21st Century Scholars – It’s time to enroll

21st Century Scholars – It’s time to enroll

21^st Century Scholars program overview: The 21st Century Scholars program is an Indiana state scholarship that helps students prepare and pay for college. To be eligible, students must be an Indiana resident, a US citizen or eligible non-citizen, enrolled while in 7th or 8th grade, and a member of a family that meets income eligibility guidelines. The Scholarship provides tuition for up to four years at public Indiana colleges and universities. Students can also receive tuition aid at private Indiana colleges.

Unique opportunities for 21^st Century Scholars: Some institutions, such as Purdue University and Indiana University, have additional special programs that help 21^st Century Scholars pay for room, board and books. The Purdue Promise and the IU Covenant are designed to supplement the 21st Century Scholarship and assist high financial need students graduate in four years with little or no debt if they have been accepted at Purdue West Lafayette or Indiana University Bloomington.

Funding breakdown for students: To provide an idea of how this can impact a student enrolled in the 21^st Century Scholars program, the current average cost of tuition is $10,000 annually. That is a potential of $40,000 in tuition assistance for a 21^st Century Scholar across four years through the state of Indiana’s 21^st Century Scholars program. In addition, the Purdue Promise or IU Covenant can provide 21^st Century Scholars Scholars with an additional $98,000 in financial assistance over four years for room, board and books.

Deadline and how to enroll as a 21^st Century Scholar: For the 2021-2022 school year, the deadline to enroll is June 30, 2022. Project Leadership is visiting middle school campuses during February and March.  Students attending school presentations will receive information packets that include an application worksheet. Parents or guardians enrolling their children should complete the application worksheet and return it to school. All applications to the 21st Century Scholars program must be submitted before June 30.

Information needed to apply: Parents or guardians will need the following to apply:

• Student Social Security number and date of birth
• Mailing address, a valid email address, and phone number
• Parent or guardian Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
• Previous year gross income amounts of all sources of income for all members of the household.

Need to know: Project Leadership will follow up with parents by phone in May and June and to assist in completing applications and enrolling their students. For more information, please contact your school guidance counselor, or call Lori Kingery at Project Leadership at 765-896-8616 or 765-651-0650.