Outside Scholarships and Resources

According to federal regulations, scholarships received from any organization are considered a resource available to meet your financial aid eligibility.

As a financial aid recipient, a student must report all outside scholarships from sources other than federal, state and university programs.

• Adjustments in aid will occur if a student is receiving need-based assistance and the combination of all assistance (including outside scholarships) exceeds the financial aid eligibility. In addition, a reduction of Butler gift assistance may occur if the total of all tuition-specific awards exceeds the cost of tuition or if the value of all awards (including the outside scholarships) exceeds the total cost of attendance.

• Students are responsible for following through with the scholarship donor to make sure the funds are sent directly to the Office of Financial Aid in a timely manner. To make sure the student’s account is credited before charges are due and to prevent the student from accruing late fees, please submit funds by the following:
  • July 1 for fall enrollment
  • December 1 for spring enrollment
  • May 1 for summer enrollment

• The canceled scholarship check serves as your receipt.

• Checks must be properly endorsed to ensure the appropriate credit to the student’s account.

• Scholarships in the amount of $500 or more will be split evenly between the fall and spring semesters.

• Outside scholarships should be reported by sending a copy of the scholarship letter to the Office of Financial Aid. Report any outside scholarships as received.

• Awards received after a term has ended will be posted according to the donor’s instructions.

Make checks payable to Butler University and mail to the address below:

Butler University
Office of Financial Aid
4600 Sunset Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46208

The Office of Student Accounts does NOT consider outside scholarship funds as a credit to the account until the funds have been received and processed by the Office of Financial Aid.

Upon notification that you have been selected as a Lilly Endowment Community Scholar we ask that you notify the Office of Financial Aid or Admission.

Any tuition-specific scholarships and grants (Academic Scholarship, Bulldog Achievement Award, Butler Grant, Indiana state grants) that were previously awarded become honorary awards as the Lilly Scholarship pays for your tuition and fees.

Butler University does recognize your accomplishments and extends to you a Butler Room Award and Butler Meals Award. The policy for this award is outlined below.

Butler Lilly Scholar Room and Meal Award Policies

You are eligible to receive the Butler Room Award and the Butler Meal Award for the four years you receive the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship or complete your degree, whichever is first, and reside in approved Butler University housing.

• These awards are not available for students not living in campus housing, including study abroad and learning semester programs. 
• Any opportunities on campus for additional stipends (i.e. Community Assistant) for similar charges already covered by the Butler Room Award or Butler Meal Award will reduce or replace the amount of the Butler Room Award and Butler Meal Award.
• Housing arrangements must be made prior to August each year. The Office of Financial Aid will be in contact with Offices of Residence Life and Greek Life to confirm your housing assignment for the upcoming academic year. Housing assignments made after August 1 will not be eligible for the Room or Meal Awards.
• You must notify the Office of Financial Aid if you change your housing status during any academic term.

The Butler Room Award

• Is equivalent to the charge for a double room in Irvington House (cap) or your actual room charge, whichever is less.
• Room charges that exceed the cap will be the student’s responsibility.

The Butler meal Award

• For students living in Butler housing units which require a resident dining plan (Irvington House, Fairview House, Ross Hall and Residential College), the award will be equal to the resident dining plan of their choice.
• For students living in Butler housing which does not require a resident dining plan, the award will be a fixed amount equal to the cost of the largest voluntary/commuter dining plan.
• For students living in Greek housing, the award will be a fixed amount equal to the cost of the largest voluntary/commuter dining plan.

The Tuition Exchange is a reciprocal scholarship program for children of faculty and staff employed at over 600 participating institutions. General information regarding the exchange and a list of participating institutions can be found here.

Students whose parent(s) work for an institution that is a member of the Tuition Exchange may apply for a Tuition Exchange Award.

Consideration for Tuition Exchange

To be considered for a Tuition Exchange Award, applicants:

• Must be accepted for admission to Butler University and pursuing their first undergraduate degree.
• Receive maximum consideration by completing their admission application by November 1 (Early Action).
• Limited consideration may be available for students admitted Regular Decision.
• Are selected by Butler University to receive a Tuition Exchange Award. The University is limited in the number of awards we grant each year.
• Must be approved as an export from your parent’s employing institution.
• Must submit a Tuition Exchange application to the Office of Financial Aid and be admitted to the University by January 1 of the application year to be considered for a Tuition Exchange Award.

Selection for Tuition Exchange
Tuition Exchange applications will be reviewed by the Tuition Exchange Committee and selection will be made based on the student’s University application and academic strength in combination with the enrollment goals of the University and the availability of Tuition Exchange Award positions at Butler for that academic year.

Selected students will be notified of their eligibility to participate in the Tuition Exchange Program for the upcoming academic year on or about February 1. An acceptance form will be sent to the student. This form must be signed and returned to the Office of Financial Aid by May 1 and then award will be credited to the student’s account. A Tuition Exchange fee will be charged to the student’s account each year the student participates in the Tuition Exchange Program.

Limits of the Tuition Exchange Award
Eligibility extends to the first 8 semesters (4 years) of all eligible undergraduate academic programs. Students who will participate in programs that exceed 4 years may seek need-based assistance for those additional years of attendance.

Annual Tuition Exchange renewal requires continued export eligibility by your parent’s employing institution by January 1 of each year.

Students must maintain full-time enrollment (12 to 20 credit hours per semester), maintain good standing with the University and make Satisfactory Academic Progress toward their degrees from Butler University.

The Tuition Exchange Award is available for the fall and spring semesters only at Butler University and select Study Abroad programs. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid and the Center for Global Education for further information regarding Study Abroad programs available with Tuition Exchange. Tuition Exchange is not available for summer enrollment, or less than full-time enrollment.

Tuition Exchange Awards must be coordinated with all other assistance the student receives. Tuition Exchange supersedes other awards given by Butler University. Merit awards from Butler University will be retained in name only if the student receives Tuition Exchange.

Awards you receive from programs outside the University will affect the amount of your award. These programs include Indiana State Grants and tuition-specific scholarships from any other source. Federal Pell Grant awards may be applied to tuition costs as well.

Information about Yellow Ribbon and Chapter 33, along with more resources for veterans, can be found here.