Enrollment

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment requirements vary for different types of financial aid. For many types of aid, part-time enrollment is permitted and the aid may be adjusted to reflect less than full-time enrollment. Others require half-time or full-time enrollment. Scholarship recipients are responsible for knowing and complying with the rules specific to each scholarship program.

Enrollment Status for Federal and State Aid

For financial aid purposes, the following minimums apply in determining eligibility for assistance in fall, spring, and summer. All summer sessions are combined and treated as one semester. All enrollment must be through USI and classes must appear on students' USI class schedule.

Assistance may be reduced or withdrawn for less than full-time enrollment. Only credits which are required for successful completion of the student's degree program may be counted in the determination of enrollment status. Also, students may only receive financial aid funding for one repetition of a previously passed course. If a student repeats a previously passed course more than once, that course will not count towards the student's enrollment status for financial aid purposes.

Federal Pell Grants

Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, (as per new federal regulations) a student’s enrollment intensity will be taken into consideration when calculating a semester’s Pell Grant amount. This is based on the percentage of classes a student will take compared to a full-time course load. Enrollment intensity for the Pell Grant is determined at the end of the 100% refund period for each regular term (Fall, Spring, Summer 1, Summer 2). 

Federal Loans

Students must be enrolled half-time to be eligible for Direct Loans, Direct PLUS Loans and/or Direct Graduate PLUS Loans.

State Aid

The Indiana Higher Education Award and Twenty-First Century Scholars Program require full-time enrollment. In addition, students who drop below full-time enrollment during the drop/add period (first four weeks of fall and spring) lose their entire Indiana Higher Education Award and/or Twenty-First Century Scholars award for that semester.

Students who receive state financial aid are required to meet certain completion requirements to renew state financial aid awards in subsequent years. For more information about credit completion requirements visit Indiana's student financial aid website. 

Limited funding is available for a small number of Indiana Higher Education Awards for less than full-time students who are otherwise eligible.

The Minority Teachers Scholarship requires full-time enrollment.

The Nursing Scholarship requires at least half-time enrollment.

USI Scholarships

The majority of USI scholarship require full-time enrollment. Most also require a certain number of earned credit hours each academic year to maintain eligibility. More information on scholarship regulations is available online.