Cost of Attendance Maximum
In all cases, University of Iowa policy and Title IV (federal financial aid) regulations require the sum of all scholarships and grants to be within the Cost of Attendance that is developed annually by the UI Office of Student Financial Aid (UI OSFA). This includes scholarships and grants awarded by the UI Office of Admissions, the UI OSFA, UI colleges and departments, and scholarships and grants from agencies and others outside the UI. In some cases, students are limited to receive scholarships and grants up to the student's financial need when certain Title IV (federal financial aid) and institutional need-based scholarships and grants are awarded.
It is the responsibility of the student to report to the UI OSFA any scholarships and grants they will be receiving from agencies and others outside the UI. If the sum of all UI scholarships and grants, combined with outside scholarships and grants exceed the Cost of Attendance and/or financial need, UI scholarships and grants will be reduced to keep all scholarships and grants within the Cost of Attendance and/or financial need. If changes to your financial aid package are required, you will receive a revised Award Notification from the UI OSFA.
Additional Policies
Students who are awarded scholarships at the University of Iowa and choose not to enroll are not eligible for reinstatement of previously awarded scholarships.
No scholarships will be awarded to students admitted or accepting admission after May 1, with the exception of the Heritage Scholarship.
- Students who have not paid the enrollment fee by May 1, but wish to enroll at the University of Iowa are not eligible for scholarship reinstatement.
Scholarships require full-time (12 credits or more) continuous enrollment each semester at the University of Iowa as well as maintaining the grade-point average requirement specified in the award letter.
Students who make changes to their biodemographic information that changes their scholarship eligibility are not eligible for awards that would have occurred in a previous term.
Students who become a part-time student (including to pursue Iowa residency) will forfeit scholarships permanently.
Students who opt for the benefit of in-state tuition via the Choice Act or Home Base, current and future, will be evaluated for merit scholarship eligibility based on in-state or resident criteria for awarding. Enrollment Management will process the correct award for the student and communicate to the student that the change has been made.
New scholarships programs may be created each year and award amounts for existing scholarship programs are subject to change. Currently enrolled students cannot become eligible
for a new scholarship or a new award amount that did not exist when they first enrolled at the University of Iowa.
Students who choose to graduate high school early and enroll at the University of Iowa in the spring term will not be eligible for Admissions awarded merit scholarships until the following
fall term.
Institutional scholarships managed by the Office of Admissions are disbursed in two equal payments which are released during fall and spring semesters. Scholarship funds are not released
during the summer or winter. The annual amount of a scholarship is never released in one semester for students who may graduate early. A student who finishes his/her undergraduate
degree early will not receive a refund of unused scholarship monies or an increase in their award amount for the enrolled semesters. Scholarships coordinated through colleges or departments
may vary on when and how they are disbursed.
Scholarship funds can be applied to study abroad programs that are coordinated by the University of Iowa Study Abroad Office.
Reviews for scholarship renewals are completed each spring. Scholarship renewal functions will be executed by the Iowa Scholarship Portal. Any appeals to non-renewal will be managed on a case-by-case basis.
Applicable for Incoming New First Year Students
Merit-based scholarships from the Office of Admissions do not stack. If a student meets the minimum requirements for multiple awards, they will automatically be awarded the scholarship
with the highest dollar amount. This does not include the Iowa Heritage Award, Advantage Iowa, Summer Hawk Tuition Grant, Raise.me, or scholarships for international students
(Presidential (International), Old Gold Scholarship (International), Iowa Sister State Scholarship, International Scholars Award, India Scholars Award).
Determination of merit-based scholarship eligibility will only consider scores administered through April of the senior year and 7th semester (or 2nd trimester) grade point average.
- Test scores received after administration of April testing period will only be used for admission purposes.
- Changes to GPA in the final grading period (8th semester) will only be used for admission purposes.
Official Transcripts and Test Scores
Several Office of Admissions scholarships are initially awarded to incoming first-year students on the basis of self-reported test scores and grade-point averages via the application for
admission. All students who accept admission are required to submit official final high school transcripts and official test scores from the testing agency as soon as possible after high school
graduation but no later than July 1. An evaluation will be completed to compare the final official documents/scores with the self-reported information to verify admission decisions as well as any scholarship offers made based on self-reported information. Appropriate action will be taken if it’s determined that a student has misrepresented their academic record in this process.
Applicable for Incoming New Transfer Students
Transfer student scholarships will be awarded to students transferring to the University of Iowa from community colleges only. Students transferring from 4-year institutions are not eligible for institutional merit or need-based awards awarded by the UI Office of Admissions and UI OSFA.
Students pursuing a second bachelor’s degree are not eligible for any merit-based scholarships awarded by the UI Office of Admissions and UI OSFA.