Photo by Ian Young

Bostyn Parkhurst, senior communications major, and Caitlyn Selby, sophomore psychology and anthropology major, sit at the Financial Assistance front desk in the Orr Center Feb. 7. 21st Century Scholars is a need-based financial assistance program that allows free admission to any Indiana public school and assisted tuition to Indiana private schools.

21st Century Scholars, located in the Robert D. Orr Center, is a program that helps make college more affordable for income-eligible students. The program starts in the seventh or eighth grade and ensures up to four years of paid tuition for undergraduate programs. 

Currently, to become eligible for 21st Century Scholars, students must be an Indiana resident, automatically enrolled or apply in seventh or eighth grade at an Indiana public or private school accredited by the Indiana Department of Education, a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and be a member of a family that meets income eligibility guidelines.

“I think that USI is a great destination for folks with the scholarship,” said Jacob Jenkins, academic skills advisor. “Out of the hundreds of students that I meet with each year, a lot of them are associated with the scholarship.”

Jenkins said that the state of Indiana is making changes to the application process to be a 21st Century Scholar. 

“Originally, you have to sign up at such a young age, which makes it difficult for many students, however, thankfully, the state has made some adjustments. Previously you had to be proactive and be diligent about the program, but now the state has passed a new bill that automatically enrolls people, making it even more accessible.”

21st Century Scholars also provides a scholarship for students enrolled in the 21st Century Scholars.  21st Century Scholar students must graduate from high school with a high school diploma and at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale and with at least a Core 40 diploma or higher, complete the Scholar Success Program and do not violate the Scholar Pledge. Students also must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as determined by the student’s selected college.

“Being in, and working with, 21st Century Scholars has been such an amazing experience,” said Luke Scofield, senior electrical engineering major. “It was truly life-changing. I wouldn’t have been able to go to college without it. It has guided me through my college preparatory career. I first learned about it in the sixth grade, my mom applied for me, of course. The application process at the time was very difficult to apply, and it wasn’t heavily advertised.”