Welcome to Iowa State University!

We are excited to welcome you to the Cyclone family, and are looking forward to helping you prepare for your time as a Cyclone!

Start Planning Now for 2025-2026

You will be able to view your Financial Aid Offer in your Admissions MyAccount for details about your cost of attendance and financial aid options available to you in the Spring. Now is the time to start talking about financing your education at Iowa State; check out the Financial Aid Conversation Guide for more information.

Continue to monitor your email for important updates about financial aid action steps, but most action steps will be completed after attending new student orientation this summer.

The Office of Student Financial Aid is available to meet with students virtually and in person if you have questions before attending orientation. Students with a valid Net-ID can schedule an in-person or virtual appointment using Navigate Student. No appointments can be scheduled in the month of June. Students without a valid Net-ID should call the Office of Student Financial Aid at 515-294-2223 to have their questions answered or to schedule an appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor.

Visit Us at Orientation

You will have various opportunities to have your financial aid questions answered when you attend orientation.

Our Financial Aid Overview session will be offered each day during Orientation in June. Join us in 0127 Curtiss Hall at 10 AM or 11 AM to learn all about the financial aid process. The Financial Aid Overview session covers everything and more about receiving financial aid at Iowa State, but if you still have questions, you can meet with a Financial Aid Advisor. Walk-in advising is available weekly Monday-Friday from 8 AM – 4 PM or 8 AM – 12 PM if your orientation session starts on a Sunday. Refer to your orientation schedule for details.

Review our Orientation Checklist for a quick guide for financial aid options at Iowa State.

Important Information About Your Financial Aid Offer:

Financial Aid Offers are contingent on continued funding from federal, state, and institutional sources. Offers are subject to change and may be rescinded or reduced if funding is insufficient or discontinued, your financial need changes, your tuition assessment changes, or you receive aid from other sources. In the event a student receives outside/private scholarships, the financial aid offer may be revised.

Additionally, your financial aid offer is estimated and subject to change if your FAFSA is not verified. Monitor your email for necessary verification action steps and provide requested documents as soon as possible.

Protecting your Student’s Information

Keeping students’ personal and FAFSA information secure is our top priority. In order to protect student information, we will ask students and parents (if listed on the student’s FAFSA) to verify their identity. To keep your student’s information secure, we will not be able to discuss financial aid information with any individual other than the student, parent(s) listed on the FAFSA, or persons whom the student has granted Friends & Family Third Party Permissions in Workday.

• If you call our office, it is best to have your student’s University ID number and financial aid offer available.
• While we cannot give specific dollar amounts on the phone or in an email, we can confirm the dollar amounts you see on your student’s financial aid offer.
• It is important that your student knows how to access and navigate Workday. We encourage all students to set up Friends & Family access to Workday. Friends & Family access allows other individuals, like family members, to have their own log-in for Workday to view financial aid and other information the student approved.

Expectations for Students

• Communicating with Students Regarding Financial Aid
  • The Office of Student Financial Aid uses students’ Iowa State email as the primary source of communication when reaching out to students. Students should regularly check their ISU email for important notifications from the Office of Student Financial Aid.
• Student Employment
  • The Office of Student Financial Aid encourages all students to work while enrolled. Working while enrolled provides many benefits, which may include improved time management skills, workplace skills, resume building, and earned money that does not need to be repaid. There are a variety of job opportunities for students that average about 10-15 hours of work each week. Jobs are continually updated for students throughout the year. All students have access to look and apply for jobs on CyHire. If your student is interested in working, they should check CyHire for available jobs.
• Enrollment and Financial Aid Eligibility
  • Generally, a student must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours) to receive any financial aid and keep student loans in a deferment status. As a student changes their schedule, it may impact their ability to keep their current financial aid or receive financial aid in the future. Make sure to review our Financial Aid Enrollment Status policy, as well as the Withdrawal From Classes and Less than Full-Time Enrollment and other Financial Aid policies.
• Academic Performance and Financial Aid Eligibility
  • If a student is receiving federal financial aid, their academic performance can impact their ability to receive financial aid.
  • A student must maintain a minimum GPA and pass most of the classes they attempt each semester.
  • If a student is not meeting those requirements, their financial aid eligibility may be jeopardized. o Details regarding the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy can be found online.
  • If you are impacted by SAP, the Office of Student Financial Aid will contact you via Workday.