Information about State of Indiana Grants

Information about State of Indiana Grants

Award notices, both on-line and on paper, contain information about your eligibility for the need-based Frank O'Bannon Grant and other state grants. They either list the grants you are eligible to receive or tell you that you are not eligible for any state aid. Eligibility is based on data you disclosed on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the approved and typical tuition and fees at your chosen college, and the type of high school diploma you earned. SSACI grants may be applied only toward certain tuition and fees. The financial aid office of the college listed has been notified of your grant status. YOU DO NOT NEED TO CONTACT SSACI TO ACCEPT OR REJECT THESE GRANTS.

Incorrect/Ineligible College
SSACI must have the correct college on file in order to make an award. Awards are made only to the first eligible college listed on the FAFSA. Failure to provide the correct college will result in the loss of your grant. If the incorrect college is listed in the Current Information box go to www.ssaci.IN.gov/estudent/ to correct it immediately (also make sure that your chosen college is listed on your FAFSA at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/). Print and keep a copy of the online grant notification; you will not receive one by mail. No changes will be taken over the phone or by E-mail, but you may mail or fax the corrections to SSACI, which could take 2 to 3 weeks to process. Once SSACI makes the change of college, a revised notification will be issued to you via mail and to your college electronically. All corrections must be made before the term ends and in enough time for the college to claim the award, which could be at least 3 or 4 weeks before the term ends. Changes made near the end of the term might not be received in time to be effective and the award will be lost. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SUBMIT CHANGES IN A TIMELY MANNER.
General Eligibility Requirements (GERS)

There are four general eligibility requirements (GERS) for all full-time state grants and scholarships: (1) you must show financial need according to program rules; (2) your FAFSA must be received by the federal processor by March 10th and be error-free by May 15th each and every year; (3) you-and your parent(s), if you are a dependent student-must be legal residents of Indiana and remain so during the academic year; and (4) you must be an undergraduate working on an associate or first bachelor degree, maintain satisfactory academic progress, not be in default or overpayment, and meet the specific requirements of your chosen college. If you are classified as being in some professional degree programs (veterinary medicine, pharmacy, optometry, accounting and so on), you are no longer eligible for state aid.

Grant Amount Variation
The grant amounts listed on the other side are based on approved and typical tuition and fees at your chosen college, which might be less than your actual charges, and which might be different for students in evening or accelerated programs. Since tuition varies from one college to another, your grant will be adjusted to reflect such variations if you change your college. Moreover, the grant amounts listed are the maximum you can receive at your chosen college. Grants may also change as a result of verification performed by the college or SSACI. Finally, all grants are subject to the availability of state and federal funds and may be reduced at any time.

Annual Grants by Term
The grant amounts listed are annual amounts and may be used only during fall, winter and spring terms of the academic year and not summer school. The annual grant is split into term grants, which are paid directly to the college. Some grants may be only for one term due to prior grant usage (see Eligibility Period).
Required Enrollment (Tuition by Credit Hour)
The grant amounts listed are based on 30 hours of enrollment per academic year, or 15 hours per semester (or the equivalent at trimester and quarter schools). At colleges that charge by the credit hour, students enrolled in at least 12 but less than 15 credit hours per semester will have their grants reduced if the actual tuition falls below the approved tuition used to estimate the grant. For example, if your term award at 15 hours is $3,000, your award at 12 hours could be reduced to $2,400. Your college will make the adjustment. Students at colleges that charge a flat fee for enrollment in 12-15 credit hours will receive the maximum grant amount provided they are enrolled full-time. Note that some colleges charge a flat fee to some students but charge by the credit hours to others if they are enrolled in evening, accelerated, state-wide technology or similar programs.

Dropping/Withdrawing from Classes (SSACI Refund Period)
State grants are awarded to eligible students based on the assumption that they will attend college full-time for the entire term (for an exception, see NGSG). If you are enrolled less than full-time, you cannot receive any of the listed state grants. If you drop classes or withdraw from college, your state grant can be reduced or taken away, even after the college has credited it to your bill. The measure of whether or not you are enrolled full-time is taken at the end of the SSACI refund period, which is the first four weeks of classes or the college's refund period, whichever is shorter. If you drop classes so as to be enrolled less than full-time or withdraw completely before the end of the SSACI refund period, you cannot receive any listed state grant-you must be full-time at the end of the SSACI refund period. If after the SSACI refund period, you drop one or more classes so as to be enrolled less than full-time or if you withdraw completely from school, your state aid must be reduced to reflect the new reduced tuition if the college refunds you money based on the change in enrollment. Ask your chosen college about its refund period and policy.

Eligibility Period
All grant recipients may use up to eight semesters, twelve trimesters or twelve quarters of any combination of state grants. You cannot receive grants from the state of Indiana once you reach these limits or fail to meet the GERS. To view your award history, go to www.ssaci.IN.gov/estudent.

Higher Education Awards and Freedom of Choice Grants
The Frank O'Bannon Grant program includes several awards. Grant funds for students attending public or proprietary colleges are called Higher Education Awards. For those enrolled at private colleges, the Grant is split into the Higher Education Award and the Freedom of Choice Grant. Students must meet the GERS and enroll full-time to receive funding. Federal LEAP/SLEAP funds might be part of the Grant.
Academic Honors and Core 40 Diploma Grants
Academic Honors and Core 40 Diploma grants are offered only to Frank O'Bannon Grant recipients who have financial need and who graduate from an eligible Indiana high school with an Academic Honors or Core 40 diploma with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and 2.0 respectively on a 4.0 scale. Graduating with the diplomas does not guarantee financial aid. If you think you should have the grant but do not or if you have been awarded one of these grants without meeting the qualifications, go to www.ahdc40.in.gov/fix immediately and follow the instructions. Claiming an award you do not deserve will permanently disqualify you from receiving state grants.

21st Century Scholars Scholarship
Affirmed 21st Century Scholars must graduate from an eligible Indiana high school with a final cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. In addition to the GERS, they must enroll full-time at an eligible Indiana college and abstain from criminal activity and the illegal use of controlled substances including alcohol. Failure to meet these requirements will result in loss of the scholarship. If you do not have the required high school GPA or have engaged in criminal activities, immediately contact SSACI at (317) 233-2100. Claiming an award you do not deserve will permanently disqualify you from receiving state grants.

NGSG: National Guard Supplemental Grant
In addition to meeting the GERS and being within the Eligibility Period, National Guard Supplemental Grant students must be on active drilling status in the Indiana Air or Army National Guard and must not have been AWOL during the 12 months prior to their enrollment. The Guard must certify that students are eligible for the grant before the start of classes each and every term; otherwise, the grant will be withdrawn. This grant can be applied toward certain tuition and fees only at Indiana public colleges. It is both a full- and a part-time grant. It can be taken away in the same way a Frank O'Bannon Grant can be taken away. It can be reduced from a full-time to a part-time grant if you drop below full-time after the SSACI refund period and the school refunds you money.

State Part-time Grant Program
If you are enrolled part-time, this Grant Notification is not valid. However, at certain colleges, students enrolled less than full-time may be eligible for a state Part-time Grant. Restrictions apply. For information contact the financial aid office of your college.

State Work Study Program
This program is designed to help students gain work experience and earn money towards their college expenses both during the summer and the school year. If you used a Frank O'Bannon Grant or 21st Century Scholarship last year you might be eligible. Apply by December 31 at http://www.in.gov/ssaci/2340.htm.
Change College, Address, or E-mail
To change your college, address, e-mail or look up your state grant award history, go to http://www.ssaci.IN.gov/estudent/.

