All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS)
Offered by Iowa College Aid (Iowa Department of Education) · Free to apply
The All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship is a state need-based award for Iowa students starting college at an eligible Iowa college or university, worth up to $5,646 for 2027-28. Priority goes to students who aged out of Iowa foster care or the State Training School or were adopted from foster care after 16, children of Iowa public safety workers killed in the line of duty, students in federal TRIO programs (Upward Bound, Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Center) or Iowa GEAR UP in high school, and graduates of alternative high schools. Generally, members of the class of 2027 qualify if they enroll as first-time freshmen in fall 2027 or spring 2028, take at least 3 semester hours and have a Student Aid Index between -1,500 and 11,292. Students must file both the FAFSA and the Iowa Financial Aid Application by April 1, 2027. The award renews for up to eight full-time semesters if the student stays continuously enrolled, keeps an eligible SAI and refiles the FAFSA by April 1 each year.
Other deadlines near this one
- Arizona Promise ProgramDue April 1, 2027 · Full tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)
- Florida Farmworker Student ScholarshipDue April 1, 2027 · Full tuition and specified fees at Florida public institutions
- Florida Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled VeteransDue April 1, 2027 · Full tuition and registration fees at Florida public institutions; a matching fixed amount at eligible private institutions
How hard is the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) to win?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award.
- Odds
- not published by the provider
- Paperwork
- ~2 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Iowa residents
- Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS)?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Iowa
- Must attend a college in Iowa (the award does not travel out of state)
- Open to high school seniors
- Student Aid Index must be between -1,500 and 11,292 on the 2027-28 FAFSA
- Priority to former foster youth, children of fallen public safety workers, TRIO/GEAR UP participants and alternative high school graduates
- Must stay continuously enrolled to renew (foster youth exempt)
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is April 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around April 1 each year. Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens).
- FAFSA opens
- October 1, 2026
- FAFSA and Iowa Financial Aid Application due
- April 1, 2027
- Selection notice
- Late spring 2027
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS)
How much is the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) worth?
The All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) awards up to $5,646 a year (2027-28) and is renewable in later years.
When is the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) deadline?
The current deadline is April 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around April 1 each year. Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens).
When do All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) applications open?
Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens), and close April 1, 2027.
Who is eligible for the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS)?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Iowa; Must attend a college in Iowa (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school seniors.
Does the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 2 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS)?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award. What is known: open only to Iowa residents and open to a single grade level only. Plan on about 2 hrs of work.
Is the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) free to apply?
Yes. The All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More need-based scholarships
- Austin Community Foundation ScholarshipsVaries by fund (more than 60 opportunities) · due March 25, 2027
- Big Tex Scholarship Program$12,000 · due February 1, 2027
- BigFuture Scholarships$500 or $40,000 · due November 30, 2026
- Brevard Schools Foundation Scholarships$250 to $5,000 · due March 16, 2027
- Bridging the Dream Scholarship for High School SeniorsUp to $10,000 · due April 24, 2027
- Broward Education Foundation Scholarship Application$1,000 for one year up to $20,000 across four years · due March 15, 2027
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.