A press release this week from the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership highlighted extraordinary opportunities for Noble County to identify and retain local talent by connecting students to funding opportunities, including the chance to earn up to 75% forgiveness on low interest student loans.

Questa Education Foundation’s Contemporary Scholars program, one of several the organization offers, enables students to receive low-interest loans to help fund tuition and fees for their remaining semesters. Those loans are forgiven, up to 75%, when students graduate from partner schools and live and work in Northeast Indiana for five years after graduation.

According to Ryan Twiss, Vice President of Talent Initiatives at the Partnership, programs like these are helping northeast Indiana retain 60% of the population who have a postsecondary degree or credential. Another program, called Degree Finish Line, builds on the 2019 Talent Hub designation by Lumina Foundation, which recognizes the region’s collaborative approach to fueling credential attainment.

“Programs like Degree Finish Line are critical to helping our region attain 60% of the population with a postsecondary degree or credential.”

Ryan Twiss, Vice President of Talent Initiatives at Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership

Local institutions are partnering with Questa to forgive up to $4,000 of outstanding loan balance, and Questa will provide up to $5,000 a year in additional funding. Debt forgiveness and financing options vary by institution. Partner schools include Grace College, Huntington University, Indiana Tech, Indiana Wesleyan University, Ivy Tech Community College, Manchester University and Trine University.

Noble County students are eligible to apply. To learn more, or apply, visit questafoundation.org