The 21st Century Scholarship program has helped tens of thousands of Indiana students attend college and earn a degree. Read below to learn how to apply and enroll.
21ST CENTURY SCHOLAR
ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY
You can enroll your child as a 21st Century Scholar from the time they enter 7th grade to June 30 of their 8th-grade year. To apply for the 21st Century Scholars program, your student must:
1. Be a resident of Indiana
Be a resident of Indiana both when applying and when receiving the scholarship (determined by the residency of the parent or legal guardian).
2. Be one of the following:
• U.S. citizen or U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swains Island)
• U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551 or I-551C (Alien Registration Receipt Card)
• A non-citizen with one of the following designations (Un no ciudadano con cualquier de las designaciones que siguen):
• Refugee
• Asylum Granted
• Indefinite Parole and/or Humanitarian Parole
• Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending
3. Be enrolled in the 7th- or 8th-grade year
Be enrolled in the 7th- or 8th-grade year at an Indiana public or private school accredited by the Indiana Department of Education.
• Children in foster care may apply after the 8th-grade year.
• Homeschooled students are not eligible for the 21st Century Scholars program.
4. Meet the income eligibility guidelines.
See chart below for current income guidelines. Note: students must meet income eligibility guidelines at time of enrollment and each year of college.
• A student in foster care does not need to meet this requirement.
• A student in 7th or 8th-grade year who is in legal guardianship does not need to meet this requirement.
Haga clic aquí para mirar un video sobre este programa en Español.
21ST CENTURY SCHOLAR
INCOME REQUIREMENTS
| HOUSEHOLD SIZE | MAXIMUM ANNUAL INCOME |
|---|---|
| 2 | $33,874 |
| 3 | $42,606 |
| 4 | $51,338 |
| 5 | $60,070 |
| 6 | $68,802 |
| 7 | $77,534 |
| 8 | $86,266 |
For each additional family member add $8,732
HOW TO APPLY FOR
21ST CENTURY SCHOLARS
1. Get started at ScholarTrack.IN.gov. A student’s parent or guardian will need to provide their name and an email address to create a ScholarTrack parent account. Click on “My Account” to submit an application. Parents/guardians will need to provide the name, date of birth and Social Security Number for the student, the name(s) and Social Security Number(s) of the parent/guardian and the names of all other members of the household.
2. Once an application is received, you will receive an email with an application summary and program enrollment information. All applications to the 21st Century Scholars program must be submitted before June 30 of the eligible student’s 8th-grade year.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO GET STARTED:
Before you apply, make sure you have the following:
- Student Social Security Number, date of birth and address
- Parent or guardian’s Social Security Number, or Individual Taxpayer ID Number if applicable
- Previous year gross income amounts for all members of the household (Example: if you are applying after December 31, 2020, use 2020 amounts).
- A valid email address. Free email addresses are available from Yahoo!, Gmail and Live.
- Court documents, if submitting a legal guardianship application.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
During the application process, you will:
- Answer pre-enrollment questions
- Enter student contact information (address, phone, email, school information and SSN)
- Agree to the 21st Century Scholar Pledge
- Enter income information for parent or guardian
- Review and submit application
Applying Through a Local School or Community Organization
If you don’t have access to the online application, your child’s school counselor may agree to submit an online application for you with help from the Scholar Enrollment Flyer (available in other languages here). You can ask your counselor for help applying, and direct them to this site once you’ve provided all the required enrollment information.
IMPORTANT 21ST CENTURY SCHOLARS TIMELINES
High school is right around the corner! As a middle schooler, college might seem a long way off, but there are still things you can do to prepare for this important time in your life right now.
You can enroll as a 21st Century Scholar from the time you enter 7th grade to June 30 of your 8th-grade year, and if you keep your grades up and meet a few eligibility requirements, you’ll get money to pay for college!
Below, you’ll find important timelines for each stage of your 21st Century Scholars journey:
ENROLLMENT FAQs
For most students, Indiana law requires a student to apply by no later than June 30 of the student’s 8th grade year. The only exception is if a student experiences foster care from 7th grade through 12th grade. Students in foster care are enrolled through an agreement with the Department of Child Services.
The income guidelines change every year to match the current federal free/reduced lunch guidelines.
Yes, you can! Students in foster care in Indiana are able to enroll beyond their 8th grade year and aren’t required to follow the same income guidelines. If you need help understanding what this means to you or to your student, please contact the Commission for Higher Education at info@che.in.gov
You don’t have to file the FAFSA to enroll – it’s only for high school seniors and up. But, you will have to file the FAFSA starting in 12th grade and complete it each year of college to retain your scholarship.