21stCenturyScholarsHighSchoolSeniorFAQs(Classof2019)
AcompletelistofFrequentlyAskedQuestionsandmoreinformationandresourcesfor21stCenturyScholarSeniors—including information on completing the FAFSA—can be found on the 21st Century Scholars website:www.scholars.IN.gov/grade-12.Forquestionsandassistance,[email protected](888)528-4719.
WhatstepsmustI,asaneligible21stCenturyScholar,taketousemyScholarship?• Completeall12ScholarSuccessProgramrequirementsandtracktheminScholarTrackbyJune30,2019.• SubmittheFreeApplicationforFederalStudentAid(FAFSA)byApril15ofyoursenioryearofhighschool.• GraduatefromhighschoolwithacumulativeGPAof2.5ona4.0scale.• EarnaCore40Diploma.• MaintainIndianaresidency,asdeterminedbythepermanentresidenceofyourparentorlegalguardian.• ApplytoandbeadmittedtoaneligibleIndianacollege,universityorproprietaryschoolasahighschoolsenior.• Continuetomaintainthe21stCenturyScholarsPledge.• Respond to any requests for additional information from the 21st Century Scholars program, the Indiana
CommissionforHigherEducationoryourcollegebystateddeadlines.
Whatdoesthe21stCenturyScholarshipcover?Atin-state,publictwo-yearandfour-yearcolleges,yourawardcoversupto100percentoftuitionandsomeregularlyassessed fees suchas technology, student-activityandhealth-services fees. Yourawardpayspartof the tuitionatprivateorindependentcollegesandapprovedfor-profitspecialtyorproprietaryschools.(Alistofcollegesthatacceptthe21stCenturyScholarshipisavailableatwww.scholars.IN.gov/eligiblecolleges.)
Thescholarshipdoesnotcoverthecostofbooks,roomandboard,parkingfees,labfeesoranyotherfeesassessedthatarenotassessedtoallstudents,andwillpayuptofouryearsoftuitionassistance.Additionally,the21stCenturyScholarshipmustbeusedwithineightyearsafterthedateyoufirstenrollincollege.
WhatifthecollegelistedasthefirstchoiceonmyFAFSAisnottheschoolIdecidetoattend?IfyoudecidetoattendanycollegeotherthantheonelistedasthefirstchoiceonyourFAFSA,youmustchangeyourfirstchoicecollegeselectionviaScholarTrackatScholartrack.IN.gov.
WhatisScholarTrack?ScholarTrack istheone-stopshopforHoosiers’statefinancialaidneeds.ScholarTrackguidesstudentsandfamiliesthroughtheprocessofplanningfor,applyingandmaintainingtheirfinancialaid—beginningasearlyasmiddleschoolandcontinuingthroughcollegecompletion.For21stCenturyScholars,thenewScholarTrackwillreplaceyourexistingScholarTrackaccount.Forcurrentcollegestudents,ScholarTrackwillreplaceyoureStudentaccount.
MustIenrollincollegeimmediatelyafterhighschoolgraduation?No.Youhaveuptooneyearafterhighschoolgraduationtouseyourscholarship.Asaspring2018graduate,youhaveuntilthefall2019semestertoactivateyourscholarship.RememberthatyoumustfiletheFreeApplicationforFederal
StudentAid(FAFSA)bytheApril15,2019deadlineofyoursenioryearofhighschoolandeachsubsequentyear.Inaddition,youmustbeenrolledasafull-timestudentinordertoreceivethe21stCenturyScholarship.
WhathappensifIdecidedtoserveinthemilitary,causingmetoexceedtheone-yearrequirementtobegincollegeasafull-timestudent?Ifyouexceedtheone-yearrequirementtobegincollegeasafull-timecollegestudentduetoactive-dutyserviceinthemilitary you will need to submit an appeal. For more information about the Appeals Process, please visitwww.IN.gov/che/4500.htm.
WhatifmyhouseholdincomechangesbetweenthetimeIenrolledinthe21stCenturyScholarsprogramandthetimeIgraduatefromhighschool?Ifyouenrolledinthe21stCenturyScholarsprogramafterJune30,2011,thestatewillcompleteafinancialmeanstesteachyearthatyouareincollegetodeterminehowmuchstateaidyouareeligibletoreceive.Thetestusesstudents’annualExpectedFamilyContribution(EFC),whichisalreadyreportedeachyearontheFreeApplicationforFederalStudentAid(FAFSA)form.EveryScholarmustcompletetheFAFSAeachyeartoreceivefinancialaid,sonoadditionalsteps are necessary. Your family’s taxable and untaxed income, assets and benefits can all be considered in yourExpectedFamilyContribution.
Youcanfindyourenrollmentyearbyvisitingwww.scholars.IN.gov/keep-your-scholar-on-trackandclicking“CheckEnrollmentStatus.”Youwillneedyourname,dateofbirthandSocialSecurityNumbertolookitup.
There are online tools available that will estimate your Expected Family Contribution, such asIndianaCollegeCosts.org.The current threshold is about $24,570—which reflects the maximum annual cost ofattending Indiana’s public colleges. Studentswith Expected Family Contributions of $24,570 ormorewill not beeligibleforfinancialaidunderthe21stCenturyScholarsprogram.Scholarswhodonotdemonstratefinancialneedwillreceiveaone-timeawardofupto$2,500.
CanIreceivetheScholarshipifIearnaGEDorcompleteahomeschoolingprogram?No.IfyouearnaGEDorcompleteahomeschoolingprogramyouareNOTeligibletoreceivethescholarship.Youmustgraduatewithahighschooldiplomafromaneligible IndianahighschoolrecognizedbytheIndianaDepartmentofEducation(asagreedtointheScholarPledge).
CanIusetheScholarshipifIamenrolledincollegeasapart-timestudent?No.Youmustbeenrolledasafull-timestudentinordertousethescholarship.
IbelieveImayhavebrokentheScholarPledge.Isitmyresponsibilitytoreportthispotentialpledgeviolationtotheprogram?Yes. It is the responsibility of a Scholar student and/orhis/herparent to report potential pledge violations to theprogram, as soon as they become aware of the violation. Potential pledge violations should be reported [email protected]:
IndianaCommissionforHigherEducationATTN:StudentSupportCenter101WestOhio,Suite300Indianapolis,IN46204
