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 2024 or will graduate with the class of 2025 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 (students in foster care are exempt from this requirement)
• Be a first-time college freshman in the fall 2025 or spring 2026 semesters (unless you are renewing your scholarship award, or unless you aged out of foster care)
• Must be continuously enrolled in college and continuously receiving a scholarship disbursement to renew a scholarship (students who were in foster care are exempt from this requirement)
• 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 April 1, 2025.
• Have an eligible Student Aid Index (SAI) on the 2025-26 FAFSA. The SAI range for scholarship eligibility for 2025-26 is (-1,500) - 10,669.

Award Amount and Limits

The amount of the AIOS award adjusts each year; the 2025-26 maximum award is $5,334. 

Students who are first-time recipients of AIOS in the 2025-26 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 (students who were in foster care are exempt from this requirement)
• Have an eligible Student Aid Index (SAI) throughout the entire school year
• File a FAFSA by April 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

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

Do you qualify? Let us know.

If your parent or stepparent was employed in Iowa in one of these capacities, and was killed in the line of duty, you might qualify for the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship:

• Peace Officer
• Police Officer
• Fire Fighter
• Sheriff
• Deputy Sheriff
• Iowa Department of Corrections
• Judicial District Department of Corrections

Students need to submit both an Iowa Financial Aid Application and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the April 1 deadline.

Additionally, the student needs to reach out to us either by phone, (877) 272-4456, email, or submit this form so we can properly prioritize your application. Students will be evaluated against all scholarship criteria and if selected for a scholarship you will be notified in the late spring.

Renewing Your AIOS for the 2025-26 School Year

How do I keep my scholarship?

1. Enroll in each semester/term (except summer) and receive a scholarship payment to remain eligible. If there’s a break in the receipt of the scholarship during the traditional 9-month school year, you forfeit all future scholarship funds.
2. You must have an eligible Student Aid Index (SAI) during the entire school year. The SAI range for 2025-26 is (-1,500) - 10,669.
3. Reapply. Submit your 20225-26 FAFSA by April 1, 2025.
4. Be in good academic standing with your campus/college.
5. The amount of this scholarship changes each year; the 2025-26 award amount is $5,334.
6. This scholarship is only good at Iowa colleges/universities. If you transfer out-of-state, you forfeit all future scholarship funds. 
7. The scholarship has a lifetime limit per student and is available for a maximum of 8 full-time semesters (or the equivalent if the student is enrolled less than full-time).

When does my scholarship expire?

This scholarship is based on the years you are in school, not the credits you earn. When planning your class load each term, be sure to remember that this scholarship is only good for 8 semesters; take enough classes each term to try and complete your program within the 8 semester limit.

Required Applications

FAFSA

Important Dates

April 1, 2025: the FASFA must be submitted on or before. Submitting your FAFSA after the April 1 deadline will cause you to lose the scholarship.