Iowa State Financial Aid Deadline — File FAFSA + IFAA Before April 1, 2026

About This Opportunity

Iowa gives you money for college — but only if you ask for it, and only if you ask on time. April 1, 2026 is the priority deadline for Iowa state financial aid. Missing it means losing access to the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (up to $5,334 per year, renewable for four years — that is potentially $21,000+) and the Iowa Grant program. If you are a Council Bluffs student planning to attend ANY Iowa college — Iowa Western Community College, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, any Iowa private college — you need to do two things before April 1: (1) File your FAFSA at studentaid.gov if you have not already. It is free. (2) File the Iowa Financial Aid Application (IFAA) at educate.iowa.gov. It is also free and takes about 15 minutes after you have your FAFSA confirmation. The IFAA is Iowa-specific — it is separate from the FAFSA and most students do not know it exists. Filing just the FAFSA is not enough to receive Iowa state aid. You must file both. If you need help filing your FAFSA or IFAA, ICAN (icansucceed.org) and EducationQuest (888-357-6300, Omaha office) provide free assistance. Do not leave state money on the table because of a form you did not know existed.

Who Can Apply

Must be an Iowa resident planning to attend an accredited Iowa postsecondary institution. All Council Bluffs students are Iowa residents. No GPA or income requirement to file — eligibility for specific programs is determined after filing. FAFSA + IFAA must both be filed to receive Iowa state scholarships and grants.