Indiana college grants come from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE), and the two programs most students should know are the Frank O’Bannon Grant, a need-based grant for full-time Indiana residents at eligible Indiana colleges, and the 21st Century Scholars program, which pays up to 100% of tuition at Indiana public colleges for students from income-eligible families who meet the program’s high school requirements. Both depend on the FAFSA, and Indiana’s state deadline is April 15 every year.
April 15 is earlier than many families expect, and it applies to new and returning students alike. Missing it can cost a full year of state aid.
Indiana college grants at a glance
| Frank O’Bannon Grant | 21st Century Scholars | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Financial need from the FAFSA | Family income when enrolled in middle school, plus high school requirements |
| What it pays | A set award from CHE’s yearly award schedule | Up to 100% of tuition at public Indiana colleges; part of tuition at private colleges |
| When you sign up | File the FAFSA by April 15 | Enrolled in 7th or 8th grade (automatic for many), then FAFSA by April 15 |
| Enrollment | Full time | Full time at an eligible Indiana college |
Sources: CHE, Frank O’Bannon Grant and Learn More Indiana, 21st Century Scholars.
The Frank O’Bannon Grant
Who qualifies
According to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, you must:
- Be an Indiana resident by December 31 of the year before you apply, and remain one all academic year.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Be a high school graduate or hold a GED.
- Attend, or plan to attend, an eligible Indiana college.
- Pursue an associate or first bachelor’s degree, or a certificate at Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University.
- Enroll, or plan to enroll, full time.
- Show financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
- File the FAFSA “by the April 15th deadline each year.”
How much the O’Bannon Grant pays
CHE publishes O’Bannon amounts in yearly award schedules, the most recent being the 2026-2027 schedule. The schedule is a PDF matrix by need and school type, and we did not extract its figures in a form we could verify, so we have not quoted dollar amounts. Your aid offer will show your award.
Why credit completion changes your award
Indiana rewards students who stay on track to graduate on time. When you renew, CHE pays:
| Credits earned in the prior year | Award level |
|---|---|
| 24 to 29 credit hours | “Full-time” award amount |
| 30 or more credit hours | “On-time” award amount, the maximum |
You must also meet your college’s satisfactory academic progress requirements. The practical point: 12 credits a semester keeps you full time, but 15 credits a semester (30 a year) is what earns the higher on-time amount.
21st Century Scholars
The 21st Century Scholars program is Indiana’s early-commitment scholarship. Learn More Indiana, the CHE-affiliated outreach site, describes it as “a two- or four-year scholarship that pays up to 100% tuition at an eligible Indiana college or university.”
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Who can become a Scholar
- Indiana residents who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.
- From families that meet the program’s income guidelines. Students in foster care are exempt from the income requirement.
- Current 7th and 8th graders who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch are “automatically enrolled,” so their families do not need to apply.
What Scholars must do in high school
- Keep “at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.”
- Earn a Core 40 diploma, or the Indiana Diploma for the class of 2029 and later.
- Complete “all 12 Scholar Success Program activities,” tracked in ScholarTrack, by graduation.
- Submit the FAFSA by April 15 as a high school senior, and every year through college.
What the scholarship covers
Learn More Indiana says the program pays tuition at public Indiana colleges and part of tuition at private colleges. It does not cover books, room and board, parking, lab fees, or other fees not charged to all students. Plan for those costs separately; Pell and outside scholarships can help. Our free scholarship finder is a good place to look for book and housing awards.
How to apply for Indiana state aid
- File the FAFSA before April 15. See our guide on how to fill out the FAFSA.
- List an eligible Indiana college so your FAFSA reaches the state and the school.
- Scholars: check ScholarTrack to confirm your enrollment and Scholar Success activities.
- Answer any requests from your college or CHE quickly.
- Re-file every year by April 15. Indiana state aid is not renewed automatically.
How Indiana grants fit with federal aid
Indiana’s grants are packaged together with the Federal Pell Grant. For award years beginning on or after July 1, 2026, a student whose non-federal aid equals or exceeds the cost of attendance is not eligible for Pell, according to a June 4, 2026 Federal Student Aid electronic announcement. Cost of attendance includes housing, food and books, so a Scholar with free tuition is very unlikely to hit this limit, but students combining several large awards should ask their aid office. Our guide to Pell Grant eligibility covers the federal side.
Mistakes that cost Indiana students state aid
- Filing the FAFSA after April 15.
- Dropping below full time, which ends O’Bannon eligibility for the term.
- Earning 24 to 29 credits when 30 would have unlocked the higher on-time award.
- Scholars missing Scholar Success activities or letting their GPA fall below 2.5.
- Assuming 21st Century Scholars pays for housing or books. It does not.
Questions families ask about Indiana grants
My child is in 9th grade. Is it too late for 21st Century Scholars?
Learn More Indiana describes enrollment as happening in 7th or 8th grade, with automatic enrollment for students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Families of older students should check ScholarTrack or contact CHE to see whether the student was enrolled, because automatic enrollment means some families do not realize their child is already a Scholar.
Can I use the O’Bannon Grant part time?
CHE lists full-time enrollment as a requirement. Part-time students should ask their college about other state or institutional programs.
Do Scholars still need the FAFSA if tuition is covered?
Yes. Learn More Indiana requires Scholars to submit the FAFSA by April 15 as seniors and every year through college. The FAFSA also determines your Pell Grant, which can help with books and housing that the scholarship does not cover.
What does “on time” mean for my award?
For O’Bannon renewal, CHE pays the higher on-time award to students who earned 30 or more credit hours. Completing 24 to 29 credits earns the lower full-time amount. Taking 15 credits each semester, or making up credits in summer, is the simplest way to stay at the higher level.
Where to go next
Compare Indiana’s approach with other states in our guide to state grants for college, and read our FAFSA deadlines guide for college-specific dates. For this year’s seniors, the date that protects both programs is April 15, 2027.