Our emergency funding online application is available for all currently enrolled IU Bloomington students. Please take time to review the eligibility criteria and the FAQs found below before applying. Emergency funding will be capped at $500 in order for us to assist as many students as possible.
Note: If you are a Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering student, you must first contact the Office of Student Engagement and Success staff to explore resources at 812-856-3636 or lsec@indiana.edu. If necessary, Luddy staff will refer you to the Office of Student Life Emergency Funding program.
If you are an international student, you should start with reviewing the Office of International Services hardship assistance criteria on the Emergency Need-based Aid page. If necessary, the OIS staff will refer you to the Office of Student Life Emergency Funding program.
The Office of Student Life stands ready to support your overall IU experience. Please consider completing a Care Referral or visit our Student Care and Resource Center for additional resources as you navigate your IU journey.
If you have a general question about emergency funding, email emrgfund@iu.edu with your full name, student ID number, and inquiry.
Emergency funding availability
All emergency funds for the current cycle have been distributed. Funding opportunities will resume in the 2026–27 academic year.
Emergency funding eligibility criteria
Student must be enrolled in current term based on when they apply (i.e. fall or spring) and have a minimum GPA of 2.0;
Student must demonstrate an emergency, one-time, unexpected financial hardship that hinders their ability to continue at IU;
Student must include documentation. The supporting documentation should reflect the financial emergency and display both the student's name and the cost of the expense(s); (A copy of a medical bill or auto repair bill are examples of appropriate documentation.)
Student must demonstrate high need and be fully utilizing all financial aid options offered by the Office of Student Financial Assistance;
Emergency funding amount must fit within their current financial aid package as determined by the Office of Student Financial Assistance;
Emergency funding may be issued to eligible applicants one time per academic year.
Emergency funding FAQs
No, our small emergency grants are considered a last resort financial resource for emergencies only and must fit within the student’s current financial aid package. The Office of Student Financial Assistance is part of the evaluation process to determine the student’s eligibility once the request has been screened by Student Life staff to assure the reason for the grant matches the donor intent for the use of these grant funds.
Additionally, all students are expected to exhaust all other financial aid options with Student Central and the Office of Student Financial Assistance before being considered for this emergency grant from the Student Care and Resource Center.
International students must first contact the Office of International services to see about additional financial aid resources or emergency funding support via their hardship assistance application.
The staff at OIS will refer you to the Office of Student Life's Emergency Funding program if necessary.
While International Students are not eligible for federal loans, their application is reviewed to determine if the stated need matches the intended use of the funds and if this type of fund will fit into their current financial aid package.
A student, if approved, may only receive emergency funding once per academic year.
Yes. Students seeking emergency funding must be enrolled in the term they are seeking assistance for. Example: A student seeking funding assistance in a Fall or Spring term must be enrolled in that term.
Emergency funding is made possible by generous donations to help students in emergency situations and does not have to be repaid.
The fund requests are evaluated on a rolling basis in the order they are received. You may check on the status of your application at any time in FireForm. Approved funds are posted to your Bursar account statement and a refund will be initiated by the Office of the Bursar each Friday for those approved. It is recommended students have a designated bank account set up through Direct Deposit of Bursar Refunds in one.iu.edu. The direct deposit must be set up prior to the release of the funding or a paper check will be automatically generated and mailed out by the Office of the Bursar through the U.S. Postal Service.
If a bank account is not designated via the Direct Deposit of Bursar Refunds app in one.iu.edu before the award is refunded or if a student prefers to receive the award in check form, a paper check will automatically be generated and mailed via the U.S. Postal Service to the most current address on file. Check your current address by using the Personal Information app in one.iu.edu to make sure it is up to date with the address where you want the check to be mailed.
Our emergency funds are not applied to your Bursar balance. They are issued directly to the student as a direct deposit or personal check sent via U.S. Postal Service if a student does not have direct deposit set up.
If a student is approved for the emergency funding it will be refunded directly to the student so the student can use the funding in the way that will be most helpful.
Students experiencing a Satisfactory Academic (SAP) Review should contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance to find out the type of SAP they were selected for and to understand the steps necessary to appeal the SAP. These emergency funding awards are not a means to address larger financial hardships with the cost of attending school. They are for one-time, urgent, unexpected financial emergencies.
Students may write to emrgfund@iu.edu with their specific question. Emails are reviewed in the order they are received. Please write to us from your @iu.edu email address and include your full name and UID.
In order to maximize limited campus resources, you are urged to do the following:
Consider the Student Care and Resource Center’s Laptop Loaner Program for a short-term need.
Submit a Cost of Attendance Appeal through Student Central for expenses related to the following:
Personal computer
Musical instruments
Art supplies
Tuition beyond the standard amount
All students are urged to contact Student Central prior to submitting an appeal to review what financial aid options are available for you.
More information about Cost of Attendance Appeals may be found on the Student Central website.
Support our work
Your donations to any of our emergency funds ensures we can continue to serve students in need.
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