What is the Indiana FAFSA deadline?

April 15. Indiana requires the FAFSA by April 15 each year for the Frank O'Bannon Grant and for 21st Century Scholars, per the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. For 2027-28, that's April 15, 2027.

How much is the Frank O'Bannon Grant?

For 2026-27, the maximum 'on-time' award is $10,600 at private colleges, $5,300 at public universities and $4,050 at Ivy Tech or proprietary schools, for students with the lowest Student Aid Index. Awards shrink as the SAI rises, and students who complete 24-29 credits instead of 30 get the smaller 'full-time' amount.

What does 21st Century Scholars cover?

Up to four years of paid tuition at an eligible Indiana college: full tuition at public colleges and partial tuition at private and proprietary colleges, for income-eligible students who enroll (now automatically, through free or reduced-price lunch eligibility) in 7th or 8th grade and complete the Scholar Success Program, graduate with at least a 2.5 GPA and file the FAFSA by April 15.

Indiana Financial Aid: 21st Century Scholars (Free Public Tuition), the Frank O'Bannon Grant (Up to $10,600), and the April 15 FAFSA Deadline

Indiana financial aid rests on two state programs, and both require the FAFSA by April 15. 21st Century Scholars pays up to four years of tuition at an Indiana public college for income-eligible students, who are now automatically enrolled in middle school. The need-based Frank O'Bannon Grant pays up to $10,600 at private colleges and $5,300 at public universities in 2026-27. On the admissions side, more than 76,000 Indiana seniors received pre-admission letters this month.

The details below are from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) and Purdue and Indiana University's admissions pages.

Indiana's two main state aid programs

	21st Century Scholars	Frank O'Bannon Grant
Who	Income-eligible students enrolled in 7th or 8th grade (auto-enrolled via free or reduced-price lunch)	Need-based, from the FAFSA's Student Aid Index (SAI)
What it pays	Up to 4 years of tuition: full at public colleges, partial at private and proprietary	2026-27 maximum: $10,600 private, $5,300 public, $4,050 Ivy Tech or proprietary
Key requirements	Scholar Success Program, 2.5 high school GPA, full-time enrollment within a year	Indiana resident, full time, credit-completion rules
Deadline	FAFSA by April 15	FAFSA by April 15

Sources: CHE, State Financial Aid by Program, Frank O'Bannon 2026-2027 award table and 21st Century Scholars materials.

See Frank O'Bannon Grant amounts and 21st Century Scholars requirements.

The rule that changes the O'Bannon amount: 30 credits

Every first-year recipient gets the larger "on-time" O'Bannon award. To keep it, you must complete 30 credit hours in each 12-month award year. Complete 24-29 and you drop to the smaller "full-time" amount. AP, IB and dual-credit hours can count toward the requirement.

Admissions: pre-admission letters and a new guarantee

Indiana Pre-Admissions: This fall, more than 76,000 seniors at 501 participating high schools learned which Indiana colleges they're pre-admitted to, based on GPA through junior year, SAT scores and/or diploma type. The average student matched with 27 of 42 campuses. You still have to apply.
Enrollment Honors Plus Seal: Students who earn the new Indiana Diploma with this seal get guaranteed admission to all seven of Indiana's public universities. CHE says 627 students are on track this year.
Purdue and IU Bloomington: Early Action deadlines are Nov. 1.

See Indiana pre-admissions and Purdue/IU admissions.

What this means for you

File the 2027-28 FAFSA by April 15, 2027. Both programs depend on it.
21st Century Scholar? Keep your GPA at 2.5 or higher and finish the Scholar Success Program activities.
Plan on 30 credits a year in college to keep the full O'Bannon award.
Check your pre-admission letter and apply to the schools on it.