Scholarship requirements

Minimum CLAS scholarship requirements

  • Must be able to demonstrate academic promise and accomplishments.
    • Need Based awards require a minimum 3.50 UI and cumulative GPA.
    • Merit Based awards require a minimum 3.75 UI and cumulative GPA.
  • 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 2023 and spring 2024 semesters. 
  • Must continue as a CLAS undergraduate in 2024-2025.
  • Many scholarships require that applicants have filed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
    • For continuing students, the FAFSA filed for the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 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.

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.

SCHOLARSHIPELIGIBILITY
 Christofer and Laurie Christiansen Scholarship FundFinancial need-based
Mary Goodykoontz Barnes ScholarshipFinancial need-based
Nadyne Harris ScholarshipsFinancial need-based
Ralph K. and Maxine J. Hibbs ScholarshipsFinancial need-based
Margaret Foster Hoff Memorial ScholarshipFinancial need-based
Alexander Kern ScholarshipsFinancial need-based
Faith M. Knowler ScholarshipFinancial need-based
Edward Prichett Scholarship FundFinancial need-based
Myrna Lee Sprengeler Memorial ScholarshipFinancial need-based
Mary Campbell Tow ScholarshipFinancial need-based
Manuel Paul and Abraham Chinitz Liberal Arts and Sciences Scholarship FundFinancial need-based
Jeffery Keith Jones Memorial ScholarshipFinancial need-based
Rains Family Scholarship FundFinancial need-based, Junior or Senior
Henry G. Ullerich Scholarship in the College of Liberal Arts & SciencesFinancial need-based, Iowa Resident
Shallman Family ScholarshipFinancial need-based
Helen Reich Scholarship FundFinancial need-based
F.C. Denkmann Scholarship FundFinancial need-based
R. L. Hulbary Scholarship Financial need-based
Winifred S. Scott ScholarshipFinancial need-based
Peter and Marie Bousfield Memorial ScholarshipFinancial need-based

 

For currently enrolled undergraduate students with specific eligibility criteria or in a specific College of Liberal Arts & Sciences degree granting program.

SCHOLARSHIPELIGIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY
Betty and Paul Abel ScholarshipAll CLAS majors. Must be a Junior or Senior (60+ earned hours) and identify as a first generation college student
Edward B. Buchanan, Jr. and Mary Louise Buchanan Scholarship Must be an Iowa resident, Junior or Senior (60+ earned hours), and be a major in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, or Mathematics
Jackie L. Christopher ScholarshipMust have a major in one of the following departments: Mathematics or Computer Science
Roger H. and Marilyn J. Coleman ScholarshipMust be a Junior or Senior (60+ earned hours), have a major in one of the following departments: Communication Studies or Journalism & Mass Communication, with preference to students from the following counties in Illinois: Knox, Warren, Henry, or Mercer
James and Syndy Conger ScholarshipMust have a major in one of the following departments: Asian & Slavic Languages & Literature, Classical Languages, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish
Robert Froese ScholarshipMust have a major in one of the following departments: Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy, Mathematics, Biology, Communications Science & Disorders, Computer Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Health & Human Physiology, Psychology, and/or Statistics & Actuarial Science
David W. Koehser ScholarshipMust have a major in one of the following departments: Economics, Political Science, or History
Morris & Lenore Mandelbaum Family Fund ScholarshipMust have graduated from a Des Moines high school
Adelaide Boerner Trickey ScholarshipMust 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)
Richard S. and Helene D. Trump ScholarshipMust have a major in one of the following departments: Annually alternates between German and School of Art, Art History, and Design
Rainbow Science Scholarship FundMust have a major in one of the following departments: Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy, Mathematics, Biology, Communications Science & Disorders, Computer Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Health & Human Physiology, Psychology, and/or Statistics & Actuarial Science
Kenneth J. and Sharon L. (Reisch) Erickson ScholarshipMust have a major in one of the following departments: Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy, Mathematics, Biology, Communications Science & Disorders, Computer Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Health & Human Physiology, Psychology, and/or Statistics & Actuarial Science
Velma E. Stuit ScholarshipsMust have a major in one of the following departments: Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry, Physics

Merit scholarships

For currently enrolled undergraduate students in a College of Liberal Arts & Sciences degree granting program.

SCHOLARSHIPELIGIBILITY
Marion L. Elmquist Scholarship in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences All CLAS majors, must be a Junior (third year) student. 
Bill and John Fenton Scholarships All CLAS majors
Faley Family First Generation Scholarship All CLAS majors. Must be an Iowa resident, have graduated from an Iowa High School, and identify as a first generation college student.
Lennis J. Holm ScholarshipMust have a major in one of the following departments: Annually rotates among English-Nonfiction Writing (2023-24), Theatre Arts--Playwriting (2024-25), Cinema--Screenwriting (2025-26).
Dr. Merlyn Arthur Lewis and Jeanette Lewis ScholarshipAll CLAS majors. Must be a first year student with a major in CLAS. (0-30 overall hours earned)
Dr. Obiagele Lake Pan-African Empowerment Scholarship

Must have 75+ hours with course work focusing on African, African-American or Afro-Caribbean studies (students should have taken at least four courses in one of these three areas between their freshman and junior years).

Hubert H. and Hugh M. Schultz Scholarship FundAll CLAS majors
Richard J. Odem ScholarshipMust have a major in one of the following departments: Mathematics, Statistics, or Economics
George S. Schaeffer ScholarshipsMust be an Iowa resident. Must have a major in one of the following departments: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Health and Human Physiology, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics & Astronomy, Psychology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, or Statistics & Actuarial Science
Dr. George Schulz-Behrend FundMajor in German
Barbara G. and Professor Ralph I. Stephens Art ScholarshipMust have a major in one of the following departments: Art and Art History
Esther Walls ScholarshipMajor in the fine arts, social sciences, or humanities
Maureen Medberry Snell AwardAll CLAS majors
Hogan Family ScholarshipMust have a major in one of the following departments: Available to English majors in 2024–25 and History majors in 2025-26.
Mark W. Coffey Scholarship FundMust have a major in Mathematics or Physics. Preference given to Iowa residents. 

Undergraduate Honors and Research Scholarships

For currently enrolled undergraduate students in a College of Liberal Arts & Sciences degree granting program.

SCHOLARSHIPELIGIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY
Stevens Phi Beta Kappa ScholarshipMust be a junior with a natural science major with at least two semesters of study remaining. Application deadline: spring 2024.
Claire and Carl Stuart Study Abroad Scholarship FundStudy Abroad funding for Iowa Residents in their Junior year of study. (Winterim India)
Carol A. Snodgrass ScholarshipStudy Abroad funding for CLAS students traveling to Spain and/or Latin America.
John and Elsie Mae Ferentz Undergraduate Research FundCLAS students pursuing research projects. Application by email please see website for further information. 
The Dewey Stuit Fund for Undergraduate ResearchStudents, 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.