Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship
Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE)
One-time $4,000 for students who finish a publicly supported Indiana high school at least a year early and start college the next fall.
- How much
- $4,000 one-time
- Who qualifies
- Indiana resident with legal settlement in Indiana for the last two semesters before graduating; attended a publicly supported Indiana high school full-time for those two semesters; Core 40 or higher diploma by end of grade 11; no enrollment in grade 12; full-time degree-seeking enrollment no later than the following fall.
- For high school seniors, students starting college
- U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- When to apply
- Opens later Application opens Nov 1 and closes Aug 31 of the early-graduation year (Class of 2027: Nov 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027); eligibility notices in November
- How to apply
- File a complete FAFSA and submit the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship application in ScholarTrack
- Class of 2027 early graduates: the 2027-28 application opens Nov 1, 2026 and closes Aug 31, 2027
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (in.gov)
The details
One-time $4,000 scholarship toward tuition and fees; any remaining funds go to the student. Cannot be used for remedial coursework. You must graduate with at least a Core 40 diploma by the end of grade 11 (summer work counts if done by July 1), not be enrolled in any part of grade 12, and enroll full-time in a degree program at an eligible institution no later than the fall right after graduation. The Indiana Department of Education verifies eligibility from high school data; CHE notifies students and colleges in November.
More money from Indiana
- Frank O'Bannon Grant2026-27: up to $10,600 (private), $5,300 (public), $4,050 (proprietary or Ivy Tech) per year, by SAI
- Adult Student Grantup to $2,000 per year (by SAI: $2,000 / $1,750 / $1,250 / $750 / $500)
- 21st Century Scholars Programup to 100% of tuition at Indiana public colleges; part of tuition at eligible private colleges
- Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Granttuition and mandatory fees for a qualifying certificate program (last-dollar, after Pell)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.