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Experience Grant

As part of the Indiana State Advantage, eligible students can receive between $1,000 and $3,000 for internships and other work-based experiences, study abroad, faculty-led, course-based travel, research and creative activity, or a service-learning trip. The experience is a one-time opportunity, and students can apply for experiences that begin their second year of continued enrollment.

Student Eligibility

First-time, full-time, on-campus students entering Indiana State University beginning in the Fall 2026 term, and full-time, on-campus transfer students entering Indiana State beginning in the Spring 2027 term, are eligible for the Indiana State Advantage Experience Grant. All students that apply for the Indiana State Advantage Experience Grant must meet the following criteria:

  1. Student must be in good academic and conduct standing at the time of application and use of the award.
  2. The one-time grant will be available beginning the second year at Indiana State for on-campus students.
  3. Continual, full-time enrollment (fall and spring) up to the semester/term of experience. (Students with an emergency break in enrollment are able to appeal.)
  4. Award must be used within 10 semesters from the date the student enters Indiana State for on-campus, full-time, undergraduate instruction. The experience must be completed prior to graduation.
  5. Receipt of the award is contingent upon the applicant’s ability to enroll in the semester for which the award is intended. Students with registration holds of any type are ineligible for the award.

Online-only or returning Indiana State students are not eligible for the Indiana State Experience Grant.

Eligible Activities

  1. Internships and other work-based experiences: This category includes internships, off-campus practicum, co-ops, clinical experiences, student teaching and other experiences based in a professional, work environment. Visit the ISU Career Center for more information about internships. Social work, nursing, and student teaching please speak with your respective program advisor regarding eligibility.*
  2. Study Abroad: This category includes intensive, credit-bearing study-abroad experiences that require the student to become immersed in the culture of the destination, as well as faculty-led study-abroad experiences.** Visit the Education Abroad Office for more information about study abroad.
  3. Service-Learning: This category includes both semester-long, local community engagement experiences in which the student takes a significant leadership role, and travel-based service experiences such as Alternative Break trips. Visit the ISU Center for Community Engagement for more information about service-learning.
  4. Undergraduate Research/Creative Activity: This category includes research or creative opportunities, mentored by faculty, that involve the development or use of disciplinary and/or professional knowledge or skills in the advancement of scholarly questions or creative expression.

*Qualifying students must be completing internship hours while concurrently enrolled in an Indiana State internship course. Internship programs which offer transfer course credit alone (such as Rocket Kids and Disney College Program) are not eligible for the internship experience grant. 

**Faculty-led study-abroad experiences may qualify students for up to $2,000 in Experience Grant support.  

Ineligible Activities

  1. Student employment positions, including lab assistants unless part of an approved research experience
  2. Traditional, service-learning courses-courses that are primarily classroom based but that require service
  3. Volunteer activities that are not a part of an approved internship experience, service-trip or experience approved by the Center for Community Engagement
  4. Student organization involvement and leadership
  5. Conference registrations and related travel
  6. Mission trips
  7. Study abroad experiences not approved by the Education Abroad Office

Applications

Applications for the Indiana State Advantage Experience Grant will be available in the Branch. Students must complete experience area specific criteria (for example, Handshake for internships).  Before completing the application in the Branch, contact your experience area for eligibility information and application dates.

Students will submit their applications through The Branch, Indiana State University’s scholarship application system.

Application Deadlines for Fall 2026 Experiences

  • Nursing Clinicals – Applications are due by April 30, 2026.
  • Bayh College of Education Student Teaching – Applications are due by March 30, 2026.
  • Social Work Clinicals – Applications are due by April 1, 2026.
  • Semester-Long (Fall Term) Study Abroad – Applications are due by June 1, 2026.
  • Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity – Applications are due by June 1, 2026.
  • Internships – Applications are due by August 15, 2026.
  • Winter Alternative Break Service Trips – Applications are due by November 15, 2026.
  • Faculty-Led Study Abroad - Applications are due by February 15, 2027.

Application Deadlines for Spring 2027 Experiences

• Bayh College of Education Student Teaching - Applications are due by September 30, 2026.
• Nursing Clinicals - Applications are due by October 1, 2026.
• Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity – Applications are due by November 1, 2026.
• Social Work Clinicals - Applications are due by November 1, 2026.
• Semester-Long (Spring Term) Study Abroad – Applications are due by December 1, 2026.
• Internships – Applications are due by December 15, 2026.
• Spring Alternative Break Service Trips - Applications are due by January 31, 2027.
• Faculty-Led Study Abroad - Applications are due by February 15, 2027.

Application Deadlines for Summer 2027 Experiences

  • Faculty-Led Study Abroad - Applications are due by February 15, 2027.
  • Summer Alternative Break Service Trips - Applications are due by February 28, 2027.
  • Internships – Applications are due by May 1, 2027.
  • Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity – Applications are due by April 15, 2027.
  • Semester-Long (Spring Term) Study Abroad – Applications are due by May 1, 2027.

Grant Funding Available

Experience Grants range in amount from $1,000 to $3,000 based on the type of experience. Please reference the table below.

Experience CategoryAward Amount
Internships, work-based experiences, student teaching, nursing and social work clinicals: 90 – 199 hours.
(Experiences less than 90 hours are not eligible for funding).		$1,000
Internships, work-based experiences, student teaching, nursing and social work clinicals: 200 – 449 hours$1,500
Internships and work-based experiences: full-term, full-time (450 hours or more)$2,000
Domestic service-learning tripCost of experience up to $1,500
International service-learning tripCost of experience up to $2,000
Faculty-led study abroadCost of experience up to $2,000
Semester-Long (Traditional) study abroad$3,000
Undergraduate research and creative activity: experiences less than 200 hours$1,000
Undergraduate research and creative activity: experiences 200 hours and more$1,500

Students who participate in the Networks and Gongaware programs are not eligible for additional funding.

Networks Professional Development Account$3,000
Gongaware Professional Development Account$3,000

Updated on: 07/02/2026