Iowa Education and Training Voucher (ETV)
Iowa Department of Education, Bureau of Iowa College Aid
Up to $5,000 a year for college or training for young people who aged out of Iowa foster care or were adopted from it at 16 or older.
- How much
- Up to $5,000 per year
- Who qualifies
- Former Iowa foster youth (aged out at 18+, or adopted/subsidized guardianship from Iowa foster care at 16+)
- Up to age 26; exited Iowa DHS/Juvenile Court Services foster care at 18 (or within 30 days) or adopted/guardianship at 16+.
- For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students, grad students
- When to apply
- Open now · due December 1, 2026 IFAA available Oct 1 through Dec 1 of the academic year (e.g. Oct 1, 2026 - Dec 1, 2027 for 2027-28); earlier is better, awards in priority/date order.
- How to apply
- File the FAFSA and the Iowa Financial Aid Application (IFAA)
- The 2026-27 IFAA is available until Dec 1, 2026
- The 2027-28 IFAA opened Oct 1, 2026
- Out-of-state colleges must send a W-9 and an enrollment verification each term
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (educate.iowa.gov), page 2 and page 3
The details
For students up to age 26 who exited Iowa foster care (including group, family, shelter or relative placement) at 18 or within 30 days of their 18th birthday, or who were adopted or entered subsidized guardianship from Iowa foster care at 16 or older. Up to $5,000 per year, prorated for part-time, paid to the college; can cover tuition/fees, room and board, books and personal/living expenses. Can be used in summer if the full $5,000 wasn't used in the prior year, and at out-of-state colleges. Priority: prior recipients, then new undergraduates; graduate students may be funded after July 1 if money remains. Eligible students without funding go on a waitlist. Up to five academic years or until age 26. Not need-based.
More money from Iowa
- Iowa Tuition Grant (Not-for-Profit)Up to $7,500 per year (2026-27 maximum; 2027-28 amount not yet set)
- All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS)Up to $5,646 per year (2027-28); $5,486 in 2026-27; prorated for part-time
- Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant)Up to $3,100 per year (2026-27), sliding scale by SAI
- Future Ready Iowa GrantUp to $3,000 per year (2026-27), prorated for part-time
- Iowa Workforce Grant & Incentive ProgramUp to $1,125 per semester full-time ($2,250/yr, 2026-27); plus up to $2,000 incentive payment for an Iowa high-demand job
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.