Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship Last Chance
Offered by Indiana Commission for Higher Education
About This Scholarship
Indiana pays students to finish high school ahead of schedule. The Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship, administered by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, is a one-time $4,000 award for students who graduate from a publicly supported Indiana high school at least one year early and head straight to college.
The logic is straightforward: an early graduate saves the state a year of K-12 funding, and the scholarship passes part of that savings on to the student. The award is applied to tuition and fees at an eligible Indiana institution, and any remaining funds are returned to the student — though the money cannot pay for remedial coursework.
There is no essay and no competition. Students who meet the requirements — including earning at least a Core 40 diploma by the end of grade 11 and enrolling full-time in college the following fall — apply through the state's ScholarTrack system after filing the FAFSA.
Eligibility
- Indiana resident and U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen with legal settlement in Indiana for at least two semesters before graduation
- Graduated from a publicly supported Indiana high school at least one year early, attending full-time for the final two semesters
- Earned at least a Core 40 diploma by the end of grade 11 and never enrolled in grade 12 at a public high school
- Enrolls full-time at an eligible Indiana institution by the fall semester after graduating
How To Apply
- File the FAFSA at FAFSA.gov
- Submit the Early Graduation Scholarship application through Indiana's ScholarTrack portal by August 31 of your graduation year
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a competitive scholarship?
No. It is a state entitlement program — every student who meets the early-graduation and enrollment requirements and applies on time receives the one-time $4,000 award.
What can the $4,000 be used for?
The award is applied to tuition and fees at your eligible Indiana college, with any remainder returned to you. It cannot be used to pay for remedial coursework.