How will I pay for college?

Here is what you need to know regarding the steps to the financial aid process:
  • Start Planning Early--Develop your game plan to pay for college
  • Fill Out the FAFSA Form--Apply for federal student aid (look for more information on the COLLEGES tab).  See the FAFSA/IN State Financial Aid Guide CLICK HERE
  • Review Your Aid Offer--Compare the aid each school is offering
  • Get Your Aid--Aid goes to your student account first
  • Repay Your Loan--Find an affordable repayment plan

Senior Scholarship List
OHS Scholarship List CLICK HERE.  [Updated 3-24-26]
[Please review this list on a regular basis (i.e. every Monday).  It will be updated frequently, especially in the spring when local scholarships get busy.  Although this list is updated frequently, STUDENTS can access the most up-to-date list through Google Classroom]

Scholarship Search Websites
Indiana Scholarship Searches
Stand Out College Prep:  CLICK HERE

National Scholarship Searches
Try these sites for legitimate national scholarship opportunities:  FASTWEB, GOING MERRY, MY SCHOLLY, or SCHOLARSHIPS.COM.
Try this site to see what you can "earn" in scholarship money by doing activities:  CLICK HERE
Tips for Scholarship Searches:  CLICK HERE
College Board offers scholarships for completing steps to the college process.  To work on this:  CLICK HERE
INvested has scholarship opportunities.  CLICK HERE for scholarship tips.  CLICK HERE for the $1,000 Scholarship Giveaway (anyone 16+ can register!)

Other Scholarships
21st Century Scholarship
WHO:  Current 7th and 8th graders apply
DEADLINE:  June 30th after 8th grade
AMOUNT:  At in-state, public two-year and four-year colleges, the 21st Century Scholarship covers up to 100 percent of tuition and some regularly assessed fees, such as technology, student-activity and health-services fees. The scholarship pays part of the tuition at private or independent colleges and approved for-profit specialty or proprietary schools. A list of colleges that accept the 21st Century Scholarship is available at LearnMore Indiana CLICK HERE
APPLICATION:  Application information CLICK HERE and actual enrollment site CLICK HERE
APPLICATION WKSH:  CLICK HERE To access a worksheet to make sure you have the information gathered that you will need to apply for the scholarship.  Questions?  Call Zachary Cullum, our 21st Century Rep (even if you aren't a 21st Century Scholar, at 317-617-0317 or email him at [email protected].
GENERAL INFORMATION:  CLICK HERE
ScholarTrack:  Work on your 12 HS Scholar Success Program activities CLICK HERE
OTHER DETAILS:
To receive the scholarship, students must:  
  • Graduate from a state-accredited Indiana high school.
  • Graduate from high school with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Earn a minimum of a Core 40 diploma.
  • Complete all 12 high school Scholar Success Program requirements and track them in ScholarTrack by high school graduation.
  • Apply to and be admitted to an eligible Indiana college, university or proprietary school as a high school senior.
  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15 as a high school senior and each year thereafter until college graduation.
  • Complete the college Scholar Success Program each year of college to renew your scholarship.
  • Complete at least 30 credit hours each year of college.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards established by your college.
  • Maintain Indiana residency.
  • Do not do drugs, commit a crime or delinquent act, or consume alcohol before reaching the legal drinking age.
SCHOLAR SUCCESS GUIDES:

Other Financial Information
Learn More Indiana
Learn More Indiana’s Cash for College campaign equips students and families with the practical steps they need to save for college, navigate the financial aid process and complete college with minimal debt. Go to: www.LearnMoreIndiana.org.

Other Financial Resources
  • Make sure you file your FAFSA.  Information on how to do that is at the bottom of the Colleges page.
  • After you fill out your FAFSA, what do you do?  Here is a guide:  CLICK HERE
  • FinAid!:  FinAid has earned a stellar reputation in the educational community as the best web site of its kind. It’s comprehensive, it’s informative, it’s objective-and it’s the first stop on the web for students looking for ways to finance their education with student financial aid information on the web. Free scholarship search, financial aid calculators, glossary, and bibliography. Go to: www.finaid.org.
  • Student Guide to Financial Aid:  Updated yearly from the U.S. Department of Education. Go to: www.studentaid.ed.go.
  • College Board: Pay for College Offers financial aid services advice, articles, and links for students and parents. Go to: www.collegeboard.com/pay.
  • SallieMae:  Loan guarantor and servicer. Go to: www.salliemae.com.
  • United Student Aid Group:  Loan guarantor and servicer. Go to: www.usafunds.org.