Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship
Offered by Indiana Commission for Higher Education · Free to apply
The Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship is a one-time $4,000 award for Indiana students who finish high school at least a year early. To qualify, a student must earn at least a Core 40 diploma by the end of grade 11 (summer courses completed by July 1 count), attend an Indiana public high school full time for the last two semesters before graduating, and not enroll in a public high school for any part of a fourth year. The student must have legal settlement in Indiana for those last two semesters and enroll full time in a degree program at an eligible institution by the fall right after graduation. The money goes to tuition and fees, and any remainder is paid to the student; it cannot be used for remedial courses. To apply, the student files a clean FAFSA and submits the application on ScholarTrack. For the class of 2027, the application opens November 1, 2026 and closes August 31, 2027; the Department of Education then verifies eligibility and notifies students in November.
Other deadlines near this one
- Bright Futures Gold Seal Vocational and Gold Seal CAPE ScholarsDue August 31, 2027 · $39 to $48 per credit hour ($1.30 to $1.60 per clock hour) toward career and technical programmes, set annually by the Legislature
- Florida Bright Futures - Academic Scholars (FAS)Due August 31, 2027 · 100% of tuition & applicable fees at Florida public institutions
- Florida Bright Futures - Medallion Scholars (FMS)Due August 31, 2027 · 75% of tuition & applicable fees at Florida public institutions
How hard is the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship to win?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award.
- Odds
- not published by the provider
- Paperwork
- ~2 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Indiana residents
- Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Indiana
- Open to high school juniors
- Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)
- Must finish at least a Core 40 diploma by the end of grade 11 at an Indiana public high school and skip grade 12
- Must enroll full time in a degree program the fall after graduating
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is August 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 31 each year. Applications open November 1.
- Application opens
- November 1, 2026
- Application closes
- August 31, 2027
- Eligibility notice
- November 2027
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship
How much is the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship worth?
The Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship awards $4,000 (one time).
When is the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is August 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 31 each year. Applications open November 1.
When do Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship applications open?
Applications open November 1, and close August 31, 2027.
Who is eligible for the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Indiana; Open to high school juniors; Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card).
Does the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 2 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award. What is known: open only to Indiana residents and open to a single grade level only. Plan on about 2 hrs of work.
Is the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More merit-based scholarships
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- NESA Eagle Scout Scholarships$4,000 to $50,000 · due February 1, 2027
- National Honor Society Scholarship$3,200 - $25,000 (600 awards) · due November 20, 2026
- National Merit Scholarship Program$2,500 (plus corporate and college-sponsored awards that vary) · due October 30, 2026
- Ned McWherter Scholars Program$6,000 per year ($3,000 state plus $3,000 college match), renewable for four years · due March 1, 2027
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.