We’re working to keep college affordable so that all Iowans get the educational opportunities that lead to great jobs. Almost half of bachelor’s degrees awarded in Iowa come from our private colleges and universities. Iowa Tuition Grants help them pay their way.
Iowa Tuition Grants are awarded to Iowa residents enrolled at Iowa’s private colleges and universities. Priority goes to applicants with the greatest financial need. The exact amount each student receives depends on the funding available and number of students awarded grants. Students may receive grants for up to four years of full-time, undergraduate study.
With the funding we are proposing for Iowa Tuition Grants in this year’s Senate Education Budget, the maximum annual award would be an estimated $5,000 per student next year—up from $4,550 per student this year. For the 2013-14 school year, almost 15,000 students received the grant, which is matched by their school.
Iowa is one of 11 states that have scholarship programs specifically for students attending private colleges and universities, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. A survey from the National Association of State Student Grant & Aid Programs shows that Iowa dedicates almost 80 percent of its need-based grants to resident students attending private colleges and universities — well above the national average of 28 percent.
A boost in the Iowa Tuition Grant will ensure more students can afford the education that’s right for them, which is an important part of our efforts to expand Iowa’s middle class. For more on grants, scholarships and other help to pay for college, go to www.iowacollegeaid.gov.