Consortium Agreement
The consortium agreement form is for Iowa State University (ISU) students enrolled in less than 12 semester credit hours requesting financial aid to cover credits being taken both at ISU and at another institution in the same semester.
A completed consortium agreement would allow ISU’s Office of Student Financial Aid to consider the total number of credits a student is taking at ISU and at another institution towards their total financial aid eligibility (see the Eligible Consortium Financial Aid Programs and Ineligible Consortium Financial Aid Programs dropdown sections of this webpage for more information on what financial aid items are and are not affected by a completed consortium agreement form).
- It is strongly encouraged that students completing a consortium agreement are registered for all courses at both the host institution and ISU prior to the start of that specified ISU term. If this action does not occur, not all credits may be counted towards federal aid eligibility. Questions regarding this process can be directed to: sfinacon@iastate.edu.
- ISU students are responsible for any expenses (i.e., tuition, fees, books) charged by the other (host) institution prior to when ISU financial aid is disbursed/available. The ISU student’s financial aid will not be disbursed until the Office of Student Financial Aid receives the Consortium Agreement completed by all parties (but not prior to approved disbursement dates).
- After completing the consortium agreement form, the Office of Student Financial Aid will update the student’s financial aid offer to reflect the additional host credits (which must apply towards the student’s primary program of study). All financial aid will be through Iowa State University (the student’s home institution) and the host institution does not provide financial aid to the student for the semester specified in the agreement.
- A transcript of the classes for which the student is receiving financial aid must be sent to Iowa State University Admissions Office and show on the student’s permanent record before another consortium agreement will be reviewed. A registration hold will be placed on the student’s account until the transcript from the host school is received.
- For students planning to be enrolled in 12 or more credits at Iowa State University for the specified term and only planning to take a single course at a host institution, they may want to look at the DMACC/ISU Cross-Enrollment Program as an alternative to the consortium agreement. The benefits of the Cross-Enrollment Program for students taking 12 or more credits at ISU are that Cross-Enrollment Program participants will have the tuition costs for one DMACC course per academic year covered under the Cross-Enrollment Agreement.
- The student must be taking at least one semester course at ISU to qualify for financial aid through the ISU Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA).
- Student must have completed at least one semester at ISU before a consortium agreement will be considered.
- The consortium agreement will release federal financial aid (Pell Grant, SEOG, Perkins Loans, Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant) and private student loans.
- The consortium agreement will not release ISU Grant, scholarships, or State of Iowa grants and scholarships unless the student is enrolled with enough ISU credits to retain qualification for these funds.
- The ISU student’s financial aid will not be disbursed until the ISU OSFA receives the consortium agreement completed by all parties (but not prior to approved disbursement dates).
- The ISU student is responsible for any expenses (i.e., tuition, fees, books) charged by the other (host) institution prior to when ISU financial aid is disbursed/available.
- A transcript of the classes for which the student is receiving financial aid must be sent to and accepted by ISU as transfer credit before another consortium agreement will be reviewed. A registration hold will be placed on the student’s account until the transcript from the host school is received.
- The student must inform the ISU OSFA in writing if they drop any courses at the other (host) institution.
- The host institution must promptly inform the ISU OSFA in writing if the student withdraws from the host institution or drops a course reported in the agreement.
- The host institution does not provide financial aid to the student for the semester specified in the agreement.
- Consortium agreements will not be approved for previously completed semesters. The consortium agreement must be submitted before the completion of the semester in which aid is requested.
- The student must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress at both Iowa State University and the host institution.
- Host institution courses are not considered for the student’s final 32 credit hours of their ISU degree program.
The consortium agreement applies to the following Financial Aid programs:
| Federal Pell Grant | Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan |
| Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant | Federal PLUS Loan |
| Federal Teach Grant |
The consortium agreement does not apply to the following Financial Aid programs:
| ISU Grant | Loyal Scholarship* |
| Forever Scholarship* | True Scholarship* |
| Academic Achievement Award* | Expedition Award* |
| Exploration Award* | Excursion Award* |
| Generations Award* | Transfer Achievement Award (TAA)* |
| Transfer Success Award* | Transfer Expedition Award* |
| Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Awards* | All-Iowa/State/USA* |
| Any Merit Awards from the Office of Admissions* | Any International Student Scholarship* |
| First Cyclone Scholarship Program*† | George Washington Carver Scholastic Leadership Program*† |
| Iowa National Guard Scholarship | All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship |
| GEAR UP Iowa Scholarship |
* If a student is not enrolled in 12+ credits at Iowa State University, the award is not available for the semester. If the student is full time between Iowa State University and another college/university, the award can be renewed for future semesters. However, the semester with a consortium agreement will still count as one of the eight total semesters to receive the award.
† If you are receiving either the George Washington Carver or First Cyclones scholarships and are not enrolled in 12+ credits at Iowa State University, we strongly recommend contacting the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (omsa@iastate.edu or 515-294-6388) to discuss how your scholarships might be impacted by your enrollment intensity.
Filling Out a Consortium Agreement
The Office of Student Financial Aid is now processing Consortium Agreements through Adobe Sign. The traditional process remains the same, but all parties involved are prompted to complete their portion of the form through the Adobe Sign process via e-mail.
The ISU student must initiate the process by completing the Adobe Sign form below. To start, click “Continue” on the bottom of the form, and then click on the start arrow. After clicking the “Submit” button you will need to enter your academic advisor’s name and e-mail address in the “Assign to Next Participants” pop-up window.
0210 Beardshear Hall
515 Morrill Road
Ames, IA 50011-2103
Phone: (515) 294-2223
Fax: (515) 294-0851
Email: sfinacon@iastate.edu