Workforce Resource Navigator
Pay for College
Tuition assistance, scholarships, grants, and loan forgiveness for higher education.
55 resources in this category
Frank O'Bannon Grant (Freedom of Choice Grant)
Need-based grant for Indiana students attending eligible postsecondary institutions including proprietary (for-profit) schools. Lower award amounts than the Higher Education Award. Based on FAFSA eligibility.
Frank O'Bannon Grant (Higher Education Award)
Need-based grant for Indiana students at public or private nonprofit postsecondary institutions (not proprietary). Awards are generally higher than the Freedom of Choice Grant. Based on FAFSA eligibility.
21st Century Scholars Program
Pays up to 100% of tuition at public colleges in Indiana and part of tuition at private colleges. Must enroll in the program by 8th grade. Does not cover books, room & board, or fees.
Teacher Residency Program
State-funded one-year, post-graduate residencies for aspiring K-12 teachers. Residents receive intensive classroom training under a mentor teacher in participating Indiana school corporations or charter schools.
Tuition Exemption for Children of Disabled Veterans / Purple Heart Recipients
Up to 100% tuition and fees for up to 124 credit hours at Indiana public colleges at the undergraduate resident tuition rate.
Earline S. Rogers Student Teaching Scholarship for Minorities
For minority students pursuing teaching careers in underserved Indiana counties. Must agree to teach in Indiana for at least 3 years if hired.
Student Teaching Scholarship for High-Need Fields
Scholarship for students planning to teach special education, middle/high school math, or science. Priority given to those with remaining state financial aid eligibility.
Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship
Up to $10,000/year (renewable for 4 years) for high-achieving students pursuing education careers. Must agree to teach full-time for 5 years at an eligible Indiana school.
Transition to Teaching Scholarship
One-time, non-renewable scholarship up to $10,000 for students pursuing education careers. Must agree to teach full-time for 5 years at an eligible Indiana school.
William A. Crawford Minority Teaching Scholarship
For minority students pursuing teaching in underserved Indiana counties. Must agree to teach in Indiana for at least 3 years.
EARN Indiana (Work-Study Program)
State work-study program providing paid internships for students with financial need. Employers receive 50% state matching funds on the student's hourly rate.
Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship
One-time scholarship for students who graduate from a publicly supported high school at least one year early. May be used toward tuition and fees.
Adult Student Grant
Up to $2,000/year for working adults starting or completing an associate degree, bachelor's degree, or certificate. Covers tuition and regularly assessed fees.
Workforce Ready Grant
Pays tuition and mandatory fees for high-value certificate programs at Ivy Tech, Vincennes University, and other approved providers. Covers advanced manufacturing, building & construction, health sciences, IT & business services, and transportation & logistics.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs
Federal grant funding to support registered apprenticeship expansion, employer partnerships, and new apprenticeship pathways. Earn-and-learn model with DOL-registered credentials.
Adult Basic Education
Free math, reading, and writing instruction to help adults acquire skills for a high school equivalency diploma, college readiness, or entry-level occupational certification.
Workforce Pell Grant
Landmark expansion of Pell Grants to short-term workforce training programs (150-599 hours, 8-15 weeks). Signed into law July 4, 2025 as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Effective July 1, 2026. Unlike traditional Pell, bachelor's degree holders ARE eligible. NPRM published March 9, 2026 — comment period closes April 8, 2026.
Indiana Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program
Financial and academic support for youth who have aged out of foster care. Covers tuition/fees, room and board, books, transportation, childcare, and medical costs at accredited institutions.
Career Scholarship Accounts
$5,000 annually ($1,250/quarter) for eligible students to pursue apprenticeships, applied learning, work-based learning, and career credentials. Covers education, transportation, equipment, career coaching, and certification exams.
National Guard Tuition Supplement Grant
100% of tuition at public Indiana institutions or up to $5,000 at private non-profits for eligible Indiana Air and Army National Guard members. Full-time or part-time enrollment.
Child of Deceased or Disabled Veteran
100% tuition at Indiana public colleges or up to $5,000 at private non-profits for children of deceased or disabled veterans. Covers undergraduate and professional-level programs. Up to 124 credit hours.
Career & Technical Education (Perkins Act)
Hands-on, skills-based education across 14 career clusters. Programs of study focus on in-demand occupations. Provides federal funding for CTE equipment, instruction, and career guidance.
Education Readiness Grants (Industry 4.0)
Grants for Indiana secondary schools to purchase Industry 4.0 technologies (robotics, automation, cybersecurity labs) that prepare students for high-tech manufacturing careers. Students benefit through hands-on access.
Dual Credit Programs
High school students earn both high school and college credits simultaneously, reducing time and cost to earn a degree or credential.
Career Coaching Grant
Free career coaching for Indiana students through state-funded intermediaries. Provides career assessments, exploration of career pathways, and connections to employers and postsecondary options.
Promoted Industry Certification Exams
State-approved industry certifications that high school students can earn for free through CTE pathways. These employer-vetted credentials satisfy Graduation Pathway requirements and lead to high-demand careers.
Credential Completion Grants
State incentive that pays schools when students earn approved industry credentials before graduation. While the grant goes to the school (not the student), it funds more CTE programs and exam opportunities for you.
Next Generation Minority Educator Scholarship
Scholarship for minority students pursuing education degrees at Indiana colleges. Aims to increase diversity in the teaching profession.
Primary Care Shortage Area Scholarship
Scholarship for Indiana students pursuing primary care medical degrees who commit to practicing in a designated shortage area in Indiana.
Work and Learn Indiana
Indiana’s work-based learning platform connecting students with employers for internships, co-ops, and other experiential learning opportunities.
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
Up to 36 months of education benefits covering 100% tuition/fees at public institutions, monthly housing allowance, and $1,000/year book stipend for veterans with qualifying active-duty service.
Yellow Ribbon Program
Additional tuition coverage beyond the GI Bill cap for veterans attending private or out-of-state schools. School contributes extra funds and VA matches dollar-for-dollar.
American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)
Federal tax credit of up to $2,500/year per student for the first 4 years of postsecondary education. 40% refundable — you can get up to $1,000 back even if you owe no taxes.
Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC)
Federal tax credit of up to $2,000/year for any postsecondary education including graduate school, professional development, and non-degree courses. No limit on years claimed.
Section 127 Employer Educational Assistance
Employers can provide up to $5,250/year tax-free per employee for tuition, fees, books, and student loan repayment. Made permanent by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (July 2025). Indexed for inflation starting 2026.
TEACH Grant
Up to $4,000/year ($16,000 total) for students completing teacher preparation programs who commit to teaching in high-need fields at low-income schools for 4 years. Converts to a loan if commitment is not met.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness
Up to $17,500 in federal student loan forgiveness for teachers who complete 5 consecutive years teaching at a qualifying low-income school.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Complete forgiveness of remaining federal student loan balance after 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualifying public service employer (government or nonprofit).
NHSC Loan Repayment Program
Up to $75,000–$80,000 in student loan repayment for primary care, dental, and behavioral health providers who serve in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) for 2+ years.
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
Repays up to 85% of qualifying nursing education loans for registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nursing faculty who work at Critical Shortage Facilities or nursing schools.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Federal campus-based grant of $100–$4,000/year for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Priority given to Pell Grant recipients.
Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG Indiana)
Largest in-the-nation JAG program. Free 2-credit employability skills class for at-risk middle/high school and community college students, plus 12 months of post-graduation follow-up.
IDOC Correctional Education & Apprenticeship
Free education and vocational training for incarcerated individuals: GED prep, college degrees, industry certifications, and USDOL registered apprenticeships. Available at 15 IDOC facilities.
INvestABLE (ABLE Accounts)
Tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities. Save up to $100,000 without affecting SSI or Medicaid eligibility. Funds cover education, training, transportation, and more.
Fast Track Grant
Accelerates degree completion for Indiana students already receiving state financial aid (21st Century Scholars or Frank O’Bannon) by allowing them to front-load aid for year-round enrollment.
Goodwill Excel Centers — Free Adult High School Diploma + Childcare
Free adult high school diploma program (Excel Center) for Hoosiers age 18+ who lack a high school diploma — accredited diploma, free childcare during class, transportation assistance, and free college credentials embedded. Closest Excel Centers to Hamilton County: Anderson, Lafayette Square (Indianapolis), Meadows (Indianapolis Northeast), Noblesville. Goodwill also operates Nurse-Family Partnership free home-visiting nursing for first-time low-income mothers across Central Indiana including Hamilton County.
Ivy Tech Community College — Hamilton County (Noblesville)
Indiana's statewide community college with a full Hamilton County campus at 300 N. 17th Street, Noblesville. Offers short-term certificates (Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Technician, CDL, HVAC, Welding), Technical Certificates (1 yr), and Associate degrees in healthcare, construction trades, advanced manufacturing, business, social services, and IT. Eight-week terms let students stack credentials quickly. Most short-track programs run under 12 months and lead to family-sustaining wages.
UA Local 440 — Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVAC Apprenticeship
Five-year registered apprenticeship sponsored by the United Association Local 440 covering plumbing, pipefitting, steamfitting, and HVAC-R. Apprentices earn a paycheck while training: 1,700-2,000 hours of on-the-job training per year plus minimum 246 hours of classroom instruction. No tuition cost to the apprentice. Serves the full Indianapolis metro including all of Hamilton County. Graduates earn journeyworker status with union wages and benefits.
IBEW Local 481 / ETI Apprenticeship — Electrician + Telecom
Joint apprenticeship of IBEW Local 481 and NECA offering two paid registered apprenticeships: a 5-year Electrician (Inside Wireman) program and a 3-year Telecommunications (VDV) program. Apprentices earn weekly wages on signatory contractor job sites plus benefits while attending at least 16 hours of classroom instruction per month. No tuition. Jurisdiction covers Indianapolis and surrounding counties including Hamilton.
DriveCo CDL Learning Center — Noblesville (Class A CDL)
Class A CDL training partnership with Ivy Tech on the Noblesville campus (300 North 17th Street). Full-time daytime and evening Class A CDL programs aligned with FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations — students can be road-ready in as little as 5 weeks. Combines classroom instruction with hands-on driving practice. Tuition self-pay; eligible for state Workforce Ready Grant funding. Local trucking employers actively recruit graduates.
Eleven Fifty Academy (Indiana Wesleyan) — Tech Bootcamp + ISA
Indianapolis-based nonprofit coding and tech bootcamp, now operated by Indiana Wesleyan University following a 2024 acquisition. Currently transitioning to short-term programs of 5 weeks or less focused on AI, software development, and cybersecurity. Multiple payment paths include upfront tuition, loan financing, and a Progressive Income Share Agreement (PISA) where students pay nothing until they graduate AND earn at least $42,000/year. Tuition-free seats also available through partner scholarships.
TechPoint — Careers in Tech (Free Indiana Tech Career Hub)
Indiana's tech industry growth nonprofit (Indianapolis-based) offering free workforce resources for residents exploring tech careers. Includes free access to Infosys Springboard (digital skills learning platform), free virtual work simulations through The Forage, the largest Indiana-only tech job board, and the Careers in Tech resource hub demystifying Indiana's tech landscape and pathways. Xtern is a separate paid summer internship program for college students.
Indiana Career Explorer (Kuder)
Free state-provided career exploration and education-planning platform powered by Kuder and administered by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Available to all Hoosiers 6th grade and up — once an account is created it is theirs for life. Includes interest assessments, occupation-to-program matching, Indiana labor market data, scholarship search, and résumé builder. Designed for career transitions and education planning at any life stage.
Google Career Certificates (via Coursera) — Industry-Recognized
Industry-recognized professional certificates from Google in Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing & E-commerce, IT Support, Project Management, and UX Design. Designed to be job-ready in 3-6 months with no prior degree or experience. Approximately $39-49/month on Coursera (about $234 total at typical pace), but 100,000 need-based scholarships make the program free for qualifying learners. Completion unlocks CareerCircle — free 1-on-1 coaching, interview prep, and a job board connecting to 150+ employers in the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium.
IBM SkillsBuild — Free Tech Skills Platform
Free global digital-skilling platform from IBM with 1,000+ online courses covering cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, AI, software engineering, and professional/workplace skills (Design Thinking, communication, project management). Self-paced, online, includes shareable digital credentials/badges on completion. Used by millions of learners worldwide. Especially valuable for HC residents wanting to test interest in a tech pathway before committing tuition to a bootcamp or degree program.