All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship

The All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) is a state-funded scholarship program for Iowa students who attend an eligible Iowa college/university. 

Priority for Awards

  • Students who age out of Iowa’s foster care system, age out of the State Training School, and students adopted from Iowa’s foster care system after age 16
  • Children of deceased public safety workers (including peace officers, police, firefighters, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, and correctional officers)
  • Students who participated in certain federal TRIO programs while in high school (Upward Bound, Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Center)
  • Students who graduated from alternative high schools or alternative high school programs
  • Students who participated in a Federal GEAR UP Grant program in Iowa

Eligibility Criteria

Generally, high school seniors who graduated in 2022 or will graduate with the class of 2023 are eligible for the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship if they meet the following criteria:

  • Iowa resident
  • Attending an eligible Iowa college or university
  • Must have graduated from an eligible Iowa high school or completed a high school equivalency diploma within the last 2 years
  • Be a first-time college freshman in the fall 2023 or spring 2024 semesters (unless you are renewing your scholarship award)
  • Must be continuously enrolled in college and continuously receiving a scholarship disbursement to renew a scholarship
  • Enroll for at least 3 semester hours (or the trimester or quarter equivalent) in a program leading to an undergraduate degree, diploma or certificate
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Iowa Financial Aid Application by March 1
  • Have an eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on the 2023-24 FAFSA. (For reference, the eligible EFC range in 2022-23 was $0-$9,966.)

Award Amount and Limits

The amount of the AIOS adjusts each year; for reference, the maximum value for the 2022-23 school year was $4,983. 

Students who are first-time recipients of AIOS in the 2023-24 school year can receive the scholarship for up to eight full-time semesters, or sixteen part-time semesters.

Renewing the Scholarship

Students can renew their award for up to eight full-time semesters or 16 part-time semesters, if the following criteria are met:

  • Must be continuously enrolled in college and continuously receiving a scholarship disbursement in each semester/term
  • Have an eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) throughout the entire school year
  • File a FAFSA by March 1 prior to each academic year

Required Applications

  • First Time Applicants: Submit the FAFSA and the Iowa Financial Aid Application (IFAA).
  • Renewing Applicants: Only submit the FAFSA. 

FAFSA IFAA

Important Dates

March 1: Both the FAFSA and Iowa Financial Aid Application must be submitted by this date.