Indiana seventh and eighth grade students can still apply for the 21st Century Scholars program, but the June 30 deadline is swiftly approaching. 21st Century Scholars is a statewide financial aid program that provides up to four years of undergraduate tuition and fees for eligible low-income students at Indiana colleges and universities.
To qualify, students must apply during their seventh or eighth grade year. Most students who qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch guidelines will qualify for the 21st Century Scholars program – but students can only take advantage if they apply before the June 30 deadline.
The program, led by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, prepares students for success beyond high school through a combination of academic and financial supports.
“The 21st Century Scholars program is a life-changing and nationally recognized, need-based financial aid program available to Indiana students,” Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers said. “This program helps ensure that college is affordable at a time when it is more important than ever.”
The program yields positive results for Scholars attending college, according to the Commission for Higher Education’s 2019 College Readiness Report, which found that 86 percent of scholarship recipients attend college after high school, compared to 63 percent of students statewide.
Throughout high school, 21st Century Scholars are expected to maintain academic success by earning a 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, remain drug and alcohol free and complete a series of college-preparation activities called the Scholars Success Program.
