Both Prospective & Current College Students

Both Prospective and Current Students

Make sure to look carefully at the criteria and deadline for each scholarship and, if you think you might be eligible for a scholarship click the link to be brought to their website for more information. Scholarships are listed by submission deadline.

Disclaimer: The Outside Scholarship page is provided as a service to our students and is not a comprehensive list of all outside scholarships. The Office of Financial Aid maintains the accuracy of the listed scholarship information to the best of our ability but cannot guarantee the authenticity of every scholarship or the accuracy or timeliness of information found on any of the links. A scholarship’s inclusion on our page is in no way an endorsement of the scholarship. Please use caution when applying for any outside scholarship.

JANUARY

Live Más Scholarship Program

The Taco Bell Foundation is awarding $1,000,000 to support 100 young adults. Scholarships are awarded to innovators, creators, and dreamers who want to share their passion. A two-minute or less video that answers the questions posted on their website is necessary to apply.

Criteria: Be Between the ages 16 and 24, be a legal resident of the U.S.
Submission Deadline: January 11
Amount: Up to $25,000

National FFA Scholarship Program

The National FFA Organization has $2 million available - more than 1500 individual awards - to assist students across the country pay for their college educations. One in every five students who apply are said to receive scholarships.

Criteria: Be an FFA member, but can also apply if not an FFA member
Submission Deadline: January 11
Amount: Varies between scholarships (Student has received $1,000)

Asian and Pacific Islander Scholarship Fund

A collection of scholarships available to Asian and Pacific Islander students studying and living in the United States

Criteria: Be of Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity, Cumulative GPA of 2.7
Submission Window: September 7 - January 19
Amount: $2,500-$20,000

Des Moines Women’s Club Scholarships

The Des Moines Women’s Club offers scholarships to students primarily on the basis of his/her area of study and on being female, though some are offered to any student regardless of sex or major. There are 13 scholarships in total, each of which has its own application. Students may only apply to a single DMWC scholarship. We encourage you to glance at the easy-to-access eligibility requirements and applications for each of these scholarships and apply to the one best suited for you.

Criteria: Varies between scholarships
Submission Deadline: January 18
Amount: $1,000-1,500

Point Foundation National LGBTQ Scholarship Fund

Point is currently supporting 80 full-time undergraduate and graduate scholars; each scholar is paired with a mentor who advises the scholar on education and career decisions, and also helps guide them through the completion of an annual community service project.

Criteria: Identify as a LGBTQ student
Submission Window: January 18
Amount: Up to $10,000

Daughters of the American Revolution

Daughters of the American Revolution offer several scholarships to students who fill out the necessary application materials which are easily downloadable from their website. Scholarships each have their own criteria based on area of study or on personal heritage as an American Indian. Financial need is taken into account for each scholarship.

Criteria: Varies between scholarships
Submission Window: November 1 - January 31
Amount: Varies between scholarships

Unity Point Health Trinity Scholarships

Unity Point Health is offering several scholarships to help further education. An overview of the different scholarships can be found on the webpage.

Criteria: Varies among scholarships
Submission Deadline: January 31
Amount: Varies among scholarships

FEBRUARY

Iowa National Guard Officers Auxiliary Student Scholarship

A student scholarship for dependents of an Iowa National Guard member (current or retired) and a spouse scholarship open to current spouse of an Iowa National Guard member (current or retired) involving a 500 word or less essay on how being a National Guard family has impacted your life.

Criteria: Iowa students or spouse affiliated with the Iowa National Guard
Submission Deadline: February 1
Amount: $1,000

Fahrney Education Foundation Scholarship

A scholarship for Wapello County, Iowa residents who will be attending college/university in Iowa

Criteria: Resident of Wapello County, Iowa, be attending college in Iowa
Submission Deadline: February 15
Amount: $2,500

Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholarships

HSF Scholarships are reserved solely for Hispanic students seeking a college education though the organization offers several scholarships with varying criteria. We encourage you to watch for updated scholarship info throughout your scholarship search.

Criteria: GPA of at least 3.0, Be a Hispanic student
Submission Deadline: February 15 (may vary)
Amount: Varies between scholarships

The LPGA Foundation

The LPGA Foundation offers aid to students on the basis of their participation in golf. Awards are given to more than twenty high school seniors.

Criteria: Involvement in golf (varies slightly between individual scholarships)
Submission Deadline: February 28
Amount: Mostly $5,000, one $1,250

MARCH

American Chemical Society Scholarship

The American Chemical Society provides a scholarship for minority students interested in chemical science related fields

Criteria: Be African-American, Hispanic/Latino, or American Indian, have a 3.0+ GPA, and pursue an interest in the field of chemistry and chemical sciences, but you must not be on the pre-med track
Submission Window: November 1 - March 1
Amount: $2,500 - $5,000

Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation offers significant, renewable awards to children of current and past Marines. If eligible, a student can apply by filling out an application on their website and submitting specified financial documents.

Criteria: Be a child of a current U.S. Marine or Navy Corpsman or a veteran, Have a GPA of at least 2.0, Demonstrate financial need
Submission Window: January 1 - March 3
Amount: $1,500-$10,000 per academic year

Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship

This very untraditional scholarship is awarded solely on the basis of a visual image to be used for a greeting card. More details can be found on their website and their easily accessed entry form.

Criteria: None
Submission Window: May 31 - March 2
Amount: $10,000

Mary Greeley Medical Center Scholarships

In the search bar in the top right corner, search “scholarship” and click on the first result, titled “Scholarship Opportunities.” The scholarships listed are reserved for students pursuing degrees in nursing or in another health-related career.

Criteria: Varies between scholarships
Submission Deadline: March 21
Amount: Varies between scholarships

Foster Care to Success

Foster Care to Success provides both Education Training Vouchers of $5,000 (in select states) and general awards which are renewable for up to five years.

Criteria: Have been in a foster care and fulfill more specific requirement listed on their webpage.
Submission Window: January 1 - March 31
Amount: $2,500-5,000 per academic year

Folds of Honor Scholarship

The Folds of Honor Foundation offers scholarships annually to the spouses and children of those killed or disabled in service of the United States.

Criteria: Must be the spouse or child or a service member in the U.S. armed forces who was killed while in service, died as a result of injuries sustained, is a POW or MIA, or was awarded a Purple Heart
Submission Window: February 1 - March 31
Amount: Varies between scholarships

Gamma Mu Foundation Scholarship

A scholarship supporting gay men going into or in college

Criteria: Be a US citizen and a gay male
Submission Window: March 1 - March 31
Amount: $1,000 - $2,500

SFM Foundation Scholarship

The SFM Foundation offers scholarships to students whose parents were killed or seriously injured in workplace accidents while working in Minnesota, Iowa, or Wisconsin and who are eligible for workers’ compensation. Students must demonstrate financial aid.

Criteria: Be the natural, adopted, step child, or full dependent of a worker injured or killed in a work-related accident
Submission Deadline: March 31
Amount: Up to $10,000

Cobell Scholarship

Indigenous Education Inc. offers six different scholarships annually, each specific to a certain type of student (undergraduate, graduate, vocational, etc.). These scholarships are offered to indigenous students who are planning to, or are pursuing a vocational degree, an undergraduate degree, or a graduate degree.

Criteria: Be an enrolled member of a US Federally recognized Tribe
Submission Deadline: March 31, May 5
Amount: Varies

APRIL

Des Moines Mothers of Multiples Scholarship

The Des Moines Mothers of Multiples is awarding one scholarship to a student who is a multiple birth and who completes the application found on their website.

Criteria: Be a multiple birth (twin, triplet, etc.), Be a resident of Iowa, Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
Submission Deadline: April 1
Amount: $500

Mercy Medical Center Scholarships

Mercy Medical Center offers two scholarships—the New Hampton Auxiliary Scholarship and the Vianna Holschlag Nursing Scholarship—which are offered, respectively, to Chickasaw County high school seniors and any prospective or current student. Applications can be easily found online and completed with one supporting letter of reference.

Criteria: Be pursuing a career in nursing or a medical field
Submission Deadline: April 1
Amount: $750

American Legion Scholarships

The American Legion offers several distinctly unique awards with specific criteria for each one. We encourage all students to read through the list of award opportunities on their website.

Criteria: Varies between awards
Submission Deadline: April 1
Amount: Varies greatly between awards

American Legion Legacy Scholarship

A scholarship available to children of fallen post-9/11 service members and post-9/11 veterans VA-rated 50% or higher disabled

Criteria: Children of fallen or disables post-9/11 service members
Submission Deadline: April 1
Amount: Up to $20,000

Army Scholarship Foundation Scholarships

A collection of scholarships for children and spouses of active duty Reserve, or active duty National Guard U.S. Army members in good standing or of former U.S. Army members who received an honorable discharge or medical discharge, or who were killed while serving in the U.S. Army.

Criteria: Child or spouse of active duty, honorable discharge, or deceased Reserve of National Guard US Army members, 2.0 minimum gpa, US citizen, less than 24 years of age if a child
Submission Deadline: April 15
Amount: $500-$2,000

MOPH Scholarship Program

The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) awards approximately 80 scholarships a year. To apply, students must submit an essay of 300-400 words answering the prompt listed on their website.

Criteria: Be a purple heart recipient (or spouse or direct lineal descendant ) who is also a member of MOPH OR be the spouse, widow/widower, or direct lineal descendant of a service member killed-in-action or who died of wounds, have a GPA of at least 2.75
Submission Deadline: April 15
Amount: $2,500

NANBPWC Scholarships

A collection of scholarships for African American Women

Criteria: Depends on the Scholarship
Submission Window: January 15 - April 20
Amount: Varies

RentHop Apartment Scholarship

The RentHop Apartment Scholarship awards students who complete a 1000 word essay explaining where they see themselves 5 years after finishing school. The award also includes an optional internship with RentHop, if applicable.

Criteria: None
Submission Deadline: April 30, August 31
Amount: $1,000

MAY

Edward Arthur Mellinger Educational Fund

Offering up to 300 scholarships to students residing in specific counties of western Illinois, the Edward Arthur Mellinger Educational Fund are renewable annually as long as the student maintains proficient academic standing.

Criteria: Reside in one of six Illinois counties (Fulton, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, or Warren)
Submission Window: February 1 - May 1
Amount: Varies $600-1,700

SeniorCare Aging Matters Scholarship

One student is chosen each year on the basis of a response to why aging matters in under 1,000 words. A brief online application, including the essay, is available on their webpage.

Criteria: Be in good academic standing
Submission Deadline: May 15
Amount: $1,500

B. Davis Scholarship

A scholarship involving the writing of a 1000 word essay describing the three characteristics of leadership you value most.

Criteria: N/A
Submission Deadline: May 21
Amount: $1,000

JUNE/JULY/AUGUST

180 Medical Scholarship Program

This scholarship, offered by 180 Medical, is only available to those who have suffered from one of the physical injuries listed on their scholarship page.

Criteria: "Be under physician's care for a spinal cord injury, spina bifida, transverse myelitis, or neurogenic bladder or ostomy (ileostomy, colostomy, or urostomy)."
Submission Window: January 1 - June 1
Amount: $1,000

Abbott and Fenner Scholarships

The application process includes a required essay about your educational and life goals.

Criteria: None
Submission Deadline: June 12
Amount: $1,000

MyBioSource Scholarship

Five scholarships are awarded to students pursuing a degree in a related science major. A 250 word response that answers why you have chosen to enter the field of science and why you should receive the scholarship is required.

Criteria: Have an intended major in a STEM field, but there is also a scholarship application for non-STEM majors
Submission Deadline: June 30
Amount: $1,000

ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention Inc.’s Academic Scholarship

ABC Wildlife is offering a $1,000 scholarship to female students looking to pursue a career in science. An essay response of 1,000 or fewer words is required to apply. The essay prompt can be found on the ABC Wildlife website. Up to nine additional students may receive awards for their submissions.

Criteria: Identify as female, be planning to study in a STEM field
Submission Deadline: July 1
Amount: $1,000

Military College Scholarship

This scholarship is intended for students who are either in the military themselves or have a parent serving in the Armed Forces. Applications are to be found on their website and emailed in for submission. Friends and family can also nominate potential recipients though the application must still be filled out by the deadline.

Criteria: Have a mother or father in the U.S. Armed Forces or be in the military yourself
Submission Deadline: July 1
Amount: $1,250

Both Prospective and Current Students

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FEBRUARY