ClaimYourCollegeFree, private college funding guide Open the free guide
Indiana state college aid

How Indiana college aid works

If you live in Indiana, the state runs its own college aid on top of federal aid. The one to know is the Frank O'Bannon Grant and 21st Century Scholars, run by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. Here is what it is, who qualifies, when to apply, and how it fits with the FAFSA.

Indiana's state aid programs

Indiana's flagship state aid is the Frank O'Bannon Grant. It also offers the 21st Century Scholars, administered by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

How to apply for Indiana grants and aid

FAFSA by April 15; 21st Century enrolls in 7th–8th grade.

The FAFSA is the master form. Filing it early puts a student in line for federal Pell grants and work-study, and it starts most state and college aid too. Some state funds are first come, first served, so it is safer to file the week the FAFSA opens than to wait.

Lowering out-of-state tuition

As a Indiana resident, you may also qualify for the Midwest Student Exchange (MSEP): Capped non-resident tuition at participating midwestern campuses. Participation varies by campus and major, so check the official program list.

Official source. Confirm current amounts and deadlines with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education: www.in.gov/che. Program rules and dates change year to year, so always check before you file.

See Indiana's aid in your plan, free

Add these Indiana programs to a personalized plan that also finds the national grants and scholarships a student qualifies for, with every deadline in one place. No account, no ads, and nothing you enter is ever sent to us.

Build my free Indiana plan

Not starting today? Take the deadlines with you.

Leave an email and I will send the FAFSA and aid dates that actually matter this school year, starting with the printable FAFSA night handout. The 2027-28 FAFSA opens by October 1, 2026.

This is a mailing list, not an account. It holds your email and nothing else. Nothing a student enters into the guide is ever sent to us, and this address is never connected to it. One-click unsubscribe on every email, and it is never sold.

Common questions about Indiana college aid

What is Indiana's main state financial aid program?

Indiana's flagship state aid is the Frank O'Bannon Grant and 21st Century Scholars, administered by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

When do you apply for Indiana college aid?

FAFSA by April 15; 21st Century enrolls in 7th–8th grade. Exact dates shift every year, so confirm the current cycle on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education site before you file.

Do you need the FAFSA for Indiana state aid?

Yes. Filing the FAFSA (or your state's alternative application) is what starts your Indiana state grant, and it also unlocks federal Pell grants and work-study. File it as early as you can.

Midwest Student Exchange states

Indiana shares the Midwest Student Exchange (MSEP) with these states, so their residents get similar out-of-state tuition breaks:

Kansas Minnesota Missouri Nebraska Ohio Wisconsin

Other states' college aid

Every state runs its own aid on top of federal grants. See how it works in another state:

Iowa Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Mississippi All 50 states and DC

Guides that help in every state

These apply wherever you live, alongside your Indiana state aid:

When does the FAFSA open? How to maximize financial aid What is the CSS Profile?

State aid details verified as of September 4, 2026. Dates shift each cycle, so always confirm the current deadline on the official Indiana Commission for Higher Education site.