Purdue University
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

HORIZONS Student Support Services is a federally funded TRIO Program (Upward Bound) that was authorized by the Higher Education Amendments of 1968. It offers many services to our students.

HORIZONS has designated work space for students to study and work on computer based homework. The computer lab is equipped with several computers, printers, and a scanner, that all HORIZONS students may use. There are also two laptops now available for students to checkout, for any class presentation they might need to give.

HORIZONS is specially designed to provide academic and social support for our students. This support is provided through the undergraduate years and is intended to lead to the successful completion of the university curriculum leading to a four-year degree. We provide various academic and cultural services to over 300 students annually. These services include counseling, mentoring and tutoring.

Students are required to enroll in a study skills course and a community building lab for which they will receive a college credit, as well as valuable information on how to succeed in college.

HORIZONS also offers assistance with career decisions and preparation. Students that are unsure as to what they want to study can receive career counseling. A resume writing class is offered to help students prepare for their job search and possible interviews.

The Division of Financial Aid staff members assist students and families in weighing their options in paying for a Purdue education. As a state-supported university, Purdue serves both the resident taxpayers of Indiana and students from across the nation and world. The cost of attendance for both our resident and nonresident students is lower than the mean of our peer institutions. Even so, nonresidents, who pay higher tuition than Indiana residents, often need to develop comprehensive financing strategies to cover the cost of a Purdue degree. DFA helps evaluate the options families have and aids families with special circumstances.

In addition to counseling, DFA awards students from low-income backgrounds need-based aid. A calculation based on the information from the FAFSA is used to create a financial aid award for the student. In 2011-12 32,165 recipients were awarded over $561.3 million dollars, $231.6 million of which were scholarships and grants.

Purdue is recognized as a premier institution of learning for many career fields that today’s students are seeking. Purdue has also been recognized throughout the state, nationally, and globally as a premier institution, not only for our academic programs, but also for our student success efforts. (You can find information about rankings and recognition here: www.purdue.edu/newsroom/rankings/ranking.html.)

Purdue is not only recognized for having top-level academic programs and student success programs, but also for being an affordable educational institution and a good return on investment. Purdue has ranked in the Top 10 several times for SmartMoney’s “Payback” survey which quantifies the long-term value of college education. We have also been recognized by Princeton Review in the Top 150 “Best Value” colleges. Students, particularly those from Indiana, recognize they can attain an excellent education at an affordable cost.

21st Century Scholars (TFCS): Purdue recently obtained an AmeriCorp position that will serve first- and second-year TFCS students who are not eligible for Purdue Promise. Purdue also provides TFCS College Mentors, a faculty or professional staff mentor, in each college who are available to support TFCS students. Those mentors develop mentoring plans each year to engage TFCS students in the colleges.

Academic, Financial and Social Support: The low-income student population is diverse. Some students may also be underrepresented minorities. Some may have come from urban educational systems while others may have come from small rural school systems; neither may have fully prepared them for college. Some may have been home-schooled. Some may be first-generation college students. Some may come from foster care. No matter the students’ backgrounds, we have someone here to support them on campus.

In addition to all of the specific scholarship and support programs listed, Purdue offers a vast array of academic and social support programs. We have summer bridge programs (ex. Academic Boot Camp) to help better prepare some students for academic life at Purdue. We have several cultural centers and yearlong diversity and cultural programming. For each student who comes to Purdue, there are advisors, financial aid counselors, personal counselors, academic support specialists, career counselors, and other faculty and staff who are here to assist him/her student in achieving his/her goals.

While not every student enrolled in the programs below is from a low-income background, many are. These programs are available to all students, preparing them for academic life at Purdue.

-College Goal Sunday
College Goal Sunday is a program that helps college-bound Indiana students, who qualify for undergraduate admission to a college or technical school, and their families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). College Goal Sunday provides on-site help from financial aid experts, primarily from Indiana colleges and universities. Most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools in the nation require students seeking federal financial aid, including grants and loans, to complete the FAFSA. Your FAFSA form must be received by the federal processor on or before March 10. Twenty-first Century Scholars are required to complete and submit a FAFSA form to claim their Twenty-first Century Scholarships. College Goal Sunday will help all college-bound students, including Twenty-first Century Scholars, complete the FAFSA properly.

-STAR
STAR is the Summer Transition, Advising, and Registration program at Purdue. Attendance is required for all first-time students. Incoming freshmen meet with their academic advisor and schedule classes for the fall semester. Many learning opportunities are offered throughout the day, including a session presented by the Division of Financial Aid (DFA) and Bursar’s Office entitled, “Paying for Purdue” that families are strongly urged to attend. Included topics are:
-Reading the financial aid offer;
-Learning about loan programs;
-Understanding the timeframe to receive and pay the bill;
-Discovering how and when aid is applied to the bill;
-Setting up a payment plan, if necessary;
-Determining when excess funds are refunded or disbursed, if applicable; and
-Noting important dates.

Families can meet with a financial aid counselor at the Paying for Purdue session to get answers to individual questions. See more information at www.purdue.edu/sats/STAR/.

-Boiler Gold Rush
Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) is a five-day new student orientation program that takes place the week before classes start each year and is open to all new first-year and transfer students. What makes BGR such a unique experience is the small group size and peer mentor contact, which enable our new students to become better acquainted with Purdue and meet hundreds of new students before classes begin. Throughout the week of BGR new students participate in activities ranging from social events to learning about Purdue's campus and traditions. A limited number of need-based waivers are available to cover all or part of the $320 fee.

-Learning Communities
Through learning communities, first-year students have a great way to make friends and learn the ropes at Purdue. Research results at Purdue and programs across the United States show that students who take part in a learning community earn higher grades, make friends faster, and graduate at higher and faster rates than students who don't participate.

Many scholarships awarded through the Division of Financial Aid (DFA), are based on the student’s demonstrated financial need. Purdue University scholarships are funded by donations to the University from a wide variety of sources. Included are foundations, trusts, and bequests, as well as scholarships provided by businesses, industries, and individuals interested in supporting students.

Purdue provides accessibility to students regardless of economic circumstances, offering several institutional scholarships to help ease the financial burden for undergraduate students and their parents. Many of these scholarships can be found on DFA’s website www.purdue.edu/dfa. Below is a brief overview of the largest scholarships that are offered exclusively to students from low-income backgrounds.

-Purdue Promise
The Purdue Promise program helps eligible Twenty-first Century Scholars, Emerging Urban Leaders, and Purdue Opportunity Award Scholars be successful at Purdue University, West Lafayette. The Purdue Promise four-year experience is comprised of financial assistance and targeted support rooted in four Guiding Principles: academic, social, leadership, and life skills development. Through a combination of support services and financial aid, Purdue Promise helps make attaining a college degree from Purdue a reality. The financial aid package is renewable for up to four years (total of eight semesters).

To be considered for the Purdue Promise Program, a student must come from a family with a combined (student and parent(s)) income of $40,000 or less per year among other requirements. Family income is calculated for the dependent student by adding parent and student adjusted gross income (AGI) from the tax return and all non-taxed income received by the student and parent. For the independent student, total family income represents adjusted gross income (AGI) from the student's tax return and all non-taxed income of the student and spouse (if married).

Purdue Promise strives to create a family-away-from-home atmosphere through the support components that include:
-College courses focused on success at Purdue;
-Orientation programming and learning community opportunities;
-Leadership and volunteer opportunities;
-Free Tutoring/Study tables;
-Mentoring by upper-level Purdue students as well as faculty and staff from across the campus;
-Social and cultural activities; and
-Family college transition support initiatives.

-Purdue Opportunity Awards Program
The Purdue Opportunity Awards Program (POA) provides scholarship monies and support programming to income eligible Twenty-first Century Scholars from Indiana. Made possible through the generosity of Purdue's alumni and friends, qualified students may receive a scholarship package as long as they fulfill the requirements of the program, one of which includes full participation in the Purdue Promise support program for four years. The Purdue Opportunity Award criteria are the same as the Purdue Promise program.

-Emerging Urban Leaders Scholarship
As part of Purdue University’s efforts to recruit and retain more students with diverse backgrounds, Purdue has created the Emerging Urban Leaders Scholarship. A key goal of the scholarship is to boost the number of students from major urban areas near Purdue.

Students are selected for the Emerging Urban Leaders Scholarship based on their academic promise and their leadership potential. Preference will be given to students majoring in STEM disciplines. Indiana residents will receive $5,000 annually, and out-of-state students will receive $15,000. Cities initially targeted include Indianapolis, Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, and Chicago. However, gifts that would fully support a student from another major urban district are welcome. marketing.purdue.edu/Auctions/Apollo11/Scholarship

 Science Bound
Science Bound is a partnership between Purdue University, the Indianapolis Public Schools and the Indianapolis business community. It is designed to work with students from low-income backgrounds and help prepare them for careers in Engineering, Technology, Science, Agriculture and Math Science. Students are invited to join the program at the end of the fifth grade. IPS students must maintain a 3.1 GPA and attend 75% of Science Bound activities. At IPS, there are four major components:
1. After school workshops and activities
2. Parent Program
3. Summer Camps and Internships
4. Other projects and Workshops

Students who successfully complete the five-year program receive a full four-year tuition scholarship to Purdue University. Because most of the students are the first in their families to attend college, any enrollment in higher education is considered a success story.

Parents of Purdue students are a key partner in the financing of a Purdue education. Parents do more than send money; they can help students understand financial concepts, responsibility, and the investment they make in a college education. Purdue actively communicates with parents and families. From providing tools to help estimate the awards they can expect to receive from Purdue’s Division of Financial Aid to offering a wide range of educational materials to help families become more financially literate.

-Aid Estimator
Parents and students who wish to calculate an early estimate of their eligibility for financial aid may fill out Purdue's Early Financial Aid Estimator. (www.purdue.edu/apps/onepurdue/finaid/) This is an estimate for early planning purposes only. Final eligibility for financial aid will be determined by data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

-MyMoney
Whether it’s devising and following a budget or choosing the right investments, being able to manage personal finances is a learned skill. MyMoney’s mission is to help you attain financial freedom by giving you the tools and information needed to empower you to wisely manage debt and increase your knowledge and awareness of financial issues.

Through collaboration with financial professionals, MyMoney is committed to strengthening the financial fitness of all Purdue University students, parents, staff and others within our community. (www.purdue.edu/mymoney/)

-Paying for Purdue
Paying for Purdue highlights various methods available to students to manage the costs of attending Purdue. (www.purdue.edu/dfa/pfp/PayingForPurdue1213.pdf)

-Academic Success Center Communication to Parents
www.purdue.edu/sats/asc/documents/website%20letter%20to%20parents.pdf

-Parent Information from the Division of Financial Aid
www.purdue.edu/dfa/parentinfo.php

The Division of Financial Aid’s Outreach Services took part in 126 outreach programs during 11-12, with a total of 16,008 attendees. Many of these programs are targeted toward incoming freshman from all backgrounds. The programs and presentations include the Money Smart Cash Course, Paying for Purdue, STAR, college fairs and high school visits.

www.purdue.edu/purdue/admissions/

Purdue’s Division of Financial Aid (DFA www.purdue.edu/dfa) calculates an estimated cost of attendance for student financial aid applicants based on federal student aid guidance. DFA surveys a sample of students every three years to help estimate costs accurately. Cost of attendance estimates vary based on enrollment level each semester and a variety of other factors. Estimated costs include tuition and fees; housing, food; books and supplies; and travel and miscellaneous expenses. For the most current costs, click here:
-Tuition and fees: www.purdue.edu/bursar/tuition/fees_wl.html
-Other costs: www.purdue.edu/dfa/cost/index.php

-Special Circumstances
If your family has experienced a significant change in income, we encourage you to speak with a financial aid counselor at DFA about your circumstances. If the counselor finds that the revision could change the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) resulting in additional financial aid eligibility, then they will provide the family a Special Circumstance Appeal Form. The family will complete and return the form with documentation. Families should allow a minimum of 2-3 weeks (longer in April and May) for processing. Note: All families requesting a Special Circumstance Appeal will be required to provide verification of FAFSA information before the appeal can be processed.

Academic Success Center
The mission of the ASC is to help students reach their academic goals. The learning strategies that can be acquired at the Academic Success Center will make students more successful in the classroom and later in professional life.

Student’s fingertip guide for general studies courses: www.purdue.edu/sats/asc/documents/students%20fingertip%20guide%20Spring%202013.pdf

www.purdue.edu/sats