Grant Covers Private Tuition for Veterans

Newswise — Military veterans returning from the field can attend the University of Indianapolis tuition-free, thanks to a new UIndy grant program that supplements federal education benefits. The University of Indianapolis Freedom Award " open to veterans who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere since Sept. 11, 2001 " will be especially valuable to those who want to further their education before re-entering an increasingly tight job market. "The original GI Bill offered vital support to the veterans of World War II, and today's military personnel deserve that same kind of assistance as they return to private life," said Mark Weigand, the university's vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. "Our program fills the gap for these people who have served our country so bravely." UIndy's new grant program works in conjunction with the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, which offers veterans of recent conflicts an amount equal to the highest in-state tuition at a public university in their home states. Aimed at veterans who prefer a private university environment, the UIndy Freedom Grant and a matching award from the federal Yellow Ribbon Program will cover any remaining tuition cost, after other financial aid is calculated. Such students also are eligible for other Veterans Administration benefits, including living allowances and a $1,000 annual stipend for books and supplies. To be eligible for the Freedom Award, a recipient must qualify for the federal programs and be admissible as a full-time undergraduate student. The award can be renewed for as long as eight semesters for students who maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.3 while successfully completing 20 credit hours per year. To receive the maximum possible aid, all students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, available at www.fafsa.ed.gov, by Indiana's March 10 deadline. For more information on the University of Indianapolis Freedom Award, contact the Office of Financial Aid at (800) 232-8634 or visiting http://financialaid.uindy.edu.