How To Get Free College in Indiana

College-going high school graduates are sometimes deterred by college costs. Many students in the past have had to turn to student loans, leading to post-graduation debt. Some states have begun introducing programs to provide students with grants and scholarships to reduce or eliminate college education costs.

Indiana has introduced multiple programs to help qualifying college students earn an associate's or bachelor's degree without incurring student loan debt. These programs are designed to help income-eligible high school students continue their education and approved in-state schools. Along with these programs, students can attend tuition-free online colleges in Indiana.

Is Community College Free in Indiana?

Indiana has no universal community college program, but several grants and scholarships can make community college free for eligible students. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education offers nine different programs. They also aid students across the Hoosier State to pay for their community college education and help them continue to a university for a four-year degree.

Who Qualifies for Free College in Indiana?

Free college programs in Indiana have differing requirements, but there are a few constant guidelines that you can expect, regardless of program. First, students must be Indiana residents. Residency is living in Indiana for over a year before applying for benefits. These financial aid programs also have guidelines for U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens.

What Is the 21st Century Scholarship?

The 21st Century Scholars program begins in middle school and can follow students to their college education if they satisfy requirements through high school. This scholarship program covers up to 100% of tuition if they enroll at an eligible Indiana school. To remain eligible students must meet the high school and college academic performance requirements.

High school students must complete the 12 activities called the Scholar Success Program. This program can be tracked using ScholarTrack and must be completed by June 30th of your final year of high school. If these activities aren't completed and documented, students will lose their 21st Century scholarship.

Students must also meet ongoing criteria once they start college. Students must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) threshold set by your school while taking at least 30 credit hours in a single academic year.

Who Is Eligible?

There are four main pillars of eligibility for the 21st Century scholarship program. The first requirement is that students must be residents of Indiana when they apply for the scholarship and when they receive it. If you and your family move to another state before you graduate high school, you won't be able to receive your scholarship fund. Students must also be U.S. citizens, nationals, or qualified Non-citizen residents. Indiana students also need to meet the family income threshold.

Eligible Institutions

60 institutions in Indiana accept the 21st Century Scholarship Program. The list of schools includes universities and community colleges. If you are looking for a school with a certain program, you can use the Learn More Indiana School Finder Tool to find schools that accept this scholarship and offer your desired degree.

How To Apply

Students are automatically enrolled in the program if they qualify for the Free and Reduced Price Lunch, a program for low-income families to help provide school lunches. Even if you don't qualify for this program, students can apply in 7th or 8th grade provided they meet other income requirements. If your student wasn't automatically enrolled, you can apply online. The application must be submitted by June 30th of the year students complete 8th grade.

What Is the Frank O'Bannon Grant?

The Frank O'Bannon Grant is designed to make college education more accessible for Indiana students. The grant is named for a former Indiana governor and can be applied to associate and bachelor's degrees. This grant is awarded based on financial need to first-time students, meaning they haven't completed a college degree program of any level.

Who Is Eligible?

There are several requirements for the Frank O'Bannon grant, mainly based on residency and income. Students must be full-time residents of Indiana by December 31st of the calendar year before the year they plan to use the grant and must maintain residency through the academic year.

Further requirements include:

• having a high school diploma or a GED
• maintaining a full-time course load (24-29 hours per academic year), students who take over 30 credit hours in an academic year will receive the maximum amount
• maintain satisfactory academic progress (GPA minimum) as defined by your school

Eligible Institutions

59 schools accept the Frank O'Bannon Grant. These schools include:

• community colleges
• technical schools
• online colleges
• four-year universities

The grant can also be applied to certificate programs from institutions like Ivy Tech Community College.

How To Apply

Students automatically apply for this grant when they complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form must be submitted by April 15th of each year to be eligible for financial aid in the next academic year.

Tips for Making College Affordable

Indiana's state government has started multiple initiatives to help students due to rising college education costs. In addition to these grant programs, there are other steps students can take to make college more affordable.

• begin your education path at a community college before transferring
• fill out your FAFSA and learn about all the federal grants, like the Pell Grant, and scholarships you can apply for
• use CLEP examinations to test out of some classes
• withdraw funds from a savings plan, like a 529 plan
• find a tuition-free college

Tuition-Free Colleges in Indiana

Some schools offer tuition-free programs or scholarships that can reduce or eliminate tuition costs. Other tuition-free schools use a payment model based on examination fees. These methods can make schooling more affordable for students rather than a traditional tuition model.

Popular schools in Indiana with free or affordable tuition programs include:

• DePauw University
• Indiana State University
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Indianapolis
• Vincennes University

Can I Use Free Tuition Benefits at Any College in Indiana?

Not all schools are approved for free tuition benefits. For-profit schools or fully online programs might not qualify for full benefits. Luckily, some of these schools may be eligible for other financial aid packages that can reduce tuition.