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21st Century Scholars Program

Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE)

Open nowRenews each year

Indiana's early college promise: up to 4 years of up to 100% tuition at Indiana public colleges (part of tuition at private colleges) for income-eligible students enrolled in 7th/8th grade.

How much
up to 100% of tuition at Indiana public colleges; part of tuition at eligible private colleges
Who qualifies
  • Must be enrolled (automatically or by application) by June 30 of 8th grade, except students in foster care; family income within Free and Reduced Price Lunch guidelines at enrollment (foster youth and 7th/8th graders in legal guardianship exempt); financial means test before college for auto-enrolled students; Core 40 / Indiana Diploma with 2.5 GPA; Scholar Success Program and Scholar Pledge; full-time and 30 credits/year in college.
  • For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
  • U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
  • Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
When to apply
Open now Enrollment: automatic for FRPL-eligible 7th/8th graders, or apply in ScholarTrack Oct 1 (7th grade) through June 30 of 8th grade. Then FAFSA by Indiana's April 15 deadline every year (2027-28: April 15, 2027).
How to apply
  1. Most income-eligible students are enrolled automatically in 7th/8th grade (check ScholarTrack before applying)
  2. Otherwise a parent applies in ScholarTrack between the start of 7th grade and June 30 of 8th grade
  3. Create a ScholarTrack account, sign the Scholar Pledge, complete the Scholar Success Program in high school, and file the FAFSA by April 15 every year from senior year on
What you'll need
state application + FAFSA
Last checked
October 5, 2026, against the official page (learnmoreindiana.org), page 2, page 3, page 4 and page 5
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The details

Pays up to 100% of tuition (and regularly assessed fees) at eligible Indiana public colleges and part of tuition at eligible private/independent colleges, as a two- or four-year scholarship; does not cover books, room and board, parking, lab fees or fees not charged to all students. Since House Enrolled Act 1449-2023, 7th and 8th graders who qualify for Free and Reduced Price Lunch are automatically enrolled (classes of 2028, 2029 and 2030 so far; class of 2030 families got letters in April and August 2026); families who meet the income guidelines without FRPL can apply from the start of 7th grade until June 30 of 8th grade (application opens Oct 1 each year in ScholarTrack). Students in foster care can enroll after 8th grade and are exempt from the income test. To earn the scholarship, Scholars sign the Scholar Pledge in ScholarTrack, complete the Scholar Success Program activities in high school, graduate with at least a Core 40 diploma (or the new Indiana Diploma, class of 2029+) and a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and file the FAFSA by April 15 of senior year. Automatically enrolled students face a financial means test before their first college year that determines how much state aid they get. In college: full-time enrollment, 30 credits per academic year, FAFSA by April 15 each year, Satisfactory Academic Progress and the college Scholar Success Program. Up to four years of awards, used within eight years of first activating it, starting within one year of high school graduation.

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