Scholarships
Local Scholarship Database
Scholarship Searches
A list of scholarships broken down by qualifications, such as diversity, grade point average, field of study, need, etc.
List of state grants and scholarships (toward the bottom of the page)
Several scholarships for students in foster care
Most of these scholarships simply require you to file the FAFSA; a few of them require you to fill out the Iowa Financial Aid Application (at the end of the FAFSA, it will ask if you want to fill out the Iowa Financial Aid Application - it takes like five minutes, and some of the information will auto-fill from FAFSA; I recommend you do it.)
All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (attending an Iowa school; based on need; preference given to students in Talent Search, dependents of deceased peace officers, or children who aged out of foster care/were adopted after 16; must fill out the Iowa Financial Aid Application)
Iowa Tuition Grant (private colleges in Iowa, based on need)
Last-Dollar Scholarship (community colleges, high-demand jobs)
The purpose of this scholarship is to cover the remaining cost of tuition after all other grants and scholarships have been applied for certificate, diploma, associate's degree training for high-demand jobs regardless of need. A student going into a eligible program at an Iowa community college will have their tuition covered (pell grant and other scholarships will be applied first, and then the Last-Dollar Scholarship will cover the rest of tuition) if their Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is $20,000 or less.
Each college has a list of eligible programs; just because a program is on one college's eligible list does not mean it will be on all colleges' lists.
You automatically qualify for this scholarship if you are going into an eligible program and have filed the FAFSA.
Iowa Vocational-Technical Tuition Grant (community college, based on need)
Kibbie Grant (certain technical programs at community colleges, based on need)
Iowa State Fair Scholarship
Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship (must be serving in the Iowa National Guard, must be attending an Iowa college or university, 100% of regent tuition rate ($9,274 in 20-21)
Create a profile, and they will email scholarships that match your eligibility and specifications.
Other Scholarship Searches (from ICAN)
You should NEVER have to pay for a scholarship or scholarship site!!! Do not fall for a scam!
Other Scholarship Sources
Check the college you are attending.
You are eligible for some scholarships simply based on your admission, aptitude (GPA and ACT score), need (FAFSA), etc.
Many colleges also have scholarships you can apply for as incoming freshmen and some based on your area of study.
Many colleges have one scholarship application for most/all of the scholarships offered at their college.
Scholarship information is usually located on the college websites under the Financial Aid tab (which might be under the Admissions or Future Students tab) or on the department's website (for area of study specific scholarships).
Raise.me (create a portfolio from 9th grade through 12th grade and earn micro-scholarships for taking college prep classes and doing well in them, perfect attendance, college planning, etc.)
Participating colleges: Buena Vista University, Clarke University, Cornell College, Dordt College, Drake University, Grand View University, University of Northern Iowa, etc. (There are probably many more than this by now - fill it out!!!)
Your and your parents' work
Churches/religious affiliations
Clubs/organizations to which you or your parents belong (4-H, FFA, Farm Bureau, etc.)
Tips for Applying for Scholarships and Writing Essays
Scholarship tips from Miss Harle
Activity Resume - Use this template to create a list of activities you've been involved in throughout high school. You can also give this to the people you ask to write a letter of recommendation, so they know how accomplished you are.
A Student's Guide to Writing a Scholarship Essay (from StudentScholarshipSearch.com)
How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay (from SuperCollege.com)
College Funding for Minority Students
Population-based Financial Aid (at the bottom of the page)
ICAN - list of scholarships based on diversity
Scholarship Opportunities for Juniors
Iowa Lakes Community College
The Clyde and Grace Sanborn High School Junior Scholarship was established at Iowa Lakes Community College in 2005. Several $1,000 scholarships are awarded to high school juniors from Estherville, Ringsted, Gruver, Armstrong, Swea City, Terril and Graettinger, Iowa and also students with a Dunnell, Minnesota address attending Martin County West High School with minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA who are planning to enroll full time at Iowa Lakes Community College the fall semester following high school graduation. This is a competitive scholarship; application does not guarantee award. Award does not obligate recipients to attend Iowa Lakes Community College. Award must be used for tuition, books or fees.
You will need an Iowa Lakes username and password. If you have ever taken a class for Iowa Lakes credit - online or at NUHS, you will already have an ILCC username and password. If you have not ever taken a class at Iowa Lakes, you can still apply - just see Miss Harle for a special link.
March 1
Uncommon Student Award sponsored by the Hoover Presidential Foundation
The Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award is a $10,000 scholarship program for Iowa high school juniors. The program annually identifies and honors up to 15 Iowa high school juniors who propose and then accomplish a project of their own choosing and design. Grades, test scores, essays and financial need are not evaluated. Each of the 15 finalists will receive a $1,500 cash award at the completion of the program. Three of those could earn an additional $10,000 scholarship each, for a total of $11,500!
March 15
The Horatio Alger Association provides financial assistance to students throughout the nation who have significant financial need and have exhibited integrity and perserverance in overcoming personal adversity. The scholarships range in value from $10,000 to $25,000. Students must be a high school junior with plans to enter a college in the United States no later than the fall following graduation, demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income), and be a U.S. citizen.
March 15
Search scholarship sites
Scholarship Opportunity for Graduates
Robert Griffith Scholarship at Iowa Lakes
The Robert Griffith Scholarship is funded by the Robert Griffith Charitable Trust and is administered by Iowa Lakes Community College Foundation. This scholarship was established in memory of Robert and Audrey Griffith along with Robert's parents, Harry and Rachel Griffith.
Successful candidates need to be enrolled full time at an accredited College or University in a course of study pertaining to Theology, History, Mathematics or Medicine. Preference will be given to those attending an Iowa college or university (students do NOT have to be attending Iowa Lakes). Recipients must be an Emmet County, Iowa resident; or attend/graduated from Estherville Lincoln Central; or a resident of North Union School district and attend/graduated from North Union. They must also have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or greater and have completed at least one year of study (24 credits). Award may be used for tuition, books, fees, or tools/materials required by the course syllabus. Awards will vary and be available for the recipients entering years 2-5 of study. This scholarship is renewable, however, the recipients must complete a new scholarship application for each academic year.
The application for this scholarship is the Iowa Lakes Foundation Scholarship application. It has a due date of March 1 each year. They anticipate giving out ten scholarships each year worth $5,000 each and renewable for four years (so up to $20,000). Please help me spread the word about this scholarship!
You will need an Iowa Lakes username and password. If you have ever taken a class for Iowa Lakes credit - online or at NUHS, you will already have an ILCC username and password. If you have not ever taken a class at Iowa Lakes, you can still apply - just email Miss Harle (detra.harle@nuwarriors.org) for a special link.
March 1