Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant)
Offered by Iowa College Aid (Iowa Department of Education) · Free to apply
The Kibbie Grant helps Iowa residents with financial need pay for career and technical programs at Iowa community colleges in fields with worker shortages. The statutory maximum is half the average Iowa community college tuition and fees, and the actual 2026-27 maximum is $3,100 a year, for up to two years; part-time students can receive a prorated amount. To qualify, a student must enroll in at least 3 credit hours in an approved program of study lasting at least 15 weeks and have a Student Aid Index between -1,500 and 6,000. The only application is the FAFSA, which had to be filed by July 1, 2026 for the 2026-27 year; Iowa College Aid had not posted the 2027-28 date when checked, though the pattern suggests the same July 1 date. The approved program list, published as a spreadsheet on the state's page, covers areas such as nursing, welding, IT and advanced manufacturing. A graduating senior heading to community college for a technical program should file the FAFSA early.
Other deadlines near this one
- Arkansas Academic Challenge ScholarshipDue July 1, 2027 · $1,000 freshman year, then $4,000-$5,000/yr at 4-year colleges (up to $14,000 total)
- Arkansas Future Grant (ArFuture)Due July 1, 2027 · Full tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying certificate/associate programs (last-dollar)
- Arkansas Governor's Higher Education Transition ScholarshipDue July 1, 2027 · Up to $2,500 a semester
How hard is the Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant) 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 rivalsRestricted to specific intended majors
- 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 Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant)?
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
- Planning to study Skilled Trades or Health & Medicine
- Student Aid Index must be between -1,500 and 6,000
- Must enroll in an approved career-technical program at an Iowa community college
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 next projected deadline is July 1, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual July 1 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site.
- FAFSA opens
- October 1, 2026
- FAFSA deadline
- July 1, 2027 (estimated)
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant)
How much is the Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant) worth?
The Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant) awards up to $3,100 a year (2026-27) and is renewable in later years.
When is the Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant) deadline?
The next projected deadline is July 1, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual July 1 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site.
Who is eligible for the Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant)?
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; Planning to study Skilled Trades or Health & Medicine.
Does the Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant) 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 Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant)?
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 restricted to specific intended majors. Plan on about 2 hrs of work.
Is the Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant) free to apply?
Yes. The Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant) 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
- Life Lessons Scholarship ProgramUp to $15,000 · due March 1, 2027
- Marin Community Foundation ScholarshipsVaries by fund · due March 2, 2027
- Massachusetts Gilbert Matching Student Grant$200 to $2,500 per year · due June 30, 2027
- Missouri Kids' Chance Scholarship (state program)Tuition and fees up to the program cap · due April 30, 2027
- New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)$200 to $3,050 per year · due September 15, 2027
- New Mexico Student Incentive Grant$200 to $2,500 per year · due June 30, 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.