Iowans enrolled in an eligible field of study may be awarded the scholarship

Iowans are encouraged to apply for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship by August 1 and pursue a career in a high-demand field to meet the needs of Iowa’s growing economy.

The Last-Dollar Scholarship eliminates any remaining financial gap between federal and state grants/scholarships and tuition and fees for those enrolled in a qualified program of study at an eligible institution for recent high school graduates and adult learners.

Eligible institutions are Iowa community colleges or accredited private colleges in Iowa that offer qualified programs of study and that agree to provide student services.

Students who earned an Iowa high school diploma, or high school equivalency diploma, enroll at least part-time in an eligible program of study, apply for all other available state and federal grants and scholarships, and meet ongoing requirements are eligible for the Last-Dollar Scholarship.

Scholarship recipients can choose from various high-demand programs in growing career fields such as manufacturing, healthcare, information technology and more. All applications must be submitted by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by August 1. Information is available at IowaCollegeAid.gov/LastDollar.

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Did you file your 2020 tax return before to March 11, 2021 AND file a FAFSA for the 2022-23 academic year AND receive unemployment benefits in 2020?

If you filed your 2020 tax return prior to March 11, 2021 and have a dependent in college (or are enrolled yourself) for the 2022-23 academic year, receipt of unemployment benefits may impact your application for federal, state, or institutional financial aid. However, there are possible adjustments that may offset this. Please contact the financial aid office at your college to learn more about increasing your financial aid eligibility.

Successful program to continue through ARP funds

DES MOINES – Today, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced more than $5 million in American Rescue Plan to support GEAR UP Iowa Future Ready partner districts across the state of Iowa

The funding marks the launch of GEAR UP Iowa Future Ready, which builds upon the established federal GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Iowa program, dedicated to significantly increasing the number of students prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

The Iowa College Student Aid Commission (Iowa College Aid) administers GEAR UP Iowa Future Ready in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education and other state agencies; local school districts; postsecondary educational institutions; and community organizations, businesses, and industries.

"Through this program, we are providing school districts with the tools and resources needed to prepare high school students for transition to post-secondary education through curriculum, mentoring, and guidance,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Investing in our schools, educators and students through proven programs will help us build up our young people, strengthen the talent pipeline, and provide a high-quality workforce for businesses.”

The program will be implemented in the following 11 partner districts ­– Centerville, Clinton, Columbus Junction, Davenport, Davis County, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Saydel, South Tama, and Storm Lake. GEAR UP Iowa Future Ready will guide students in those schools from ninth grade through their first year of postsecondary education.

“We’re thankful for Governor Reynolds’ support of this critical program with a proven record of successfully preparing Iowans for postsecondary education and the workforce,” said Iowa College Aid executive director Dr. Mark Wiederspan. “This funding gives GEAR UP Iowa Future Ready the ability to reconnect with students and communities most severely impacted by the pandemic and assist those students in achieving their educational and career goals.”

GEAR UP Iowa Future Ready will utilize the funding to provide students and their families with various services to prepare them academically, financially and inspirationally to enroll and succeed in post-secondary education. In 2020, 88 percent of GEAR UP Iowa graduates had plans to complete a two-year or four-year degree program or other postsecondary training and education. GEAR UP Iowa students have also demonstrated higher rates of attendance, reading and math proficiency, increased standardized entrance exam scores, and FAFSA completion.

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CONTACT:
Tressa Schultz
515-725-3435
tressa.schultz@iowa.gov

Iowa College Aid announces almost $550,000 in awards

Eleven Iowa communities will receive grants to increase college attainment, Iowa College Aid announced today. The Local College Access Networks, or LCANs, will receive a total of $545,375 for 2021-22. Two are new networks, while the rest are returning grantees.

The two new networks are Brother to Brother in Des Moines and Perry LCAN. Brother to Brother will focus on college attainment for young Black men in Des Moines and Central Iowa. Perry LCAN will focus on college attainment and workforce readiness in the Perry community, especially for lower-income and minority students. 

The goal of an LCAN is to increase college access, enrollment, and completion using a framework known as “Collective Impact,” which means that each LCAN assesses the assets and needs of its community and works to fill the gaps in partnership with local colleges, school districts, area education agencies, business groups, elected officials, employers, and community and religious organizations. Iowa College Aid provides funds for an LCAN coordinator, travel, training, and other costs. Iowa College Aid staff provide technical assistance, consultation, and professional development. The LCAN grant series is a four-year model.

These LCANs received awards this cycle:

• Year I
  • Brother to Brother (Des Moines): $49,650
  • Perry LCAN: $49,940
• Year II
  • Quad Cities LCAN: $50,000 
• Year III
  • Black Hawk County CAN: $50,000
  • Carroll Area CAN: $48,396
  • Latinos CAN (statewide): $59,825
  • OPT-in CAN for System Involved Youth (statewide): $49,096
  • Story County CAN: $50,915
• Year IV
  • Aligned Impact Muscatine (AIM): $50,00
  • Dubuque CAN: $50,668
  • Mason City CAN: $36,885

“We are grateful for the funding and support from Iowa College Aid,” said Dr. Lee Chhen Stewart, Story County CAN coordinator. “We have been able to provide career speakers for sixth-graders, train 30 community members to help with financial aid applications, collaborate with high school students to create a website of college resources, and train 26 adult learners—15 of whom now have more secure, higher-paying jobs.”

Dr. Mark Wiederspan, executive director of Iowa College Aid, said the mission of LCANs has never been more important. “During the pandemic, we’ve seen dips in college enrollment and college financial aid applications,” he said. “These networks are working to recoup those losses. Many of them—including the two newest—are setting specific goals around completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. High school students who file this application are much more likely to follow through on their college plans.”

LCANs support the Future Ready Iowa goal that 70 percent of Iowans have some education or training beyond high school by 2025. Since 2015, Iowa College Aid has awarded a total of $2,760,844 to 19 networks.

Find more information at IowaCollegeAid.gov/LCANs.

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CONTACT:
Tressa Schultz
515-725-3435
tressa.schultz@iowa.gov

Winners of Branstad State Fair scholarship named

Three college-bound Iowans will receive the Governor Terry E. Branstad Iowa State Fair Scholarship for 2021-22, Iowa College Aid announced today. The scholarship, named for the longtime Iowa governor and former U.S. ambassador to China, recognizes outstanding Iowa high school seniors who have actively participated in the fair. This year’s winners will each receive $2,000. They are:

• Ruby Hummel, a graduate of Panorama High School, plans to study music education at Drake University. Ruby exhibited photos and sculpture at the fair and regularly took part in 4-H Share the Fun, performing in group skits and playing piano solos. She also won the opportunity to perform in the Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Building on multiple occasions. “The Iowa State Fair was a big deciding factor in my future education and career path,” she says. “These performances, and having the opportunity to perform in front of a large crowd, made me realize how much I love performing and how much I enjoy music. Music became something I wanted to pursue and give to others in my life well into the future.”
   
• Gavin Tindle, a graduate of Montezuma High School, plans to major in agricultural business and minor in animal science at Iowa State University. Gavin has camped at the fair every year of this life—a tradition that goes back to his great-grandparents. His fair participation evolved over the years from Mutton Bustin’ and the Pedal Tractor Pull to winning awards for photographs, antiques, flowers, brownies, rabbits, and goats. “My love of agriculture grew from the fond memories of being at the Iowa State Fair and seeing how ag impacts the lives of everyone—not just one person, but the world,” he says. “I feel honored that I have basically grown up being an Iowa State Fair kid.”
   
• Sierra Wegener, a graduate of Northeast Middle-High School in Goose Lake, plans to study animal science and agricultural business at Iowa State University. Sierra grew up helping her parents show livestock at the fair and eagerly awaited her turn, eventually winning three Supreme Champion awards for her sheep. Sierra says the fair has not only taught her about agriculture but also given her the opportunity to teach. “Educating people about the agriculture industry is one of my favorite things because people may not know where their food comes from, or how almost everything that we have can be traced back to agriculture in some way,” she says. “If I can be an advocate for the industry that I love and people can see my passion for it, maybe I can make an impact on them and they could teach others as well.”

A common thread in all three winners’ application essays was the fair’s impact on their career paths. “These stories underscore the value of the Iowa State Fair for education, not just entertainment,” said Dr. Mark Wiederspan, Executive Director of Iowa College Aid. “This kind of career exploration is an important component of preparing young Iowans for lifetime success.”

The winners will be honored at the fair on Saturday, August 14, on the Bill Riley Stage, just before the crowning of the Iowa State Fair Queen.

Iowa College Aid will also host an information booth in the Varied Industries Building, at the center of the south wall. Visitors can take selfies with Cash the College Aid Dog, receive free mood pencils, download a free mobile app for college planning, sign up for free virtual college coaching, and order free college planning guides. 

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CONTACT:
Tressa Schultz
515-725-3435
tressa.schultz@iowa.gov

Fewer Iowans, Americans have been applying for college financial aid

Iowa College Aid today announced new initiatives to increase FAFSA filing in light of falling rates—both statewide and nationwide—during the pandemic. The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is required for all federal and state financial aid and most forms of aid from colleges and universities.

“In addition to being the door to financial aid, the FAFSA is tied to higher college-going rates,” said Dr. Mark Wiederspan, Executive Director of Iowa College Aid. “Students who say they plan to go to college are much more likely to follow through if they file this application. So focusing on the FAFSA actually helps us achieve Iowa’s goal that 70 percent of the workforce will have education beyond high school.”

In partnership with the Iowa College Access Network, Iowa College Aid hired 10 FAFSA associates to help students file the FAFSA this summer. The agency also made FAFSA completion goals a requirement for its 2021-22 round of funding for Local College Access Networks. Finally, Iowa College Aid held a series of workshops with school counselors and higher education stakeholders this spring to develop FAFSA strategies.

Also today, Iowa College Aid released a report showing that fewer Iowans filed the FAFSA during the pandemic. As of May 31, 49 percent of Iowa public high school seniors in the class of 2021 had filed. That rate represents a drop of 2 percentage points from a year ago and continues a four-year downward trend.

“It’s worth noting that this filing cycle was the first to take place entirely during the pandemic,” Wiederspan said. “Last year, we were on track to post some gains until COVID-19 hit. Then we saw a drop that continued into this cycle. And Iowa’s numbers track with what we see happening all over the country.”

When separated by race and gender, Asian males and females were the only two student groups in Iowa whose FAFSA filing rates rose this cycle. The largest drops were among Hispanic and Black males, who already had the lowest rates. “Our efforts will focus on increasing FAFSA filing overall as well as closing these equity gaps,” Wiederspan said.

Read the full “FAFSA Filing in Iowa: 2021” report here. 

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CONTACT:

Elizabeth Keest Sedrel
(o) 515-725-3417  (c) 515-710-1257
elizabeth.sedrel@iowa.gov

Maximum award more than doubles for 2021-22 school year

Iowa college students who were in the foster care system could qualify for expanded financial aid, Iowa College Aid announced today.

The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 increased funding for the Education and Training Voucher, which provides aid to students who aged out of foster care and students who were adopted after age 16. The maximum ETV award is usually $5,000 a year. In the coming year, however, that amount will be considerably higher:

• Students who already qualified for ETV in the 2020-21 academic year could be eligible for an additional $2,500 for summer classes, even if they previously reached the $5,000 maximum.
   
• Students who will attend college in 2021-22 could be eligible for up to $12,000 for the year.

“This is terrific news for former foster youth in Iowa,” said Dr. Mark Wiederspan, executive director of Iowa College Aid, which administers ETV in Iowa. “Last year more than 160 students qualified, and they received an average of over $3,500. With this boost in federal funding, we hope to increase both the number of students we serve and the amounts they receive.”

To qualify for ETV, a student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Iowa Financial Aid Application (IFAA). Students can use ETV funds to pay for tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, and personal or living expenses.

Find more information about ETV, along with links to the FAFSA and the Iowa Financial Aid Application, at IowaCollegeAid.gov/ETV.

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CONTACT:

Elizabeth Keest Sedrel
(o) 515-725-3417  (c) 515-710-1257
elizabeth.sedrel@iowa.gov
 

Federal budget expands SNAP and broadband benefits for those affected by pandemic 

Students in Iowa might be eligible for help paying for broadband access, computers, and food under the latest federal budget, Iowa College Aid and the Iowa Department of Human Services announced today.

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 creates the Emergency Broadband Benefit program to help pay for internet service. Households can receive discounts up to $50 a month—$75 on tribal lands—on broadband access and discounts up to $100 on laptop computers, desktop computers, or tablets if they meet any of these conditions:

• A student is eligible for free/reduced price lunch in 2019-20 or 2020-21.
• A student is eligible for the federal Pell Grant in 2020-21.
• Someone in the household has experienced a substantial loss of income during the pandemic, and the household income is below $99,000 for single filers or $198,000 for joint filers.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a program of the Federal Communications Commission. Eligible households will be able to enroll starting today (May 12) at GetEmergencyBroadband.org.

The Appropriations Act also temporarily expands SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance) benefits to include all college students who are eligible for work-study or who have an Expected Family Contribution of $0 in the 2020-21 academic year. SNAP is a federal program that provides money to buy fruit, vegetables, and other food. In Iowa, the program is administered by the Iowa Department of Human Services. The expanded eligibility is in effect until 30 days after the federal COVID-19 public health emergency is lifted. Find more information or apply at DHS.Iowa.gov/Food-Assistance.

Mark Wiederspan, the Executive Director of Iowa College Aid, called the Broadband Benefit a lifeline for students. “Our world has gone virtual in the past year, and students who couldn’t go virtual along with it lost their access to education,” he said. “Up-to-date devices and reliable Internet service have never been more important.”

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Iowa is one of only 11 states to be awarded a grant to ensure the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t stop the high school classes of 2020 and 2021 from enrolling in education and training opportunities after high school.

The national grant, resulting from a competitive process by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) and with funding provided by the Kresge Foundation’s Education Program, was awarded to ICAN, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving college and career readiness for all Iowans.

COVID-19 has caused many disruptions to the planning process among Iowa students and their families, leading to a large decline in financial aid applications and pointing to lower college enrollments. The Iowa Initiative will amplify the current FAFSA Ready Iowa program and specifically target members of the Class of 2021 and 2020 who are college-bound but have yet to apply for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.)

“It has been a difficult year with many students delaying decisions and putting off steps in the process that will help them succeed after high school,” stated Rob Miller, President of ICAN. “In a normal year, 78 percent of Iowa high school seniors go on to college and 60 percent of those seniors file a FAFSA form. Currently only 45 percent of high school seniors have filed the FAFSA this year which is concerning.”

The FAFSA form has long been a key indicator of post-high school success. Data indicates that students filing the FAFSA are more likely to immediately enroll in an education or training program following high school. It is this connection between FAFSA completion and college attainment that ICAN will focus on in the coming months through this grant program.

“Iowa traditionally has a strong FAFSA completion initiative that in normal years allows for community- and school-based events to take place across Iowa, providing face-to-face assistance to families.” explained Miller. “The pandemic made many of these events impossible to hold. Coupled with delays in planning by students, the Class of 2021 is just behind. We plan to change that through this grant program.”

Research indicates that students who delay enrollment in a postsecondary education or training program after high school are 64 percent less likely than their “on-time” peers to complete a bachelor’s degree and 18 percent less likely to complete any credential.

ICAN, in partnership with state and community organizations, as well as 49 high schools across Iowa, will use targeted strategies and statewide virtual and in-person events to reach members of the Class of 2021 who still need to file the FAFSA and provide assistance. The goal through this program is to return Iowa to pre-pandemic completion levels of 60 percent or more.

“Iowa College Aid is eager to support these efforts to increase FAFSA completion in Iowa,” said Dr. Mark Wiederspan, Executive Director of Iowa College Aid. “We know from our research that filing the FAFSA increases the likelihood that a student will go to college. We’re ready to provide resources for students and families, for schools, and for communities to make sure Iowans know how to take this important step.”

Utilizing FAFSA completion data supplied by Iowa College Aid, ICAN and its partnering high schools will work to target members of the Class of 2021 that are still determining their path after high school graduation.

“We had 26 high schools across Iowa volunteer to participate in the grant program, along with five community-based Local College Access Networks that represent an additional 23 high schools.” stated Miller. “Each community has strategic benchmarks to increase their FAFSA completion rates and help their college-bound students complete the final steps before high school graduation.”

The grant will also assist special populations and members of the Class of 2020 who may have delayed planning for a year due to the pandemic. Special summer and statewide events will be geared to assist any students still in need of assistance following Class of 2021 graduation.

The grant program runs through August 31. ICAN is partnering with Iowa College Aid, the Iowa School Counselor Association (ISCA), the Iowa Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (IASFAA),  Carroll Regional College Access Network, Mason City College Access Network, Black Hawk County Local College Access Network, Dubuque College Access Network, Aligned Impact Muscatine County (AIM), as well as Bettendorf, Boone, Carlisle, Cedar Falls, Centerville, Davenport Central, Davenport North, Davenport Mid-City, Des Moines East, Fremont Mills, Johnston, Lewis Central, Linn-Mar, Lisbon, Logan Magnolia, Marshalltown, Mason City, Midland, Mid-Prairie, Mount Pleasant, Oskaloosa, Southeast Polk, South Hardin, Urbandale, West Branch, and West Monona High Schools.

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