Invest in Indiana's Future: The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship
An Opportunity Rooted in Community and Excellence
Each year, up to 147 scholarships are awarded—one per county—supporting residents who graduate from an Indiana high school and pursue full-time undergraduate study in-state beginning each fall The award includes full tuition, required fees, and up to $900 per year toward books and required academic supplies—but it does not cover room and board or travel expenses
Applicants Must Be Local Leaders
To qualify, students must reside in—and graduate from—an accredited Indiana high school within the county they represent. Residency and graduation must be completed before the end of June of the application year. Candidates should demonstrate academic excellence, community engagement, leadership potential, and financial need as evaluated by their local county community foundation, which selects finalists for interviews and recommends finalists to the Independent Colleges of Indiana for final review and approval
The Selection Journey
Scholars are selected county by county. Applications open in summer 2025 (typically late July or early August) and close by early to mid‑September 2025, with specific deadlines varying by county—e.g., Greene County closes on September 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM Counties like Madison and Montgomery also follow a pattern of application mid‑August with deadlines near August 22 or 28, 2025
Here’s a typical timeline pattern:
Scholarship opens online in July or early August; county-specific application deadline falls between early and mid‑September; finalists are interviewed in autumn; final awards are announced in December 2025; travel decisions and college selection follow by spring 2026.
Why This Scholarship Transforms Lives
Recipients become ambassadors for educational vibrancy in their communities—forming a network of Lilly Scholars across Indiana who engage in local leadership and long-term civic contribution The scholarship demonstrates community-level belief in the student and reinforces the importance of higher education in enhancing quality of life across Indiana.
How to Begin Applying
First, confirm your eligibility with your county’s community foundation—they set deadlines, GPA criteria (often 3.5+), essay prompts, interview processes, and selection details Some counties require interviews, essay workshops, and community reference letters. Then submit your complete application by your county’s deadline, typically between August and early September 2025.