile your financial aid package, you need to be accepted to IU East and have listed (or added) our school code on your FAFSA.

Apply to IU East

Bonus: We offer automatic, admission-based scholarships to:

IU and IU East offer a number of scholarships with varying requirements. There are scholarships for freshmen, upperclassmen, and grad students; there are scholarships based on need, merit, field of study, and background. There may be one out there waiting for you

Some deadlines can be as early as December 1, so check it out ASAP to find out what you might be eligible for.

  • Please note: These scholarships are different than the automatic, admissions-based scholarships, and the central IU Scholarships app makes it easy to find and apply for them, so don't miss out!
  • Incoming freshmen: If you would like to apply for these scholarships, you'll need to create your IU account to access the IU Scholarships app.

Check out IU East scholarships

Apply for scholarships in the IU Scholarships app

External aid is any aid awarded outside of the FAFSA filing process or the IU & IU East Scholarship application process. This can include scholarships, grants, fee remissions, or other forms of assistance.

To ensure your financial aid package is calculated correctly, we'll need you to provide documentation of your external aid by uploading documents to go.iu.edu/FAsecure or completing the 'Reporting other awards' form available in the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.

  • Make sure the documentation includes your name and the name & amount of the award.
  • Scan or take a clear, well-lit photo of the document before uploading.
  • You can also bring your documentation to the Financial Aid office and we'll make the necessary copies.

Upload external aid documents

Find external scholarships

Important Dates & Deadlines

Financial aid dates/deadlines for the 2024-25 academic year
Date/Deadline TypeDate/Deadline

FAFSA Open Date:
Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible, especially if you plan to apply for additional need-based scholarships (many have early deadlines) or first-come, first-serve grants with limited funds.

01/01/2024

Recommended IU East Application Date:
IU and IU East scholarships can have deadlines can be as early as December 1, so apply to IU East early for opportunities like these!

11/22/2023

Automatic Merit Scholarship Deadline:
Apply to IU East by this date to be considered for our automatic merit scholarships for incoming freshmen (no separate application needed).

02/15/2024

Indiana FAFSA Filing Deadline:
Complete your FAFSA by this date to be considered for state grants like the O'Bannon grant & the 21st Century Scholars Program award.

04/15/2024

Priority IU East Application and FAFSA Deadline:
Apply to IU East and complete your FAFSA by this date to give you enough time to plan financially for the coming academic year.

05/01/2024

Final Application Deadline

08/18/2024 (Online) or 
08/21/2024 (by Mail)