Frank O’Bannon Grant — Indiana Commission for Higher Education

The Frank O’Bannon Grant is Indiana’s primary need-based state grant for residents pursuing an eligible program at an Indiana postsecondary institution. It includes the Higher Education Award and Freedom of Choice Grant, depending on institution type. Aid is intended for tuition and regularly assessed fees; do not budget it as automatic payment for housing or meals. The Commission for Higher Education publishes yearly award schedules, and the institution determines how the grant appears on a student account.

Eligibility requires Indiana residency by December 31 before the aid year and continued residency during the academic year, U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, a high-school diploma or GED, a program leading to an associate or first bachelor’s degree—or certain Ivy Tech/Vincennes certificates—and attendance at an eligible Indiana school. CHE uses the annual FAFSA as the application and lists April 15 as the state date. For 2026–27 that date has passed; if you are preparing for 2027–28, file the correct FAFSA when available, check for errors and ask your college whether it has an earlier priority date. Awards vary by SAI and institution type; use the official schedule rather than a generic search result.

Renewal involves more than submitting another FAFSA. CHE says 24–29 earned credits can retain a full-time amount, while 30 or more may qualify for the “on-time” maximum; the campus’s satisfactory-academic-progress standard also applies. Credits and outcomes are checked by aid year, and a lighter course load may reduce a later award. If you change programs, schools or enrollment levels, ask which attempted hours count, which credits transfer and how the change affects renewal before registering.

Student comments can suggest financial questions that a statewide table cannot answer for each family. In August 2026, an Indiana student described combining 21st Century Scholars with additional Purdue scholarships and advised checking alternatives if the remaining cost changes; another commenter described looking for scholarships. This is one person’s case, not a promise that another institution will cover similar expenses. Request an award breakdown separating Frank O’Bannon, Pell, campus scholarships and loans, and verify what applies to tuition, mandatory fees, housing, meals and books.

When you check your account, confirm through ScholarTrack or the school portal whether FAFSA arrived, verification is outstanding, which SAI and residency status were used, whether the school participates and how many credits CHE recognizes. The statewide Financial Aid Support Center is at (888) 528-4719 and awards@che.in.gov; the college aid office handles the specific award and disbursement. If the grant is missing or reduced, request the specific reason and appeal process in writing. Keep FAFSA records, notices, enrollment details and replies before taking private debt.