UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES — GENERAL STUDIES PROGRAM

Application Fee
If you have not previously attended Indiana University, you must pay a nonrefundable application fee when you submit your admission application. The 2008-09 fee is $50 for U.S. citizens and $65 for international students.

Important: If you enroll in Independent Study Program courses at the same time you enroll in the General Studies Degree Program, do not include your independent study course fees with your General Studies Degree Program application fee. Submit your course fees and general studies application fee separately.

Cost of Degree Program
As a distance student, you complete your degree by taking undergraduate courses through the Independent Study Program. You pay the undergraduate tuition and fees established for these courses.

The cost of completing your degree program depends on the number of credit hours you have already earned and may apply toward your general studies degree, the type of general studies degree you are pursuing (associate or bachelor's), and the current independent study course fee.

If you are not transferring in any credits and plan to take Independent Study Program courses to complete all 60 credit hours leading to the Associate of Arts in General Studies, your tuition (based on 2008-09 in-state undergraduate fee rates) will be approximately $9,226.

If you are not transferring in any credits and plan to take Independent Study Program courses to complete all 120 credit hours leading to the Bachelor of General Studies, your tuition (based on 2008-09 undergraduate fee rates) will be approximately $18,451.

Please note that these costs do not include course materials (learning guides and textbooks) and other course-related fees.

Note: You may also take semester-based online to help meet general studies degree requirements. These courses, offered in collaboration with Indiana University East, qualify for student financial aid. Learn more at scs.indiana.edu/univ/iue_courses.html.

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Financial Assistance
Financial Aid
At this time, Indiana University is unable to administer federal or state financial aid for Independent Study Program courses. However, several commercial student loans are available for full-time, half-time, and less-than-half-time students and for students not enrolled in degree programs. Many Web sites can help you find information about financial aid.

Tuition Assistance for Active Duty Military and for Active Guard Reserve or Inactive Reserve Component
Indiana University participates as one of the universities in the degree programs sponsored by the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Educational Support (DANTES) and Service members Opportunity Colleges (SOC).

To receive reimbursement for courses taken as part of your Indiana University General Studies Degree Program, you must submit the DANTES Distance Learning Enrollment Form for Service Members (Form 1562/31) with your Indiana University Independent Study Program course enrollment form.

Veterans Administration Benefits
If you are a veteran enrolled in the Independent Study Program, you could be eligible for Veterans Administration Benefits. Generally, the benefits cover course fees and are paid by the Veterans Administration in monthly installments.

To receive VA benefits, you must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Veterans Administration. The Indiana University Office of Veteran Affairs certifies your enrollment in Indiana University independent study courses offered through the School of Continuing Studies.

The first time you enroll in Independent Study Program courses you have two options:

1. You can enclose a copy of your DD214/DD295 and the VA Form 22-1990 (Application for Education Benefits) with your independent study course enrollment form. The IU VA office then sends the appropriate information to the VA office in St. Louis (the St. Louis office processes the forms for students completing their general studies degree through the Independent Study Program). This is the best way to facilitate the process if you have not already received your Certificate of Eligibility from the Veterans Administration.
   
2. You can send your DD214/DD295 and the VA Form 22-1990 to the VA office, P.O. Box 66830, St. Louis, MO 63166. When you receive your Certificate of Eligibility back from the VA office, you should enclose it with your independent study course enrollment form. This is the best way to proceed if you have already received your approved Certificate of Eligibility.

When you enroll in courses subsequent to this initial enrollment, print "VA Certification" in bold letters at the top of the enrollment application form. We recommend that you also use a highlighter to make it more apparent to independent study staff that you intend to use your GI benefits. Staff members will then send a copy of the enrollment form to the Indiana University Office of Veterans Affairs.

Learn more about VA Benefits at the Indiana University Office of Veteran Affairs.

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