IU Joins Nationwide Affordability Program

A project at IU will receive the most of any in the state.

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Indiana University Bloomington has joined a nationwide effort to help low- and moderate-income students pay for college. The school says it is the first in Indiana to join the American Talent Initiative, which helps support students through scholarships, grants and other resources.

ATI is a Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative aimed at growing economic diversity at the country’s top colleges. The initiative, led by the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program and Ithaka S+R, has grown to 90 member colleges and universities since launching in December 2016. The organization’s goal is to enroll 50,000 additional low- and moderate-income students in a higher education institution by 2025.

IU says it will develop an action plan as part of its participation in ATI and continue to offer a variety of financial aid options, including the 21st Century Scholars Covenant and Pell Promise. The school also offers the Bicentennial Scholarship, which involves $2,500 per year for four years to students from the 25 lowest-enrolling counties.

In addition to the financial resources, IU says it will work with ATI to help participating students engage in campus life and boost retention and graduation rates.