1. Is my academic merit scholarship renewable after my first year?

2. How do I obtain eligibility for INDIANA state grant programs?

3. How do I obtain a work-study job on campus?

4. Do I need to include my parent info on the FAFSA if they are not supporting me?

5. Are there athletic scholarships available in addition to academic or merit awards?

6. Can my academic award increase during my stay at TSU?

7. If my parents cannot help me with financing are there other options?

8. How do I obtain free Federal money, such as a Pell Grant?

9. Who can assist me with any FAFSA questions I might have?

10. I'll be filing a tax return this year but I probably won't get around to it until April. How should I answer the FAFSA questions about income? Should I wait to fill out this form until after I've filed my tax return?

11. If my parents are divorced, whose information do I need?

12. What should I do if my parent with whom I live is remarried and my stepparent refuses to supply information?

Is my academic merit scholarship renewable after my first year?

Yes, your TSU academic merit scholarship may be renewed each year you are enrolled as a full time student at TSU making satisfactory progress towards degree completion, which means successfully completing the required number of credit hours each academic year and maintaining a cumulative GPA above 2.0. To renew your scholarship you need not apply for it, your financial aid file is reviewed at the end of each academic year when financial aid packages are created for students. If you have successfully completed the academic year and you are registered as a full time student then the academic merit scholarship will appear on your financial aid award letter.

How do I obtain eligibility for INDIANA state grant programs?

In order to apply for Indiana state grants, all Indiana residents must complete their FAFSA no later than March 10th of each academic year, demonstrate financial need, attend an Indiana college or university, and be making satisfactory progress towards your degree to obtain eligibility for one of the state grant programs. For further details on this program, please visit their Web site at http://www.in.gov/ssaci/

How do I obtain a work-study job on campus?

If a student is eligible for work-study it will show as an award on their financial aid package.  Students can begin to apply for on campus positions on or after June 1st by completing the application on the TSU Web site under Career Services or at the following link:

tristate.edu/current/careerservices/Work-StudyStudentList.xls

A student can also stop by any of the offices that are listed on job openings page after school begins to apply for an open position.

Do I need to include my parent info on the FAFSA if they are not supporting me?

When you apply for federal student aid, your answers to the questions in Step 3 of the paper FAFSA or in Step 2 of the online FAFSA determine whether you're considered dependent on your parents or independent. If you're considered dependent, your parents' income and assets as well as your own must be reported on the FAFSA. Students are classified as dependent or independent because federal student aid programs are based on the principle that students (and their parents or spouse, if applicable) are considered the primary source of support for postsecondary education. 

Are there athletic scholarships available in addition to academic or merit awards?

TSU is an NCAA Division III school and a member of the MIAA athletic conference. The NCAA Division III guidelines state a member institution shall not award financial aid to student-athletes based on athletics participation or performance. Therefore we do not offer athletic scholarships to students. TSU does offer excellent academic based merit scholarship and for more information on this please click on the following link: http://www.tristate.edu/admission/scholarshipinfo.cfm.

Can my academic award increase during my stay at TSU?

No, the academic merit scholarship that was awarded to the student as a new TSU student will remain the same during their entire college career at TSU as long as the student is making satisfactory academic progress towards their degree.

If my parents cannot help me with financing are there other options?

Yes, there are other options for students. Students are eligible for Federal Stafford Loans as long as they complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). If additional funds are still needed there are alternative educational loans available. These are still educational loans, deferred until graduation but not part of the Family Federal Educational Loan Program. TSU works with preferred alternative loans and we can assist you in choosing the one that works for you. These loans generally require a co-borrower and other conditions as well.

How do I obtain free Federal money, such as a Pell Grant?

The application for the federal grant programs is the FAFSA.  The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based award that is determined by the information you supply when filing the FAFSA. Your EFC (expected family contribution) is the determining factor.

Who can assist me with any FAFSA questions I might have?

You can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800.4.FED.AID (800.433.3243) with questions about the FAFSA on the Web or paper application process or about federal student financial aid in general. In addition, FAFSA on the Web filers can get help at

I'll be filing a tax return this year but I probably won't get around to it until April. How should I answer the FAFSA questions about income? Should I wait to fill out this form until after I've filed my tax return?

Ideally, you should complete a FAFSA after you've done your tax return, but don't wait until April to complete the FAFSA. TSU has a filing deadline of March 10th. Also, you may not be eligible for state aid if you wait until April to submit your FAFSA. The Indiana state aid deadline is March 10th. If you haven't submitted your tax return, you should calculate your adjusted gross income (AGI) and taxes paid by utilizing last year’s forms and estimating this year’s AGI and taxes paid. This practice is strongly discouraged if this year’s income is significantly different than last year's, as that can initially affect your eligibility for aid. Keep in mind that if you submit your application before you complete a tax return, you may need to make corrections later if your income or tax information isn't accurate. You will also need to return any federal student aid you received based upon incorrect information. You might have to provide TSU with a copy of your completed tax return (assuming you're required to file one) before you receive federal student aid.

If my parents are divorced, whose information do I need?

Report the information of the parent with whom you lived the most during the 12 months preceding the date you completed the FAFSA. It does not make a difference which parent claims you as a dependent for tax purposes. If you did not live with either parent or lived equally with each parent, the parental information must be provided for the parent from whom you received the most financial support during the preceding 12 months or the parent from whom you received the most support the last time support was given.

What should I do if my parent with whom I live is remarried and my stepparent refuses to supply information?

If you are a dependent student and your parent is remarried, the stepparent's information must be included or you will not be considered for federal student financial aid. If you believe that your situation is unique or unusual other than the stepparent's simple refusal to provide the requested information, you should discuss the matter further with your financial aid administrator.