Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen

Automatic Admission Scholarships

Incoming freshmen students will be automatically considered for the scholarships listed below. Scholarships are renewable for up to four years with continuous full-time enrollment and good academic standing. To apply for additional scholarships, make sure to complete the UNI Scholarship Application.

Panther Awards: Offered for up to four years

• Iowa students applying to UNI directly from high school are automatically considered for scholarships ranging from $1,000 - $4,000 annually.
• Awards are based on academic achievement (GPA and/or ACT scores).
• Scholarships are renewable with a 2.5 GPA and continuous full-time enrollment.
• Students admitted by May 1 are given priority consideration.

Inspire Award: Offered for up to four years

• Students applying to UNI directly from high school who show financial need as indicated on the FAFSA are automatically considered for the $1,000/year Inspire Award.  
• Award requires a minimum 3.5 high school GPA and can be stacked with Panther Awards.
• Scholarships are renewable with a 2.5 GPA and continuous full-time enrollment.
• Students admitted by May 1 are given priority consideration.

Additional Iowa Resident Scholarships

The following scholarships require that you apply through the UNI Scholarship Application. The application opens July 1 and the priority deadline for these scholarships is January 15. Students must be admitted in order to complete the scholarship application.

Bright Scholars of Iowa

• Be an Iowa resident entering UNI directly from high school
• Iowa Resident Cost of Attendance per year
• Top 10% of high school graduating class; OR RAI of 299+; OR ACT of 28+, OR GPA of 3.7+
• Have financial need
• Full details are on the Bright Scholars Of Iowa Website

Presidential Scholarship

Twenty Presidential Scholarships are awarded each year by the University Honors Program to high school seniors with a history of outstanding academic performance. Presidential Scholarships are worth $16,000 over four years ($4000 per year) and stack on top of the Panther Impact Award (Iowa Residents) or the UNI Advantage Awards (Out of State Residents). Recipients will be those whose strong academic credentials are matched by personal involvement in leadership and service activities. Visit the Presidential Scholars page for more information. Student must apply by January 15 using UNI's Scholarship Application.

Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS)

• Students involved in Cedar Valley CAPS have the following opportunity to earn a scholarship toward their enrollment at UNI.
• Complete the UNI Scholarship Application by January 15 of your senior year and check the "CAPS completer" box within the application to self-identify. If the priority deadline is missed, consideration for late applicants will be based on funding availability at the time reported to the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. 

*Effective for incoming students Fall 2021 and beyond 

Waterloo Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways

• Students involved in CTE Pathways have the following opportunities to earn scholarships toward their enrollment at UNI.
• Complete the UNI Scholarship Application by January 15 of your senior year and check the "CTE Pathways completer" box within the application to self-identify. By identifying that you will be a CTE Pathways program completer you will receive a minimum of $1,000 ($250 per year, renewable for four years), which will be awarded in addition to any other scholarships received.

*Effective for incoming students Fall of 2021 and beyond

Live 2 Succeed Scholarship

All new incoming students who contract to live on campus their first two years will receive a $1,000 Live 2 Succeed Scholarship. For more information, visit the University Housing and Dining website.

Automatic Admission Scholarships

Incoming freshmen students will be automatically considered for the scholarships listed below. Scholarships are renewable for up to four years with continuous full-time enrollment and good academic standing. To apply for additional scholarships, make sure to complete the UNI Scholarship Application.

Advantage Awards: Offered for up to four years

• All students living outside of Iowa, paying non-resident tuition, applying directly from high school, automatically receive a $5,000 Advantage Award.
• Students may be eligible for additional scholarships ($1,000-$2,000/year) based on academic achievement (GPA and/or ACT scores).  
• Legacy Scholar Award may be included if the student has a parent, grandparent, or sibling who graduated from UNI or a sibling currently enrolled at UNI.
• Scholarships are renewable with a 2.5 GPA, continuous full-time enrollment, and continued out of state residency (for tuition purposes).
• Students admitted by May 1 are given priority consideration.

Out-of-State Legacy Scholar Award: Offered for up to four years

• $2,000/year Out-of-State Legacy Scholars Award offered to students whose parent, grandparent or sibling graduated from UNI or a sibling is currently enrolled at UNI.
• Scholarship is renewable with a 2.5 GPA, continuous full-time enrollment, and continued out of state residency (for tuition purposes).

Inspire Award: Offered for up to four years

• Students applying to UNI directly from high school who show financial need as indicated on the FAFSA are automatically considered for the $1,000/year UNI Inspire Award.
• Award requires a minimum 3.5 high school GPA and can be stacked with Panther Awards.
• Scholarships are renewable with a 2.5 GPA and continuous full-time enrollment.
• Students admitted by May 1 are given priority consideration.

Additional Out-of-State Scholarships

The following scholarships require that you apply through the UNI Scholarship Application. The application opens July 1 and the priority deadline for these scholarships is January 15. Students must be admitted in order to complete the scholarship application.

Presidential Scholarship

Twenty Presidential Scholarships are awarded each year by the University Honors Program to high school seniors with a history of outstanding academic performance. Presidential Scholarships are worth $16,000 over four years ($4000 per year) and stack on top of the Panther Impact Award (Iowa Residents) or the UNI Advantage Awards (Out of State Residents). Recipients will be those whose strong academic credentials are matched by personal involvement in leadership and service activities. Visit the Presidential Scholars page for more information. Student must apply by January 15 using UNI's Scholarship Application.

Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS)

• Students involved in any CAPS programs throughout the nation, have the following opportunity to earn a scholarship toward their enrollment at UNI.
• Complete the UNI Scholarship Application by January 15 of your senior year and check the "CAPS completer" box within the application to self-identify. By identifying that you will be a CAPS program completer you will receive a minimum of $1,000 CAPS scholarship ($250 per year*, renewable for four years).

*Effective for incoming students Fall 2021 and beyond 

Live 2 Succeed Scholarship

All new incoming students who contract to live on campus their first two years will receive a $500 Live 2 Succeed Scholarship. For more information, visit the University Housing and Dining website.

Check out the list of featured college specific scholarships below. Apply for these scholarships (and more!) by completing the UNI Scholarship Application. 

Wilson College of Business

Students are required to apply for the following scholarships through the UNI Scholarship Application. Applicants may be considered without an ACT/SAT score.

Thanks to our generous donors, the Wilson College of Business offers a number of scholarships for incoming freshmen pursuing a major in business. If you are an incoming freshman - to be considered for any of the below scholarships, students must apply by the preferred scholarship deadline to receive first consideration, which is January 15. Applications completed after January 15 will be reviewed subject to the availability of additional funds. Meeting the criteria below does not automatically guarantee an award.

Scholarship	Amount	Requirements
Noel Scholars	Iowa Resident Cost of Attendance	New high school graduate from Iowa GPA of 3.0+ Full details on the Noel Scholars Website
Wilson College Inspire Award	Up to $1,000 per year	Plan to major in a Business program High school GPA of 3.75+ Demonstrate high-level of financial need First generation or TRIO participant Renewable with 2.5+ college GPA
Wilson Student Scholars	Iowa Resident Cost of Attendance	Current senior attending a Tama County high school with preference for a student from North Tama High School. Full details on the Wilson Student Scholars Website

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (CSBS)

Students are required to apply for the following scholarships through the UNI Scholarship Application. Applicants may be considered without an ACT/SAT score.

Scholarship	Amount	Requirements
CSBS Scholars Award	Up to $2,000 per year	Academic achievement Plan to major in one of the CSBS degree programs
Alderman Scholarship	Up to $2,000 per year	Good academic standing Plan to major in one of the CSBS degree programs Awarded to needy, worthy and appreciative students who have experienced difficulties

 

College of Education (COE)

Students are required to apply for the following scholarships through the UNI Scholarship Application. Applicants may be considered without an ACT/SAT score.

Scholarship	Amount	Requirements
COE Scholars Award	Up to $1,000 per year	Plan to major in one of the COE degree programs Academic achievement
Benjamin J. Allen Teacher Education Scholar Awards	Iowa resident tuition per year	Plan to major in one of the COE degree programs Minimum GPA of 3.75 Iowa resident

College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences (CHAS)

Students are required to apply for the following scholarships through the UNI Scholarship Application or the specific website, as listed. Applicants may be considered without an ACT/SAT score.

Scholarship	Amount	Requirements
Art Scholarships	Up to $5,000 per year	Portfolio review Visit the UNI Scholarship Application for details
School of Music (SOM) Scholarships	Up to $6,000 per year	Admission to the School of Music including successful completion of an audition Visit the UNI Scholarship Application for details Complete the required music supplement online
Theatre Activity Scholarships	Up to $2,500 per year	“B” average or rank in upper 30% of high-school graduating class Visit the UNI Scholarship Application for details
Science Technology & Mathematics Scholarships	Up to $5,000 per year	Plan to major in one of the following: Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, Technology, Mathematics, Physics, Science Teaching or Environmental Science.