Grants

Grants are considered "gift aid" and do not have to be repaid. Eligibility for grants is determined by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), as calculated on the FAFSA. Visit the information below to learn more about the various federal, state, and institutional grants available to UNI students.

Federal Grants

• Pell Grant

  • Federal Pell Grants are usually awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. (A professional degree is usually earned after earning a bachelor's degree in a field such as medicine, law, or dentistry.)
    ​The U.S. Department of Education uses a formula established by law to calculate a student's financial eligibility, otherwise known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your Student Aid Report (SAR) contains this number, in the upper right portion of page 1. This number will determine if you are eligible for a Pell Grant and for how much. Awards are prorated for students enrolling less than full time.

• Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

  • ​Federal need-based grant for families with EFC's between 0-1000. The maximum award is $1,000. (Funds are limited.) Cannot be awarded in conjunction with the Tuition Assistance Grant. (Not stackable).

Federal need-based grant for families with EFC's between 0-1000. The maximum award is $1,000. (Funds are limited.)

• TEACH Grant

  • Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a high need field in a low income school. Due to federal sequestration, the maximum TEACH Grant for 2019-20 is $3,764 for the academic year. There is no application to apply for the TEACH Grant. Students just need to submit their FAFSA yearly, have a declared high need area of study, and academic (ACT or GPA) component to be offered the TEACH Grant.

    - Federal TEACH Information

    - UNI TEACH Information 

State Grants

• IMAGES

  • IMAGES awards range up to $2000. Eligibility Criteria:

  • Funds limited on first-come, first-served basis

  • Priority given to student participants in College Bound activities

  • Must be an Iowa resident

  • Requires ethnic or racial status of African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino/Spanish, Alaskan Native or American Indian, Asian Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

  • Demonstrated financial need as determined on the FAFSA

• All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship

  • The All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship is available for one year only. Recipients must demonstrate financial need as determined on the FAFSA with a High School GPA of 2.5 or above. Students must complete an application through the Iowa College Student Aid Commission at www.iowacollegeaid.gov

• Future Ready Iowa Grant

  • ​The Future Ready Iowa Grant is an opportunity for students who:

    • Have at least half of the credits completed and accepted towards an eligible program (typically 60 credits or more). Click here for eligible programs at UNI.

    • Have not been previously enrolled in post-secondary education for two or more years

    • Have applied for all other available aid (no financial need required for the grant)

    • Maximum annual award amount for 19-20 is $3,500

  • For more information on the grant and to apply, visit the Iowa College Aid Commission

Institutional Grants

• Tuition Guarantee Program for Iowans

  • ​This program provides a 4 year commitment of full tuition and fees provided through a combination of federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships. The applicant must be an Iowa resident, newly graduated from an Iowa high school, and must have an Expected Family contribution (EFC) as determined on the FAFSA of 1000 or less their first year. Students must be Pell Grant eligible as determined by the FAFSA for the remaining 3 years of the program to qualify.

This program provides 4 year commitment of full tuition and fees provided through a combination of federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships. The applicant must be an Iowa resident, newly graduated from Iowa high school, and must have an Expected Family contribution (EFC) as determined on the FAFSA of 1000 or less throughout four years for continued eligibility.

• Tuition Guarantee Program for Multicultural Community College Iowans

  • ​This program provides two year commitment of full tuition and fees provided through a combination of federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships. The applicant must be an Iowa resident, must be Pell Grant eligible as determined by the FAFSA throughout two years for continued eligibility, must have 30 transferable hours from an Iowa Community College, and requires ethnic or racial status of African American/Black, Hispanic/Latina/Spanish, Alaskan Native or American Indian, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

This program provides two year commitment of full tuition and fees provided through a combination of federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships. The applicant must be an Iowa resident, must be Pell Grant eligible as determined by the FAFSA throughout two years for continued eligibility, must have 30 transferable hours from an Iowa Community College, and requires ethnic or racial status of African American/Black, Hispanic/Latina/Spanish, Alaskan Native or American Indian, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

• Tuition Assistance Grant

  • ​This Tuition Assistance Grant is prorated for less than full-time enrollment and renewable based on EFC on next year's FAFSA. The applicant must have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined on the FAFSA of 8000 or less. This grant is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.  Summer Tuition Assistance Grant availability and awarding parameters are based on availability of funds. Cannot be awarded in conjunction with the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (not stackable.)

This program awards prorated for less than full-time enrollment and renewable based on EFC on next year's FAFSA. The applicant must have an Expected Family contribution (EFC) as determined on the FAFSA of 8000 or less. This grant is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

• CBA Grant

  • ​The CBA Grant is a $1000/year award available to juniors and seniors pursuing a major in the College of Business. Students must be Pell Grant eligible and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Students receiving merit awards from the College of Business are ineligible.