Most awards and cash prizes are one-time funding. Some are offered by national and state organizations, and some are offered by the ophthalmic industry. Some require academic excellence, some require proficiency in a particular area such as contact lenses, and some require a paper on a specific topic.

A complete listing of awards, honors, and scholarships is available as a downloadable PDF file. Copies are available by request to the Office of Student Administration at iubopt@indiana.edu. You are also encouraged to use the free national scholarship search for other outside scholarships available online at: www.fastweb.com. You will receive all pertinent information on scholarships for which you may qualify.

• Offered to approximately top 10% of incoming class
  
• Approximately 25% tuition reduction:
  
• $7,400 scholarship for non-resident students
• $4,000 scholarship for resident students
• Applicants with 3.8 or above undergrad GPA and 330 Total Science OAT Score are eligible for consideration
  
• Automatically considered after admission, decisions announced and awards offered by late January
  
• Do NOT have to have paid deposit to be considered
• Renewable for all four years, dependent on maintaining a 3.6 or better GPA

• Educational Opportunity Fellowships
  These fellowships, called EOF, are for incoming or continuing students. Nominee must be a US citizen or permanent resident, and must demonstrate acute financial need. Also, the nominee must be a first-generation college student, which means that neither parent achieved a bachelor's degree. The EOF is a one-year award that includes a $1,500 stipend and a tuition reduction. Non-residents who receive an EOF pay the resident tuition rate for that academic year.

• Edwards Fellowship
  Students in the third year of the Doctor of Optometry program can compete for one of the prestigious Edwards Fellowships. The dean nominates one student to be considered for one of four or five fellowships of approximately $10,000 each. The student nominated is the overall best student. The awards are made on the basis of superior scholastic ability and intellectual capacity, and good citizenship and character, including attitude toward university and community service as demonstrated by actual service.

Residents of Kentucky and Nebraska may qualify for a state contract seat in the entering class. The IU School of Optometry historically has had three seats for students from each state. Contract availability is subject to change as state legislatures annually review budget expenditures. A Kentucky or Nebraska student who is admitted to the Doctor of Optometry program does not automatically receive a contract.

For contract seat consideration, applicants should submit the OD application and materials no later than December 1st prior to the year of entry. The Committee on Admissions will review objective and subjective application information/interview results in determining contract recipients.

The current Kentucky contract covers the difference between resident and nonresident tuition fees for 4 years, while the current Nebraska contract provides a set amount of support for each of the four years of optometry school.

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must provide proof of residency in one of these states. Interested applicants should contact one of the following:

Kentucky: Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education 1024 Capital Center Dr., Ste. 320 Frankfurt, KY 40601-8204 Phone: (502) 573-1555 E-mail: CPE.Webmaster@mail.state.ky.us

Nebraska: Office of Admissions 12 Administration Building University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68588-0415 Phone (800) 742-8800 www.unl.edu/nuhusker/applications/Residencyapp.pdf

Students attending public Kentucky colleges/universities should contact their Registrar's office to request a letter of residency verification. Students who attend private Kentucky schools, attend out-of-state colleges, or have already graduated from a Kentucky public college/university can download the residency application form at cpe.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/24758B11-5A86-4022-A02E-C3CC2AD84992/0/ApplicationResidencyDetermination_20050415.pdf.

These military scholarships provide full tuition and reimbursement for required books, equipment, and school fees in addition to a monthly living stipend. Four-, 3-, and 2-year scholarships are available.

Contact information:

• US Army: 1-800-USA-ARMY, chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/doem/vision/army
• US Navy: 1-800-553-1146, chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/doem/vision/navy
• US Air Force: chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/doem/vision/airforce