Indiana's Big Move to Improve College Grants

Indiana is shaking things up with its college grant program. The state's higher education commission wants to hear from everyone about how they hand out the Frank O'Bannon Grant. This grant is a big deal for students from low-income families, giving out around $168 million to about 37, 000 students each year. This is the first time the commission is sharing how they decide who gets the money. They use two main methods to figure it out. One looks at past financial aid applications and how students have used the grants before. The other keeps an eye on the money as it's being spent.The goal is to make sure every dollar goes as far as possible. The commission wants to help more students go to college without worrying about money. They're asking colleges, financial aid groups, and others to share their thoughts on how to make the system even better. The grants are split into two parts. One helps with college costs, and the other gives students more choices about where to study. Last year, over 37, 000 students got a hand from this program. If you have ideas on how to improve the system, you can share them by March 25. Just fill out a form online. And if you have questions about state financial aid, you can call or email the commission for help.