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SSACI > Grants/Scholarships - by Program > Twenty-first Century Scholars GEAR UP Scholarship Twenty-first Century Scholars GEAR UP Scholarship

A major thrust of the GEAR UP program is early intervention. Indiana is making great strides in preparing Twenty-first Century Scholars to succeed in college but their academic needs are great and many are best met by the colleges in which they enroll. Because many Scholars have not been provided with appropriate curriculum, instruction or academic support to succeed in college, they might need to take basic preparatory courses in the summer before they begin their program and degree requirements. In addition, they might need to take upper class summer courses to make sure they stay on track to graduate on-time after their freshmen year. The GEAR UP Summer Scholarship pays for summer school tuition and regularly assessed and fees.

The Summer GEAR UP Scholarship may be used by any eligible Twenty-first Century Scholar student wanting to enroll in summer courses, which may be a college preparatory, pre-requisite or required class for their degree program. The Scholarship can be used by only by Scholars who are high school students going to college for the first time or freshmen finishing their first year in college. It is a non-renewable scholarship that can be used for the summer sessions before the fall of first enrollment or the summer sessions after the student’s first year of college.

In order to be considered for a GEAR UP Summer Scholarship, a student must complete an application and be…

  • An Affirmed Scholar admitted to an eligible Indiana college and otherwise eligible to receive the Twenty-first Century Scholarship.
  • Enrolled full time and eligible to receive the Twenty-first Century Scholarship in the fall term following the summer course session or having received the Scholarship in the previous spring term.
  • Enrolled in either summer college preparatory classes, pre-requisites or those classes that would be considered required classes for their college major.
  • Approved by both the appropriate office of the college where they are enrolled and where they plan to take the courses if different.

The GEAR UP Summer Scholarship is a grant of up to $1,500 that pays for summer school tuition and regularly assessed course fees (but it does not cover other costs such as text books or room and board). Once the student is approved he or she will receive a letter that must be presented to the summer school where courses are taken. The institution will also receive updated lists of approved and denied students. The institution should select one staff member to keep track of approved students. The college is paid directly after the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) receives and approves the appropriate billing documents.

For information on the GEAR UP Summer Scholarship program and for application materials or other information, contact

GEAR UP Coordinator
Office of Twenty-first Century Scholars
150 West Market Street, Suite 500
Indianapolis , Indiana
(317) 234 – 1394
21stscholars@ssaci.in.gov