Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship
Offered by Lilly Endowment Inc. / Independent Colleges of Indiana
About This Scholarship
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is Indiana's most coveted award for graduating seniors: full tuition and required fees for four years of full-time study at any accredited Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university, plus up to $900 per year for required books and equipment. Approximately 147 scholarships are awarded annually across all 92 Indiana counties.
The program is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana, but students apply through the community foundation serving their home county. Each county foundation sets its own application, selection criteria, and deadline, then nominates finalists.
For the 2027 class, most county applications opened in July 2026 with deadlines from mid-August through late September 2026 — for example, Monroe County closes August 18 and Delaware County September 21. Students should find their county community foundation's Lilly Endowment scholarship page immediately, since many deadlines land within weeks.
Eligibility
- Indiana resident earning a diploma from an accredited Indiana high school
- Plan to enroll full-time in a baccalaureate program at an accredited Indiana public or private nonprofit college
- Must apply through the community foundation serving your home county
- County-specific criteria and deadlines apply (academics, service, and community involvement are typical factors)
How To Apply
- Find the community foundation serving your Indiana home county and locate its Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application.
- Complete the county application — typically transcripts, essays, activities, and recommendations — by your county's deadline (many fall between mid-August and late September 2026).
- County foundations nominate finalists; scholarship recipients are announced in December.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship cover?
Full tuition and required fees for four years at any accredited Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university, plus up to $900 per year for required books and equipment. Room and board are not covered.
How do I apply if every county is different?
You apply through the community foundation serving your home county. Each of Indiana's 92 counties has a designated foundation with its own application and deadline, so check yours as early as junior year.