Apply for Financial Aid

Find money for college

We know the thought of paying for college can be overwhelming—but your education is one of the best investments you can make. Financial aid can help you cover your costs.

Financial aid falls into one of three categories:

  • Gift aid, which you don’t have to pay back—like scholarships and grants
  • Loans, which you’ll pay back with interest after you leave school
  • Federal work-study, in which the federal government pays part of your wages for a part-time job

Before you apply for aid, make sure you understand the different types and what the requirements of each are.

Make a plan

For priority awarding, be sure to fill out a new FAFSA each year by November 15.* *The 2025-2026 FAFSA will be available in December. 

FAFSA code: E40457
Email:iufw.finaid@iu.edu
Phone: 844.448.9281
Fax: 844.448.8452

What to expect

Most types of aid we award are need-based. We calculate your need by subtracting your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from your cost of attendance (COA).

Cost of attendance (COA)

The COA is our estimate of your educational expenses for the academic year. It includes estimates for tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses. (If you’re an undergrad attending fewer than six hours or a grad student attending fewer than four hours, your COA won’t include transportation, room and board, or personal expenses.)

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The U.S. Department of Education uses the information you report on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to calculate your EFC. We use your EFC to determine whether you’re eligible for certain types of aid, and if so, how much you can be awarded. (Your EFC doesn’t tell you what you’ll pay for your education, though. In many cases, families contribute more than the EFC to cover all expenses.)

Regardless of whether you receive need-based aid, non-need-based aid, or both, your award will never be more than your cost of attendance. And keep in mind that there’s no guarantee you’ll receive the whole amount you need to cover all of your expenses.

Learn more about how aid is calculated

Estimate your financial aid eligibility

Ready to start applying for aid?

Take the first step