Ball State University will award $2.6 million in 2005-06 to about 2,000 Indiana students who are in need of financial aid.

Ball State has steadily increased its financial aid from $60,000 in 2001-02 to its current level. Boosting allocations by more than $2.5 million in the last four years will allow more qualified students to attend Ball State, said Douglas McConkey, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.

"The cost of college tuition has risen, and we're sensitive to that," he said. "We don't want lack of money to keep qualified students from attending Ball State."

Individual awards will be between $500 and $2,000, and they will be renewable for three additional years. To be eligible for these allocations, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 10. Questions should be addressed to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at (765) 285-5600.

"These allocations are intended to further diversify the student body by making Ball State more accessible to all qualified students," McConkey said. "We want to get the word out early so students with financial need and their parents can make plans knowing that such aid is available to them."

(Note to editors: For more information, contact McConkey at (765) 285-1444 or dmcconke@bsu.edu.)