News

SNAP Benefit Qualifications Expanded During National Emergency

As a result of the current national emergency, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been expanded to include college students. College students who are enrolled on at least a half-time basis (six credits or greater), and who either have an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0 on their 20-21 FAFSA or who qualify for the federal College Work Study program may be eligible for SNAP benefits. More info available here.

New to ISU?

Now is the time to develop your financial plan and discuss what resources your family will use to pay your expenses. Having your financial plan developed before arriving on campus can help minimize stress for everyone when school starts. Learn more here.

Financial Aid for Summer 2021 semester

The Summer Aid App is available on AccessPlus. You must register for your summer course(s) before submitting the Summer Aid App. Information on minimum enrollment requirements and summer financial aid options can be found here.

Financial Aid for Fall 2021 semester

Estimated 2021-2022 Financial Aid Offers for currently enrolled students are scheduled to be available on AccessPlus by May 18^th. Students will receive an email when their estimated Financial Aid Offer is available on AccessPlus. Students may receive an email regarding a revised Financial Aid Offer at a later date, after tuition and fees have been finalized by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. Students interested in signing up for the 12-month or 11-month payment plan through the Accounts Receivable Office are encouraged to use amounts from their 2020-2021 Financial Aid Offer to meet the payment plan enrollment deadline. When the finalized 2021-2022 Financial Aid Offer is available, students can make revisions to the monthly payment plan if needed.

Virtual Financial Aid Advising Available, Service by Appointment Only

In response to COVID-19, we are currently not offering in person advising appointments. If you need financial aid assistance, please make your virtual appointment at least 15 minutes ahead of time via ISUAppointments. If you are a New or Prospective student, please call 515-294-2223 to schedule an appointment. Read more about this process here. If you have financial aid documents or scholarship checks to hand in, please utilize our drop boxes located near the U-Bill payment center (outside of 0210 Beardshear Hall near the elevators). If you have a scholarship check that needs to be endorsed, please fill out the endorsement forms that are located near the drop box (see below photos).

CRRSA Act and Emergency Grant Assistance

Iowa State University received $32.4 million in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds II (HEERF II) from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) with $10.8 million to be used for emergency student financial aid grants and the remainder designated for institutional operations. Over 7,000 students were awarded based on their financial need, with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) cutoff of 10,711 for undergraduate students, as evaluated by the 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Guidance shared by the Department of Education – Federal Student Aid encouraged institutions to prioritize students with exceptional need, such as Pell Grant recipients. The institution retains the authority to determine how to award the funds. Iowa State University students who did not receive awards from the initial awarding were sent an email on Monday, April 12, directing them to complete an online application by Wednesday, April 21, at 9 pm CST. Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for the HEERF II funds:

• Currently enrolled, degree seeking at Iowa State University
• Have not already received emergency grant aid via the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II in the Spring 2021 semester
• Have utilized all available forms of financial aid, including federal student loans

CARES Act (HEERF I) reporting metrics for both the student and institutional portions are available here. For additional information regarding Iowa State University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please click here.

Support to Students during COVID-19

Stay current with campus information and resources by visiting the COVID-19 FAQ. For Student Wellness support and Food Pantry information, visit this Student Wellness information page.