Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant

Indiana’s Workforce Ready Grant pays tuition and mandatory fees for selected high-demand certificate programs for up to two years at Ivy Tech, Vincennes University, and other approved providers. Fields include advanced manufacturing, construction, health sciences, technology/business services, and transportation/logistics. It is last-dollar aid, calculated after other eligible assistance, and does not automatically cover equipment or program-specific charges.

There is an important 2026–27 change: students classified as dependent on FAFSA who are applying for the first time are ineligible under the published rule. Independent students and dependent students who already used the grant and continue their certificate in 2026–27 may qualify. General requirements include Indiana residency, citizenship or eligible immigration status, a diploma or equivalent, FAFSA, an approved program, and satisfactory progress; minimum enrollment varies by dependency status.

The practical first step is to find the provider and certificate through Next Level Jobs, apply for admission, and submit a corrected FAFSA for the academic year. The grant may cover the authorized remaining balance, but students should not assume a specific amount before the financial-aid office evaluates Pell and other aid. A new dependent applicant should ask the campus about other funding options: being in a priority sector does not override the cycle’s eligibility exclusion.

Who it serves and what it can cover: Indiana’s Workforce Ready Grant pays tuition and mandatory fees for selected high-demand certificate programs for up to two years at Ivy Tech, Vincennes University, and other approved providers. Fields include advanced manufacturing, construction, health sciences, technology/business services, and transportation/logistics. It is last-dollar aid, calculated after other eligible assistance, and does not automatically cover equipment or program-specific charges. There is an important 2026–27 change: students classified as dependent on FAFSA who are applying for the first time are ineligible under the published rule. Independent students and dependent students who already used the grant and continue their certificate in 2026–27 may qualify. General requirements include Indiana residency, citizenship or eligible immigration status, a diploma or equivalent, FAFSA, an approved program, and satisfactory progress; minimum enrollment varies by dependency status.

How to apply or get help: The practical first step is to find the provider and certificate through Next Level Jobs, apply for admission, and submit a corrected FAFSA for the academic year. The grant may cover the authorized remaining balance, but students should not assume a specific amount before the financial-aid office evaluates Pell and other aid. A new dependent applicant should ask the campus about other funding options: being in a priority sector does not override the cycle’s eligibility exclusion. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information