The following scholarships require an application and/or recipients are selected by a high school or outside agency. For those scholarships that require financial need, students must file the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible, as financial aid of offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Specific eligibility requirements are listed within each scholarship description. Check with the high school or agency awarding the scholarship for application deadline dates.
Air Force ROTC Scholarships--A variety of ROTC scholarships are available to students in health professions areas as well as other majors. Applications are available online, from the Department of Aerospace Military Studies, 126 South Quadrangle, or by calling (319) 335-9205.
Horatio Alger Scholarship--Awarded to first-year students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents that possess a strong commitment to pursue a bachelor's degree. Applications must be completed the senior year of high school. Applicants must have demonstrated integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, be involved in co-curricular and community activities, demonstrate critical financial need and graduate with a minimum 2.0 high school grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Applications and eligibility requirements are available online at scholars/horatioalger.org.
Army Emergency Relief - MG James Ursano Scholarship Fund--Awarded to dependent children, stepchildren, or legally adopted children of Army soldiers on active duty, retired, or deceased while on active duty or after retirement. The children of Grey Area Reservists are also eligible. Students must be unmarried for the entire academic year and under the age of 22 on year of application. Applications are available online from November through March. Supporting documentation must be mailed by established deadlines. For additional information, contact: Mrs. Rosamond L. Pariseau, (703) 428-0035, or write to: Army Emergency Relief, MG James Ursano Scholarship Fund, 200 Stovall Street RM 5N13, Alexandria, VA 22332-0600.
Army ROTC Scholarship--A variety of ROTC scholarships are available to students in all majors. Applications are available from: Enrollment Counselor, Department of Military Science, Room 107, South Quadrangle, (319) 335-9187.
Arnold Trust Fund Award--Awarded to students who are orphans not over the age of 25 and who are residents of Linn County, Iowa. Award is based on financial need. Applications are available from St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. S.E., Cedar Rapids, IA 52406.
Helen Bennett Scholarship--Awarded to entering first-year students who are a resident of Bennett, Iowa, and a graduate of Durant High School. Financial need is considered. Students must be nominated.
Robert D. Blue-Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation--Awarded to residents of Iowa who will attend an accredited Iowa college or university. Applicants are expected to demonstrate literary and scholastic ability; exhibit qualities of truth, courage, and fellowship; and display moral force of character. Applications must be completed online. If you have questions, contact the State Treasurer's Office at 515-725-7688 or rdbluescholarship@tos.iowa.gov.
Bright Scholars of Iowa Award --Awarded to entering first-year Iowa residents who exhibit outstanding academic achievement, qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, and demonstrate a commitment to learning and community service, as well as have achieved success in the face of adversity. Preference is given to students whose parents have not graduated from an accredited four-year college or university. Apply on the University of Iowa Scholarship Portal beginning October 1. Visit the Bright Scholars of Iowa web page for information about the organization.
Carver Scholars Program--Awarded to full-time students who will be starting their junior year in the fall semester of the award year. Recipients will be students of great potential and promise, who have worked hard to make ends meet and have been faced with challenging or debilitating situations in their lives. A qualified applicant must be able to demonstrate that his or her circumstances and accomplishments, when combined with financial and merit determination, might be overlooked in other types of student aid programs, but nevertheless represent high achievement and determination in the face of significant obstacles. Applicants must have graduated from an accredited high school in the state of Iowa or have been a resident of Iowa for at least five consecutive years immediately prior to application. Eligible students must demonstrate financial need by filing the FAFSA by March 1 of the award year. Students must have a minimum grade-point average of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Applications are available on the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust website, at www.carvertrust.org/scholarships. Applications must be submitted with references by April 1. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.
This scholarship is often renewable for the senior year after specific minimal requirements have been met, but such renewal is not automatic and scholarship recipients must complete a renewal application form at www.carvertrust.org (under the Scholarships tab at the top of the page, select the Apply Online Renewal link on the right side of the screen).
COHEAO (Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations--Awarded to U.S. citizens who are sophomore through senior undergraduate students or graduate students. For information and an application, visit the COHEAO website.
DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) Program--Awarded to residents of Washington, DC. DCTAG expands higher education choices by providing grants for out-of-state tuition at public four-year colleges and universities throughout the U.S., Guam, and Puerto Rico. DCTAG is neither need nor merit-based. Visit the DCTAG website for an application and detailed information.
Charles E. Fahrney Foundation--Awarded to full-time students who are residents of Wapello County (Iowa) attending an Iowa college or university and making satisfactory progress toward a degree. This scholarship is renewable. For application information, contact Ottumwa High School or the Trust Department at Firstar Bank in Ottumwa, 123 E. Third Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501.
Grinnell Mutual Group Foundation Fund--Awarded to students who are dependent children of Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company or member mutual employees. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and preference will be given to incoming freshmen, although any undergraduate students may apply. Applications are available from Barb Baker (email: bbaker@gmrc.com), Advertising and Community Relations Director, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, P.O. Box 790, Grinnell, IA 50112. The yearly application deadline is March 1.
Iowa Air National Guard--The 132d Fighter Wing, Iowa Air National Guard, in Des Moines offers benefits to aid students with their educational expenses. For information, visit the Air National Guard website at www.goang.com.
Iowa Farm Scholarship/Iowa Basketball Lettermen Fund--Awarded to entering first-year students in the top one-fourth of their high school graduating class whose parents own and operate an Iowa farm. Financial need is considered. One of the awards will be granted each year in memory of Chris Street, an Iowa basketball player killed in a 1993 traffic accident. Participation in interscholastic high school athletics also will be considered in determining this recipient. Apply online via the Iowa Scholarship Portal.
Iowa National Guard Scholarship--Awarded to first-year, upperclass, and graduate students who meet the following requirements: moral, age, medical, and qualifying placement aptitude scores on the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery test. This scholarship is renewable based on Selective Reserve drilling status of local National Guard units. Applications are available from the Iowa National Guard, 925 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 351-2337; jason.lund@ia.ngb.army.mil, mark.edwards@ia.ngb.army.mil, or jason.farmer@ia.ngb.army.mil.
Iowa Space Grant Consortium Scholarship--Awarded to full-time undergraduate students pursuing research opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines that support NASA's mission. Application information is available at: www.iaspacegrant.org/funding/undergrads/.
Phyllis R. Johnson Memorial Scholarship--Awarded to entering first-year students who are dependent children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews of Principal Financial Group employees. The scholarship is based on financial need. To apply, each year, students must complete the scholarship application obtained from Principal Financial Group. The application deadline is April 1. This scholarship may be renewed if the student is enrolled full-time, maintains at least a 3.0 grade point average, and the relative remains employed at Principal Financial Group. In addition, the student must continue to show financial need in future years as documented by filing the FAFSA by April 1.
Lappin Family Scholarship Fund--Awarded to graduates of Rock Island High School who plan to attend The University of Iowa as undergraduates. Students must be a member of the National Honor Society. Financial need is a minor consideration. This scholarship may be renewed for up to an additional three years if a 2.50 UI cumulative grade-point average is maintained. For application information, contact the High School Guidance Office, Rock Island High School, Rock Island, Illinois.
Edward Arthur Mellinger Education Foundation, Inc.--Awarded to residents who live in the following western Illinois counties: Fulton, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, Warren. Applications and additional information is available at www.mellinger.org, Edward Arthur Mellinger Educational Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 770, Monmouth, IL 61462 or e-mail at info@mellinger.org.
Mothers of Multiples, Des Moines Chapter--Awarded to one multiple-birth student (twin, triplet or higher order multiple) who is a resident of Iowa and is pursuing enrollment or is currently enrolled in a college, university, trade or vocational school. Additional information and the application are available on the www.dmmom.com/scholarship website. Email any questions to dmmom.scholarship@gmail.com.
LaVerne Noyes Scholarship--Awarded to undergraduate students with no prior degree who are U.S. citizens and are direct descendants of U.S. Army or Navy veterans who served in World War I as specified on the application. Preference is given to students with financial need. A FAFSA must be completed as soon as possible after October 1 for the upcoming academic year. This scholarship may be renewed for an additional three years (eight semesters total) or until a baccalaureate degree is received, whichever comes first. Recipients must maintain full-time enrollment status and good academic standing. The application deadline is April 1 prior to the upcoming academic year. View and print a 
Ronald Rohling Scholarship--Awarded to an entering first-year full-time student who is a graduate of Muscatine (Iowa) High School. Applications are available from the Muscatine High School Scholarship Committee, Guidance Department, Muscatine High School, 2705 Cedar St., Muscatine, IA 52761.
Edward J. Schwartz Perpetual Educational Trust Fund--Awarded to residents of Wapello County (Iowa) who are attending The University of Iowa full-time. This scholarship is based on scholastic performance, leadership, citizenship, and financial need. Applications are available from South Ottumwa Savings Bank, Trust Department, P.O. Box 516, Ottumwa, IA 52501-0516, (515) 682-7541.
Henry B. Tippie University of Iowa Scholarship--Awarded to graduates of Belle Plaine (Iowa) Community Schools, with preference given to business majors. This scholarship may be renewed. Students must be nominated by Belle Plaine High School Scholarship Committee. Additional information is available from Belle Plaine Community Schools, Belle Plaine, IA 52208.
War Orphans Educational Aid--Awarded to students who are children of Iowa veterans killed in action. Applicants must have lived in Iowa for two years immediately preceding the filing of their application. Additional information is available from the Iowa Commission of Veteran Affairs, Camp Dodge, 7105 N.W. 70th Avenue, Johnston, IA 50131; va.iowa.gov/benefits.
UI Homecoming Scholarship--Awarded to students who will have sophomore or junior standing for the fall semester and demonstrate outstanding leadership to the University of Iowa and its community. Applications are available on the UI Homecoming website.