Terre Haute area students, families invited to College Goal Sunday event for free FAFSA filing assistance
Indiana State University (ISU) is urging college-bound students to file their FAFSA as part of College Goal Sunday on November 6, Indiana's largest FAFSA filing event.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships, and federal student loans at most colleges, universities, and vocational and technical schools nationwide.
College Goal Sunday is a statewide initiative to provide free FAFSA filing assistance at locations across Indiana in an effort to encourage more students and families to file a FAFSA form. Indiana State University will have financial aid staff at the College Goal Sunday event being held at Ivy Tech Community College in Terre Haute (8000 S Education Drive, Terre Haute, IN 47802 - Oakley Auditorium) from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, November 6.
"Filing a FAFSA is the one of the most important tasks to complete for any student considering, planning to attend, or currently attending college," said ISU President Deborah J. Curtis. "It is so important as it helps unlock immense financial opportunities for students to attend college and obtain a post-secondary degree. The value that higher education brings to students and their families cannot be overstated. The more our fellow citizens access higher education, the stronger our state will be."
ISU is committed to ensuring more citizens can afford to pursue higher education and experience the life-changing benefits of attending college and earning a degree. ISU is ranked among the top 14% of colleges and universities nationwide, and #2 in Indiana, for social mobility and providing economic opportunity and social advancement for its students.
Each year, ISU offers more than $16 million in scholarships and awards. ISU recently launched a new initiative for incoming freshmen called the Indiana State Advantage, which is a three-pronged guarantee to students that emphasizes ISU's affordability, quality and breadth of opportunity. The three guarantees include:
Tuition-free Guarantee: After aid is calculated, ISU will make up any difference in tuition costs for Pell Grant eligible students from the state of Indiana who had a high school GPA of at least 3.0 and are in good academic standing.
Experiential Guarantee: Every first-time, full-time student on campus can apply for up to $3,000 for an educational experience outside the classroom - an internship, study abroad, research, or service.
Four-year Guarantee: Eligible students will be able to finish a bachelor's degree in four years or the rest is tuition free.
To be eligible for these tuition assistance programs and scholarships from ISU, students must file a FAFSA form.
"ISU prides itself on its accessibility and providing more students the opportunity to receive a world-class education, emphasizing experiential learning, that has the power to transform their lives and strengthen the communities in which they live and work," said ISU Provost Christopher Olsen. "No one should feel that college is out of reach or unattainable and filing a FAFSA is the first step to making higher education a reality for many students."
About 66 percent of ISU graduates remain in Indiana and earn an average starting salary of over $57,000.
ISU encourages high school seniors, current college students and adult learners to file a FAFSA form by the deadline on April 15. The FAFSA form is available to complete online at www.FAFSA.gov.
To learn more about tuition support and financial aid at Indiana State University, visit www.IndState.edu/costs-aid. To learn more about attending ISU and to apply, visit www.IndState.edu.
What Students Should Bring to the College Goal Sunday Event Students should attend College Goal Sunday with their parent(s) or guardian(s), and parent(s) should bring completed 2021 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2021 income and benefits information. Students who worked should also bring their income information. Students 24 years of age or older may attend alone and bring their completed 2021 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2021 income and benefits information. Students and parent(s) are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education FSA IDs at studentaid.gov before logging in to the event.