Scholarship requirements
Minimum CLAS scholarship requirements
Minimum requirements
Minimum requirements
- Must be able to demonstrate academic promise and accomplishments.
- Financial Need based awards require a minimum 3.80 UI and cumulative GPA.
- Merit based awards require a minimum 3.80 - 4.00 UI and cumulative GPA depending on award.
- Must be enrolled primarily in a College of Liberal Arts & Sciences degree granting program and seeking your first undergraduate degree.
- Must be enrolled as a CLAS undergraduate in fall 2026 and spring 2027 semesters.
- Must continue as a CLAS undergraduate in 2026-2027.
- Many scholarships require that applicants have filed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
- For continuing students, the FAFSA filed for the 2025-2026 or 2026-2027 academic year will be used in the selection process.
- Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid to find out more information about scholarships and completing the FAFSA.
Types of scholarships
Financial Need-Based Scholarships
Completion of the FAFSA is required for consideration of all financial need-based scholarships.
For currently enrolled undergraduate students in any College of Liberal Arts & Sciences degree granting program.
| SCHOLARSHIP | ELIGIBILITY |
|---|---|
| Alexander Kern Liberal Arts and Sciences Scholarship This gift is from an alumni from the Class of 1941 who benefited greatly from Professor Kern's teaching. | Financial need-based |
| Christofer and Laurie Christiansen Scholarship Fund | Financial need-based |
| Edward Prichett Scholarship Fund | Financial need-based |
| F.C. Denkmann Scholarship Fund | Financial need-based |
| Faith M. Knowler Scholarship | Financial need-based |
| Helen Reich Scholarship Fund | Financial need-based |
| Henry G. Ullerich Scholarship in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences | Financial need-based, preference to an Iowa resident |
| Margaret Foster Hoff Memorial Scholarship | Financial need-based |
| Mary Campbell Tow Scholarship | Financial need-based |
| Mary Goodykoontz Barnes Scholarship | Financial need-based |
| Myrna Lee Sprengeler Memorial Scholarship | Financial need-based |
| Nadyne Harris Scholarships | Financial need-based |
| Peter and Marie Bousfield Memorial Scholarship | Financial need-based |
| R. L. Hulbary Scholarship | Financial need-based |
| Rains Family Scholarship Fund | Financial need-based, Junior or Senior |
| Winifred S. Scott Scholarship | Financial need-based |
For currently enrolled undergraduate students with specific eligibility criteria or in a specific College of Liberal Arts & Sciences degree granting program.
| SCHOLARSHIP | ELIGIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY |
|---|---|
| Adelaide Boerner Trickey Scholarship | Must be a Junior or Senior (60+ earned hours) and have a major in one of the following departments: Music or Psychology Rotates on a two-year basis between the School of Music and the Department of Psychology (see scholarship information for dates) |
| Betty Abel McKenzie Scholarship | Must have a major in one of the following departments: Art, Art History, and Design; Music; Dance; Theatre. Preference given to students who identify as a first-generation college student |
| Betty and Paul Abel Scholarship | All CLAS majors with preference given to students who identify as a first-generation college student |
| David W. Koehser Scholarship | Must be a Senior and have a major in one of the following departments: Political Science or History |
| Edward B. Buchanan, Jr. and Mary Louise Buchanan Scholarship | Must be a Junior or Senior (60+ earned hours), and be a major in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, or Mathematics |
| Isabel Navasca "Lola" Corpuz Student Success Fund | Must have a major in the humanities, with preference to students who are Iowa residents and identify as a first-generation college student |
| Jackie L. Christopher Scholarship | Must have a major in one of the following departments: Mathematics or Computer Science |
| James and Syndy Conger Scholarship | Must have a major in one of the following departments: Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures or Classics (Classical Languages) |
| Kenneth J. and Sharon L. (Reisch) Erickson Scholarship | Must have a major in one of the following departments: Chemistry; Physics and Astronomy; Mathematics; Biology; Communications Science and Disorders; Computer Science; Earth, Environment, and Sustainability; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Statistics and Actuarial Science |
| Mary Pelechek Scholarship for Students in the Fine Arts | Must have a major in one of the following departments: Art, Art History, and Design; Dance; Music; or Theatre Arts |
| Manuel Paul and Abraham Chinitz Liberal Arts and Sciences Scholarship | Must have a major in one of the following departments: Chemistry; Physics and Astronomy; Earth, Environment, and Sustainability; Biology; Mathematics; Computer Science. Preference given to students from Cass or surrounding counties in Iowa |
| Morris & Lenore Mandelbaum Family Fund Scholarship | Must have graduated from a Des Moines high school |
| Rainbow Science Scholarship Fund | Must have a major in one of the following departments: Chemistry; Physics and Astronomy; Mathematics; Biology; Communications Science and Disorders; Computer Science; Earth, Environment, and Sustainability; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology; Psychological and Brain Sciences; and/or Statistics and Actuarial Science |
| Richard J. Odem and Robin W. Odem Scholarship Fund | Must be a Sophomore or Junior and have a major in one of the following departments: Mathematics or Statistics. Must be a resident of the state of Iowa. |
| Richard S. and Helene D. Trump Scholarship | Must have a major in one of the following departments: German or School of Art, Art History, and Design |
| Roger H. and Marilyn J. Coleman Scholarship | Must be a Junior or Senior (60+ earned hours), have a major in one of the following departments: Communication Studies or Journalism and Mass Communication, with preference to students from the following counties in Illinois: Knox, Warren, Henry, or Mercer |
| Step to the Future Scholarship | All CLAS majors with preference given to students who identify as a first-generation college student |
Merit scholarships
For currently enrolled undergraduate students in a College of Liberal Arts & Sciences degree granting program.
| SCHOLARSHIP | ELIGIBILITY |
|---|---|
| Barbara G. and Professor Ralph I. Stephens Art Scholarship | Must have a major in one of the following department: Art, Art History, and Design and a graduate from an Iowa high school |
| Bill and John Fenton Scholarship | All CLAS majors |
| Dr. George Schulz-Behrend Fund | Major in German |
| Esther Walls Scholarship | Must have a major in one of the following departments: African American Studies; American Studies; Anthropology; Art, Art History, and Design; Cinematic Arts; Classics; Communication Studies; Creative Writing; Dance; English; Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies; History; Journalism and Mass Communication; Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures; Music; Philosophy; Political Science; Religious Studies; Rhetoric; Social Work; Sociology and Criminology; Spanish and Portuguese; Theatre Arts |
| Faley Family First Generation Scholarship | All CLAS majors. Preference given to a graduate from an Iowa high school, and identify as a first generation college student. |
| George S. Schaeffer Scholarships | Must be an Iowa resident and and have a major in one of the following departments: Biology; Chemistry; Communication Sciences and Disorders; Computer Science; Earth, Environment, and Sustainability; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology; Mathematics; Physics and Astronomy; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Statistics and Actuarial Science |
| Hogan Family Scholarship | Must be a Junior (third year) and rotates annually between majors in English and History. Preference given to a graduate from an Iowa high school. |
| Hubert H. and Hugh M. Schultz Scholarship Fund | All CLAS majors |
| Lennis J. Holm Scholarship | Must have a major in one of the following departments: Annually rotates among English-Nonfiction Writing (2026-27), Theatre Arts-Playwriting (2027-28), Cinema-Screenwriting (2028-29). Preference given to graduate of an Iowa high school. |
| Maureen Medberry Snell Award | All CLAS majors |
| Marion L. Elmquist Scholarship in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences | All CLAS majors, must be a Junior (third year) student |
| Mark W. Coffey Scholarship Fund | Must have a major in Mathematics or Physics and Astronomy. Preference given to Iowa residents. |
| Shallman Family Scholarship | All CLAS majors |
| Velma E. Stuit Scholarships | Must be a Junior or Senior (60+ earned hours) and have a major in one of the following departments: Biology; Chemistry; Communication Sciences and Disorders; Computer Science; Earth, Environment, and Sustainability; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology; Mathematics; Physics and Astronomy; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Statistics and Actuarial Science |
| Wilma Servatius Memorial Fund | All CLAS majors with preference given to students who identify as a first generation college student |
Undergraduate Honors and Research Scholarships
For currently enrolled undergraduate students in a College of Liberal Arts & Sciences degree granting program.
| SCHOLARSHIP | ELIGIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY |
|---|---|
| Stevens Phi Beta Kappa Scholarship | Must be a junior with a natural science major with at least two semesters of study remaining. Rolling application deadline. |
| Claire and Carl Stuart Study Abroad Scholarship Fund | Study Abroad funding for Iowa Residents in their Junior year of study. (Winterim India) |
| Carol A. Snodgrass Scholarship | Study Abroad funding for CLAS students traveling to Spain and/or Latin America. |
| John and Elsie Mae Ferentz Undergraduate Research Fund | CLAS students pursuing research projects. Application by email please see website for further information. |
| The Dewey Stuit Fund for Undergraduate Research | Students, faculty members, and academic units may request funding for projects that will advance the extracurricular research, scholarship, and creative work of undergraduate students. Departments also are expected to contribute funds to support the student’s or students’ research or creative work. |