21st Century Scholars Program

21st Century Scholars Program

Funder: State of Indiana (created 1990)

Administrator: Indiana Commission for Higher Education

Program Status: Active and well-established (celebrating 30th anniversary in 2020)

Geographic Scope: Indiana (statewide)

Award Amount: Up to 4 years of paid tuition at participating Indiana colleges and universities (including ICI member institutions)

Program Focus: Nationally-recognized early college promise program providing educational equity and access to income-eligible students

Eligibility Requirements

• Income-eligible students (low-income households)
• Must apply in 7th or 8th grade
• Enrolled in Indiana public or private schools

Scholarship Conditions & Expectations

Recipients must:
• Maintain at least a 2.5 GPA throughout high school
• Graduate with at least a Core 40 diploma
• Pledge to remain drug and alcohol-free
• Participate in college and career readiness measures through the Scholars Success Program

Program Outcomes & Impact

• Over 40,000 students have earned college degrees with 21st Century Scholarship
• Nearly 100,000 students currently enrolled in program (7th graders through college seniors)
• 86% college enrollment rate among Scholars (vs. 63% statewide and 39% for low-income non-Scholars)
• Scholars are 2x more likely to attend college than low-income peers
• On track to close educational achievement gap by 2025 (only group meeting this goal)
• Less likely to need remediation, more likely to persist to second year, more likely to stay in Indiana

What They Fund

• Tuition at participating Indiana colleges and universities
• Does NOT fund room and board or other expenses (tuition only)

Participating Institutions

• All Indiana public universities
• All Independent Colleges of Indiana member institutions (30 private colleges)
• Other eligible Indiana colleges and universities

Contact Information

Indiana Commission for Higher Education
• Website: learnmoreindiana.org/scholars-turns-30/
• Media Contact: Charlee Beasor
• Phone: 317.232.1016
• Email: CBeasor@che.in.gov