Grants and scholarships are often called “gift aid” because they are free money—they don’t have to be repaid if you complete the enrollment you were paid to attend.

Grants are often awarded based on need while scholarships are awarded based on merit.

Funding for grants and scholarships comes from different sources: Hawkeye, the federal government, the state of Iowa, and others. Because each program is different, it is important to read and understand their specific eligibility and application deadlines.