FAQs
What if I live in a neighboring county but still graduated from an Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko or Whitley County high school?
Are there minimum standards that must be met?
What college or university must I attend?
Must I attend a college in Indiana?
What degrees are eligible under this program?
If I earn an associate degree and then decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree, may I continue as a Questa Scholar?
Are there other requirements before you decide if I am eligible?
I have met all the documentation and related requirements. What do I do next?
How much will Questa Foundation lend to me?
Where do I get the Questa Scholars Program application?
What do I need from my high school?
After I’m accepted into the Questa Scholars Program, what must I do to continue to qualify for additional loans each semester?
What if it takes longer than four years to complete my degree?
Do I pay interest during college?
Exactly how do I qualify for 50% loan forgiveness?
After graduation, how do I prove that I work and reside in northeast Indiana?
Which counties does Questa consider northeast Indiana?
Q: Who may apply for the Questa Scholars Program?
A: Eligible students include those who:
-
Graduated this year or last year from any Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko or Whitley County public, private or home school; or
-
Earned a high school General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.) this year or last year and reside in Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko or Whitley County.
Q: What if I live in a neighboring county but still graduated from an Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko or Whitley County high school?
A: You are eligible to apply.
Q: Are there minimum standards that must be met?
A: You must graduate high school with a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale and demonstrate financial need as determined by your FAFSA.
Q: What college or university must I attend?
A: Any U.S. Department of Education regionally accredited school qualifies. Proprietary schools (for-profit institutions) do not qualify.
Q: Must I attend a college in Indiana?
A: No.
Q: What degrees are eligible under this program?
A: Your first undergraduate bachelor’s or associate degree qualifies.
Q: If I earn an associate degree and then decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree, may I continue as a Questa Scholar?
A: You must request permission in writing to continue in the program. The Program Committee will review your request and make a final decision.
Q: Are there other requirements before you decide if I am eligible?
A: Before you apply, you must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have applied for any state assistance or private scholarships for which you are eligible including any financial support from your chosen college.
Q: I have met all the documentation and related requirements. What do I do next?
A: Submit your completed application to Questa Foundation by June 10 at 4:00 p.m. to be considered for the Questa Scholars Program. Questa Foundation funding is intended to fill the gap between what you qualify for elsewhere plus what you and your family can contribute and the actual cost of attendance.
Q: How much will Questa Foundation lend to me?
A: Questa Scholars may borrow up to $5,000 per year (with a maximum of $2,500 per semester) for up to four consecutive years.
Q: Where do I get the Questa Scholars Program application?
A: Application documents and eligibility requirements are available on Questa's website from March 1 through June 10 each year. The application process opens on March 1.
Q: What do I need from my high school?
A: You will need an official copy of your final transcript (or related documentation for G.E.D. and home-school applicants) plus two recommendations and SAT scores (or ACT scores if the SAT was not taken).
Q: After I’m accepted into the Questa Scholars Program, what must I do to continue to qualify for additional loans each semester?
A: Questa Scholar loans are only intended for full-time students, enrolled for 12 credit hours or more per semester. Part-time students are not eligible to borrow. Loans are intended for fall and spring semesters or for the quarters of study from August through May. Questa Scholar loans are not available for summer terms.
Questa Scholars are expected to be present to sign their promissory notes each semester, along with a parent or guardian who must serve as a co-signer.
The Foundation will only execute new promissory notes for/with students who have submitted required documents before the start of each semester: official university transcript, official university billing statement with balance due, and proof of full-time course registration.
Approved documentation must be on file before the Foundation staff will meet with students and co-signers to execute new promissory notes.
Questa Scholars are expected to sign promissory notes prior to the start of the semester or quarter in which they intend to use the funds. Questa Scholars are required to sign promissory notes within 30 days of the start of the semester or quarter or the student is not able to borrow for that semester. This does not increase a student’s available balance for borrowing in future semesters.
Q: What if it takes longer than four years to complete my degree?
A: The Questa Scholars Program is only approved for four consecutive years defined as eight consecutive semesters. The Questa Scholars Program is not intended to go beyond the initial four years of a student's course of study. If a student does not borrow during a given semester, he or she does not “bank” these funds for future semesters. Students enrolled in degree completion programs that require more than four years of study will be invited to apply for deferment of loan repayment while they complete their additional semesters of study for the intended degree. No guarantees of deferment are made.
Q: Do I pay interest during college?
A: No.
Q: Exactly how do I qualify for 50% loan forgiveness?
A: If you graduate from college with a cumulative 2.75 GPA within four years and choose to live and work in the 11 counties of northeast Indiana for at least 5 years after graduation, Questa Foundation will forgive 50% of your total loan balance over 5 years on a graduated scale:
Year 1 - 5% forgiveness
Year 2 - 7.5% forgiveness
Year 3 - 10% forgiveness
Year 4 - 12.5% forgiveness
Year 5 - 15% forgiveness
Q: After graduation, how do I prove that I work and reside in northeast Indiana?
A: Annual proof of residency and employment will be required in the form of a W-2 statement or pay stub identifying the county in which you live and work.
Q: Which counties does Questa consider northeast Indiana?
A: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley.