UI, ISU, UNI Scholarships

The three Iowa Regents Universities offer a variety of scholarships based on merit, need, or other criteria. Application deadlines vary.

Iowa State Scholarships

OneApp  opens for the year on October 1st. Deadlines will vary depending upon the scholarship or opportunity, so we encourage students to log in to OneApp early and often to ensure deadlines are met. Once submitted, students can still access and revise their applications until the scholarship close date. Scholarship selection committees will use the information available in the system (e.g., data from student records and/or information provided on the General Application, Conditional Application, and any Recommended Opportunities) as of when the committee begins their review of applications.  Recommended Deadline is March 2.

There will be some university scholarships not using OneApp to award 2021-22 scholarships. Go to the Additional ISU Scholarships page to view other scholarships available at Iowa State.

Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Applicants: You must set up your ISU Net-ID prior to completing OneApp.

Iowa State Freshman Merit Academic Scholarships:  https://www.admissions.iastate.edu/scholarships/freshman/ia

Iowa State will accept an ACT Superscore for Merit Scholarship.  Iowa State will not accept the ACT Superscore for Admission.

Awards for Iowa Students

If you have questions regarding scholarships, check out our FAQ page or email us at scholarships@iastate.edu.

University of Iowa Scholarships

Iowa Merit Based Scholarships Website 

  -  Merit Based Scholarships - March 1 is deadline to apply for Admission to be considered for Merit. No application is needed. All incoming students are considered for Merit Scholarships that are awarded by the Office of Admissions. Only Test Scores through February of Senior Year is considered. Only GPA through 1st semester of Senior year is considered. Any updated transcripts must be submitted by April 1.

     -  For the 2020-21 Seniors that have not taken the ACT, they will still be considered for Merit Scholarships; however, students that have taken the ACT or SAT will receive priority.

     Iowa Flagship Award - Requires 3.80 GPA and 33 ACT. $8500 per year and renewable for 4 years.

     Old Gold Scholarship - Requires 3.80 GPA and 30 ACT. $5000 per year and renewable for 4 years.

     Iowa Scholars Award - Requires 3.80 GPA and 27 ACT or 3.70 & 30 ACT.  $2500 per year and renewable for 4 years.

     Advantage Iowa Award - Based on merit, contributing criteria also includes students that are from historically underrepresented populations (African American, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Multiracial) at the University of Iowa or participation in a federally funded Upward Bound program. Complete the FAFSA by Nov 15 is recommended. $2,000 to $8,000 per year and renewable for 4 years.

     Iowa Need Based Academic Award - A student's eligibility is determined after they are admitted to the University of Iowa and the Office of Financial Aid has received the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) results. Offers are made on a first-come, first-served basis. The filing deadline for maximum aid consideration is December 1, 2020. here are no separate applications other than filing the FAFSA. This is renewable; however, student must keep their College GPA up to 2.75 and have completed 24 college credits in a year. For incoming Freshman, requires either a 29 ACT Score or a 26 ACT Score with a HS GPA of 3.60.  For Community College Transfer students, requires Transfer GPA of 2.75 and having completed 24 college credits.

    IMAGES - Iowa Minority Economic Grant for Academic Success  File FAFSA by Dec. 1. This university and state need-based grant is offered to Iowa residents pursuing their first undergraduate degree who are African American, Latino/Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, American Indian, or Alaskan Native and demonstrate financial need. You must be enrolled at least half-time (six hours per semester) and may receive this grant for a maximum of eight semesters. You must also file your FAFSA by the priority deadline of December 1. In the event there are reductions in state funding for the University of Iowa, support for institutional scholarships and grants may be impacted. If that happens, academic offers may be reduced within the academic year.

     Provost Scholarship - For National Merit finalists who designate the University of Iowa as their first-choice institution.
For National Hispanic Scholars who enroll at Iowa. $3000 per year and renewable for 4 years.  This is a stackable scholarship and would be in addition to the other Merit-based scholarship the student receives.

Visit the Iowa Scholarship Portal for additional scholarship opportunities. Admitted and currently enrolled students can log in using their HawkID and password to begin the application process

University of Northern Iowa Scholarships   

UNI Scholarship Application.  Scholarship Criteria (PDF).   Deadline is usually January 15.  General Application to apply for most scholarships at UNI.  

UNI Bright Scholars Award.   Qualify for Federal Pell Grant, based on FAFSA. Top 10% of high school graduating class; OR RAI of 299+; OR ACT of 28+. Priority to students of parents without a 4-year degree. Value is: Iowa Resident Cost of Attendance per year. Worth $16,000 ($4,000/year for 4 years). Complete the online University Scholarship Application and upload essay describing how you have succeeded in the face of adversity in your life. Also included a summary of your high school and community service activities, including leadership roles assumed (no more than two typewritten pages). File the FAFSA prior to January 15th

College Specific Scholarships  Students are considered automatically for the following scholarships when they are admitted to UNI.  UNI BusinessScholars Award; College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Award and Aldermans Award; College of Education Award and Benjamin Allen Award; Art Award; Music Award; Theatre Award; Science, Technology and Math Award. 

UNI Residents of Iowa Scholars of Excellence (UNI RISE) Award  Have an ethnic or racial status of African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Alaskan Native or American Indian, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. Have ACT of 23 or 3.70 GPA or RAI of 290. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA, and/or first-generation students.  Must apply for admission and submit the UNI Scholarship Application by January 15

UNI Freshman Awards.    No Application needed. Awarded automatically by Admissions Office based on GPA or GPA&ACT Score.   Student may receive either the Impact Award or the Success Award, depending on whether they took the ACT Test or not.

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Grants Through Federal, State, and UNI

UNI Grants - 

1)    Tuition Guarantee Program for Iowans - 4 years of full tuition and fees through a combination of federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships. Must be an Iowa resident, have Expected Family Contribution (EFC) per the FAFSA of $1000 or less. Must be PELL Grant eligible.

2).  Tuition Assistance Grant - For less than full-time enrollment and renewable based on EFC through FAFSA. EFC of $8000 or less. Awarded on first-come, first-serve. Cannot be awarded along with the SEOG Grant

3). Teach Grant - provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a high need field in a low income school. The maximum TEACH Grant for 2020-21 is $3,772. There is no application to apply for the TEACH Grant. Students just need to submit their FAFSA yearly, have a declared high need area of study, and academic (ACT or GPA) component to be offered the TEACH Grant.  Must sign an agreement to teach at least four years in an eight-year time frame after graduation. After finishing their program, they must provide an annual certification that they are currently teaching in a high-need field and a low-income school or intend to do so. Those who do not meet the requirements will see their TEACH Grants be converted to unsubsidized loans.  Score is in the top 25th percentile on college admissions tests, and you need to maintain a cumulative 3.25 GPA . please review this PDF document: UNI TEACH Information

CAPS Scholarship:

Students involved in Cedar Valley CAPS have the following opportunities to earn scholarships toward their enrollment at UNI. 

The following school districts have Cedar Valley CAPS affiliate programs that would have scholarship eligibility at UNI based on CAPS involvement: Cedar Falls, Columbus (Waterloo), Denver, Don Bosco,  Jesup, and Wapsie Valley.

1.) Follow UNI on RaiseMe. If you have financial need (as defined within the FAFSA) you have the opportunity to earn for a variety of academic and extra-curricular activities. By identifying that you will be a CAPS program completer, you will be eligible for $1,000 ($250 per year, renewable for up to four years). High school freshmen through seniors can create a RaiseMe profile and follow UNI.  The RaiseMe earning deadline, application deadline and FAFSA deadline for high school seniors is January 15.  If not selected for the UNI Panther Impact Award, UNI will offer the $250/year scholarship on the financial aid award notification.

2.) Complete the UNI Scholarship Application by January 15 of your senior year.  This online application offers the opportunity to apply for hundreds of UNI scholarships conveniently located within one application. By identifying that you will be a CAPS program completer you will receive a minimum of $1,000* ($250 per year, renewable for four years).  Students must check the "CAPS completer" box within the UNI Scholarship Application to self-identify.

State Grants - 

1)    Images Grant - Requires ethnic or racial status of African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino/Spanish, Alaskan Native or American Indian, Asian Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. FInancial need based on FAFSA. Awards are up to $2000.

2)    Future Ready Iowa Grant (Last Dollar) - Have at least half of the credits completed and accepted towards an eligible program (typically 60 credits or more) and not been enrolled in college previously for two or more years. Financial need is not required. Maximum award is $3500. UNI eligible majors are listed here: Future Ready Iowa Grant eligible programs document.  Comp. Sci, Elementary, JH, Pre-School, Kinderg Education; Business Ed., Health Ed.,  Music Ed., Technology Ed, Industrial Tech Ed Physical Ed, Social Sci Ed, ELL Ed; Statistics; Social Work, Economics; Business; Accounting; FInance; Investments; MIS; Marketing; Construction Mgmt