All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship

Fact Sheet Available at: http://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/docs/file/progfactsheets/AIOSchFactSheet.pdf

Under this new program, students attending eligible Iowa colleges and universities may receive awards of up to $6,269 for the 2007-08 academic year. Priority will be given to students who participated in the Federal TRIO Programs (including current participants at Educational Opportunity Centers), students who graduated from alternative high schools or participated in alternative high school programs, and to homeless youth.   In addition, to be eligible for the program, an applicant must:

Be an Iowa resident who begins his or her initial enrollment at an eligible Iowa college or university within two academic years of graduating from high school – thus, students applying this year must have graduated from high school either in 2006 or 2007 and, because this is a new program, the student must be a first-year student for academic year 2007-08;

Have achieved at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent while in high school;

Enroll for at least 3 semester hours (or the trimester or quarter equivalent) in a program leading to an undergraduate degree;

Complete an online application; and

Complete a Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If you have any questions about the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship, please contact the Commission’s Information Service Center at 1-877-272-4456.

TRiO Scholarship Program

Maintain good academic standing (at least 2.0 UI GPA)
Register with NDIL by the third week of each semester
Attend required appointments with TRiO staff (three in fall, two in spring)
Participate in at least two services/activities provided, sponsored or approved by the TRiO Project Assistant Director (or Project Director) each semester
Complete a written evaluation of the scholarship program.

The TRiO Scholarship Program is the local TRiO SSS student grant aid program consisting of funds provided by the U.S. Department of Education combined with matching funds from nonfederal sources.  In 2001, Congress authorized the use of project funds for direct grant aid to TRiO SSS participants in order to help reduce eligible students’ unmet financial needs and to reduce the students’ loan burdens.

Matching Funds

Federal funds used for these grants must be matched by nonfederal funds such that at least 33 percent of the total amount awarded comes from non-federal sources.

Currently, both the Office of Student Financial Aid and the Family Services Office in the Department of Human Resources provide the required nonfederal matching funds for the UI TRiO Scholarship Program.  Students receiving funds matched by the Family Services Office must have at least one dependent.

Anyone interested in more information about the TRiO Scholarship Program should contact the project assistant director or project director at 335-1288.