Unfortunately, once the deadline has passed, we cannot reopen the scholarship portal for additional submissions. If funding is a concern, we encourage you to contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to explore other options.

Yes! Some departments offer scholarships directly to their students—check with your program of study for availability.
Additionally, the university and external organizations may have opportunities with different deadlines. Here are helpful resources:

• Office of Student Financial Aid
• University Scholarships
• Outside Scholarships

Yes! The Writing Center offers feedback and guidance on essays for University of Iowa students, staff and faculty. We recommend scheduling an appointment early to allow time for revisions.

The Community Writing Center offers one-on-one writing assistance to Johnson County community members working on ANY kind of writing project, including scholarship essays.

Eligibility varies by scholarship, but all CLAS Scholarships require you to be an undergraduate student with CLAS as your primary college. Additional qualifications may apply, such as academic merit, financial need, major, or year in school, along with other criteria specified for each award.

If both majors are in CLAS, yes. If one major is in another college, that college is usually considered your primary affiliation, making you ineligible for CLAS Scholarships. Your primary major must be in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

To remain eligible, CLAS must be your primary college. If you switch to another college, you will no longer qualify for CLAS scholarships. Please reach out to your new college for scholarship opportunities.

Not all CLAS scholarships require the FAFSA, but many need-based awards do. We encourage students to submit the FAFSA by the university’s priority deadline to maximize consideration.  Please see the Applying for Aid website for more details.

Most CLAS Scholarships require a demonstrated record of academic achievement and potential:

• Need-based awards require a minimum 3.80 UI and cumulative GPA
• Merit-based awards require a minimum 3.80 UI and cumulative GPA, with some awards requiring a 4.00 UI and cumulative GPA

Yes, all CLAS Scholarships require full-time enrollment. If you received an award and are planning to enroll part-time, please email us.

Requirements vary by scholarship. Most scholarships do not require a letter of recommendation, however, some awards do. Please refer to the scholarship application instructions for details.

All scholarship recipients are notified via email.

Scholarships are typically disbursed and appear on your U-Bill in September for fall semester and February for spring semester.

Scholarships usually disburse in September and February. If you don’t see your award, verify that CLAS is still your primary college—this is the most common reason for cancellation. If you have questions, please email us.

Funds post to your university account (U-Bill) after the disbursement date if eligibility requirements are met.

In many cases, yes—however, total financial aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance. If aid approaches or exceeds this limit, adjustments may occur. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for details.

Most CLAS scholarships disburse only in fall (September) and spring (February). If summer disbursement is allowed, it will be noted in your award terms.

Eligibility is verified each semester. No action is required as long as you meet the conditions outlined in your award letter. The scholarship will automatically renew for the number of years stated.

Unfortunately, per university policy, scholarship funds cannot be combined into a single semester. Students who graduate early will not receive unused scholarship funds or an increased award amount. Learn more about scholarship policies.

No, CLAS Scholarships require full time continuous enrollment.  If you take a leave of absence you would need to reapply to be considered for future scholarships.

Amounts used for qualified educational expenses (tuition and required fees) are generally not taxable. Amounts used for non-qualified expenses (e.g., room and board) may be taxable. Please consult a tax professional for guidance.