Iowa Students: How To Get Financial Aid

The University of Iowa offers a world-class education at a lower tuition rate than peer institutions. The Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Iowa is dedicated to supporting students throughout their educational journey. The office provides information, financial literacy resources, and counseling for students and their families. There are various financial aid options available, including scholarships, Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), private loans, work-study, and grants. The University of Iowa also has hundreds of scholarship opportunities, including general scholarships and departmental scholarships. The office guides students through the financial aid application process and provides important information about available options and how to qualify for them.

Scholarships

The University of Iowa provides a wide range of scholarship opportunities for its students. The Office of Student Financial Aid is dedicated to supporting students throughout their educational journey and offers guidance on the financial aid application process and available options.

The University offers various scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students based on financial need, academic merit, or both. Merit-based scholarships from the Office of Admissions do not stack; if a student meets the minimum requirements for multiple awards, they will be granted the scholarship with the highest monetary value. Receiving a merit scholarship may not disqualify students from also receiving need-based grants or loans, depending on the level of financial need.

The Iowa Scholarship Portal provides a comprehensive list of scholarship opportunities for undergraduate students, including general scholarships open to all students and departmental scholarships restricted to specific majors or fields of study. The portal is regularly updated with new applications, so students are encouraged to visit frequently.

The University of Iowa also offers specific scholarship programs such as the Iowa Need-Based Academic Award and the Iowa Community College Need-Based Academic Award, which are automatically awarded to eligible students. Additionally, various colleges and departments within the University provide scholarships for both incoming and continuing students.

Students are encouraged to explore external scholarship opportunities beyond those sponsored by the University, including scholarships provided by local, regional, and national agencies, as well as corporate and nonprofit organisations.

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The University of Iowa's Office of Student Financial Aid provides support and guidance to students throughout their educational journey. The office assists students in understanding the various financial aid options available and helps them navigate the application process.

The FAFSA application is used to determine eligibility for all types of financial aid, including federal and state aid. It is available to prospective students before they are admitted or enrolled at the University of Iowa. The FAFSA is typically made available for each academic year, with specific deadlines for maximum aid consideration. For example, the 2025–26 FAFSA was available from December 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026, with a filing deadline of February 1, 2025, for maximum financial aid consideration.

Completing the FAFSA application as early as possible is highly recommended, as some financial aid programmes have limited funding. While students can apply for financial aid throughout the year, certain programmes may deplete their funding if the FAFSA is filed after the University's deadline for maximum aid consideration. Therefore, students are encouraged to prioritise completing the FAFSA by the specified deadline to maximise their financial aid opportunities.

The FAFSA application process involves providing tax information from two years prior to the application date. FAFSA automatically attempts to retrieve this information directly from the IRS. However, if the automatic transfer is unsuccessful, applicants must submit the required tax documents manually. Additionally, the University of Iowa's Office of Student Financial Aid may request additional information or documentation to support the FAFSA application.

Loans

The University of Iowa offers a range of loan options to help students cover their educational expenses. It is important to remember that loans must be repaid, so the university encourages students to borrow responsibly and carefully review all loan repayment information before taking out a loan.

Undergraduate Students and their Parents

Undergraduate students have access to Federal Loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized), the Federal Nursing Student Loan, and the Federal Parent PLUS Loan. In addition, undergraduate students and their parents can also apply for private loans offered by banks, credit unions, and online lenders. These private loans are based on the borrower's creditworthiness and often require a co-signer, especially if the student has a limited credit history. Interest rates and terms vary among private lenders, so it is recommended to carefully compare offers to secure the most favorable terms.

Graduate and Professional Students

Graduate and professional students at the University of Iowa can apply for the Health Professions Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan for Select Health Professions, Federal Grad PLUS Loan, and Private Loans.

International Students

International students at the University of Iowa can apply for Private Loans for their educational funding. Lenders such as MPower Financing, Ascent, Prodigy Finance Student Loan, and SoFi offer international student private loans without requiring a U.S. co-signer.

University of Iowa Student Short-Term Loans

The University of Iowa also offers short-term loans to its students. These loans are meant to cover educational expenses not met by other sources of financial aid.

It is important to note that students should carefully review their loan options, understand the repayment process, and stay proactive and informed about their financial responsibilities. The Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Iowa is dedicated to supporting students throughout their educational journey and can provide guidance on financial aid applications and available options.

Work-study

The University of Iowa's Office of Student Financial Aid offers support to students throughout their educational journey. One of the options available to students is work-study. Work-study is a need-based, part-time employment program in which the government and the employer share the payroll cost of employing the student. It is not a grant or a loan, and the amount awarded will not be applied directly towards tuition or disbursed as a lump sum. Instead, students earn their offered amount by working at their job, and the payment for the hours worked is deposited biweekly into their bank account.

Each year, around 1,000 undergraduate students at the University of Iowa are employed through work-study positions. To qualify for work-study, students must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, be enrolled as an undergraduate in an eligible degree or certificate program, and demonstrate financial need by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. Work-study students can find employment with various employers, both at university jobs and with approved off-campus government or non-profit agencies. Some positions are specifically designated as community service roles.

Students can find work-study jobs throughout the year, and they must apply and be hired by the employer. Most available jobs are listed on Handshake, but students can also contact employers directly or attend the Student Employment Job Fair hosted by the Pomerantz Career Center in the first week of the fall semester. At this fair, a variety of on- and off-campus employers interview students and accept applications.

The typical work-study offer is $2,500 per semester for returning students and $1,750 per semester for first-year and transfer students. Students are limited to working a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic year, but they can work up to 40 hours per week during breaks and over the summer. In addition to earning money, work-study students can gain valuable transferrable skills, develop a professional mindset, and network with mentors. On-campus employment has also been linked to increased enrollment retention and higher graduation rates.

Grants

The University of Iowa offers grants to students to help them with their financial needs. Grants are a type of 'gift aid' where repayment is not necessary. The Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Iowa supports students throughout their educational journey and guides them through the financial aid application and review process.

To apply for grants, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. The University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid (UI OSFA) encourages students to file the FAFSA as soon as possible. After a student is admitted, the FAFSA information is reviewed, and the student's financial aid eligibility is determined. Offers are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Students with exceptional financial needs, as determined by the FAFSA, are automatically offered need-based grants.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is one such need-based grant. It is available to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree and are enrolled for at least half-time (six hours per semester). Students may receive this grant for up to eight semesters. The Federal TEACH Grant is another option that provides up to $4,000 per year to undergraduate or graduate students admitted to the College of Education and enrolled in a TEACH-eligible program. The TEACH Grant aims to support students who intend to become full-time highly qualified teachers in elementary or secondary schools serving low-income students.

In addition to federal grants, there are also state-funded grants and scholarships available through the Iowa Financial Aid Application. These include the Iowa National Guard Education Assistance Program, All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship, Gear Up Scholarship, Iowa Education Training Voucher, Iowa Workforce Grant, and Future Ready Iowa Grant. The availability of these grants may vary, and students are encouraged to apply early.

The University of Iowa also offers the Student Impact Grant, which provides funding for undergraduate and graduate student activities outside the classroom, such as research, travel, and service projects. These grants are awarded twice a year, with applications typically accepted for the summer/fall semester beginning in January and for the winter/spring semester starting in September. The grant amounts range from $100 to $1,000.

Frequently asked questions