Hanover guarantees every admitted first-year a renewable academic merit award on a transparent weighted-GPA grid ($20,000 to $36,000) — test scores explicitly don't count — but caps all aid at the cost of tuition.
Verified Jun 2026today· COWORK
Merit tiers74 automatic on stats
Last verifiedJun 2026Analyst COWORK
Rules that bite at Hanover
The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from Hanover's own published policy, not generic advice.
capHard $63,819 cost-of-attendance ceiling
Institutional aid at Hanover cannot push the package past $63,819. Big outside wins can mathematically reduce institutional grant once the ceiling is reached.
Common merit-aid mistakes at Hanover
Hanover's merit grid is based solely on weighted high school GPA. The page states test scores 'will be considered in application review, but will not affect merit scholarship consideration.'
All forms of aid and grants are capped at the cost of TUITION ($46,232), not the $63,819 direct cost. Awards above tuition are not paid out.
Decisions use the WEIGHTED GPA as provided on your high school transcript at the time of applying — so the 4.25+/$36,000 top tier assumes a weighted scale.
The $6,000 Student Success Award (years 2-4) requires both Satisfactory Academic Progress and completing the FAFSA each year; missing the FAFSA forfeits it.
Indiana Pell Promise+/++ (tuition + housing, sometimes + meals) requires Indiana residency, Pell eligibility, and a -1,500 SAI. Non-Indiana Pell students instead look to the National Pell Promise (full tuition, weighted GPA 3.25+).
These cover tuition only; recipients are explicitly responsible for room, board, and books.
Who this school is for
An applicant with a strong weighted high school GPA who wants a predictable, automatic award (no test scores needed); Indiana and Pell-eligible students gain additional full-tuition/housing promises.
Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $63,819 for 2026-2027. Source
Institutional merit aid tiers
Every tier below is sourced to the school’s own published financial aid pages. Renewal terms apply only if the student maintains the stated GPA.
All applicants automatically reviewed; decision based on weighted GPA from the high school transcript at time of applying.
Renewal terms
Renewable academic merit scholarship; renewal tied to academic standing (Satisfactory Academic Progress). Tuition is locked for four years for new first-years.
Notes
Test scores are considered in admission review but do NOT affect merit scholarship consideration. Entering Fall 2026.
Full ride (tuition, standard room, board, and books)
Spencer Scholarship for Engineering
ApplicationRenewable
View requirements+
Eligibility
Two awards/year for Engineering or Engineering Science majors with significant financial need and the highest levels of academic achievement. Separate scholarship application, two STEM teacher recommendations, essay, possible interview.
Renewal terms
Renewable; to maintain eligibility students must major in engineering or engineering science.
Notes
'Full-ride indicates that tuition, standard room, board and books will all be covered.' Scholarship application due December 15, 2025; FAFSA by January 31, 2026 (code 001801).
All domestic admitted students who visit campus (or attend a one-on-one virtual admission event) during senior year. $4,000 for first visit; additional $2,000 for a second visit.
Renewal terms
After year one, the $6,000 is available for annual renewal as the Student Success Award.
Notes
Stacks with merit (subject to the tuition cap). Becomes the renewable $6,000 Student Success Award for years 2-4.
Pell-eligible Indiana residents with a -1,500 Student Aid Index (SAI). Indiana residency required.
Renewal terms
Must complete the FAFSA by April 15 each year; Indiana residents must also meet state aid requirements annually.
Notes
Indiana-resident-only. Pell Promise+ (GPA 4.0+) covers tuition, standard housing, and a meal plan; Pell Promise++ (GPA 3.75-3.99) covers tuition and standard housing (student pays the meal plan).
Every form of institutional aid combined is capped at the cost of tuition. Awards generally stack up to that ceiling. Awards designated for tuition (institutional scholarships/grants, Pell, Indiana state grants, and outside scholarships) together may not exceed tuition.
The page repeats 'All forms of aid and grants cannot exceed the cost of tuition' under every award. A separate statement on outside scholarships: 'All financial awards designated for tuition (institutional scholarships/grants, Pell grant, Indiana state grants, and outside scholarships), may not exceed the cost of tuition in an academic year.'
AmountFull tuitionEligibilityThree awards; Indiana residents who are members of/nominated by Purpose of Life Ministries (Indianapolis). Recipients pay room, board, books.
Apply for admission by Dec 15, 2025; FAFSA by Dec 15, 2025.
AmountFull tuitionEligibilityTwo students; active members of the Muhammad Ali Center Council of Students (Louisville, KY). Recipients pay room, board, books.
AmountFull tuitionEligibilityOne incoming first-year; Indiana resident and confirmed Starfish Scholar. Covers tuition for four years; recipient pays room, board, books.
Amount$2,500EligibilityFirst-years whose parent/legal guardian is employed by an accredited Indiana K-12 school (public or private). One award per family.
AmountUp to full tuitionEligibilityChildren of those who died in the line of duty (military, police, emergency workers) or as a direct result of service. Documentation required.
Amount$2,000EligibilityTen awards to admitted students who participated in a FIRST Robotics Competition or FIRST Tech Challenge team. Form + recommendation by February 1, 2026.
AmountValue of housing, food, and laundry fees (4-yr renewable)EligibilityLilly Endowment scholars (in addition to the Lilly Endowment scholarship). FAFSA by April 15.
Also fully funds a May term off-campus experience.
Do I have to apply separately for the academic merit scholarship?
No. All students who apply for admission are automatically reviewed for a renewable academic merit scholarship based on weighted high school GPA.
Do my SAT/ACT scores affect my merit scholarship?
No. Test scores are considered in admission review but do not affect merit scholarship consideration; the merit grid is based on weighted GPA.
Can my scholarships and aid exceed the cost of attendance?
No — all forms of aid and grants are capped at the cost of tuition ($46,232 for 2026-2027).
What is the deadline for the competitive scholarships (Spencer Engineering, Social Justice, Music, Theatre)?
Admitted students must submit the separate scholarship application by December 15, 2025 (Spencer also requires the FAFSA by January 31, 2026).
Is my tuition rate locked?
Yes. New first-year students have their tuition rate locked for four years.
How Hanover compares across our verified dataset
62 of 272 verified schools in our dataset use cost-of-attendance cap displacement.
Hanover is in a recognizable cluster (62 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.
247 of 272 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
Hanover is one of them. The cohort minority (25 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.
Sources used on this page
Every claim is checked against Hanover’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.
