Scholarships Test-Optional FAQ
IU Bloomington is committed to making merit scholarship opportunities available to students who qualify, whether they apply with or without test scores. Learn more about our process below.
IU Bloomington is committed to making merit scholarship opportunities available to students who qualify, whether they apply with or without test scores. Learn more about our process below.
No. All students who submit a complete application for admission by the November 1 early action (non-binding) deadline will be considered for IU academic scholarships.
The assessment of a student’s academic performance is based on a number of factors, including high school GPA, grades received in coursework required by the Office of Admissions, and rigor and performance in advanced courses (AP, IB, Honors, etc.).
While we have shared the factors used in admission and scholarship review processes (see above), the actual scoring and eligibility criteria are not public-facing and are considered internal IU information.
No. A student’s application is used for both admission and scholarship consideration, and IU academic scholarship eligibility is based solely on performance in academic coursework.
As part of IU’s holistic review, all factors of your application are considered, with the greatest emphasis placed on your grades earned in academic coursework, including performance in higher level, college preparatory courses. Understanding that high schools around the country offer a variety of different types of courses, this review may include honors, dual-credit, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced Placement courses. Strong performance in these higher level courses could benefit a student’s potential admissions and scholarship eligibility, however applicants will not be disadvantaged if they have not enrolled in or had access to these courses.
Recipients of IU academic scholarships will be notified via the IU Portal by mid-February.
The reported high school GPA is just one of many factors utilized in the holistic assessment of an applicant’s academic performance. IU’s review process considers multiple elements in determining a student’s admission and scholarship eligibility. While a high GPA is very important, lesser performance in other academic areas could negatively impact a student’s scholarship assessment and result in either a reduced award or failure to qualify.