Future Ready Scholarship: Eligibility Requirements and Opportunities

The Future Ready Iowa initiative aims to connect Iowans with the training and education needed for well-paying jobs and careers. A key component of this initiative is the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship, designed to increase the number of Iowans with education and training up to a two-year degree in high-demand occupations. This article delves into the eligibility requirements for various Future Ready scholarship programs, primarily focusing on the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship, but also touching upon similar initiatives in other locations like City Colleges of Chicago and Miami Dade College.

Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship Eligibility

The Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship program aims to increase the number of Iowans with education and training up to a two-year degree in occupations that are in high demand throughout Iowa. The scholarship program will pay tuition - after applying non-repayable federal and state financial aid - for Iowans who enroll in one of the designated programs of study. If the student qualifies for LDS they will receive at least $500 even if, for example their federal Pell Grant fully covers tuition.

General Requirements

To qualify for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship, students generally need to:

File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Please go to IowaCollegeAid.gov/LastDollar for deadline information.
Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, students must have an SAI at or below 20,000 to receive the Iowa Last Dollar Scholarship.

Future Ready Iowa Grant

The Future Ready Iowa Grant is a state-funded grant program for Iowa students who are age 25 or older, who attend an eligible school.

Eligible Students

The Future Ready Iowa Grant is available to:

Iowa residents who are age 25 as of July 1 preceding the academic year
Enroll at least part-time in an eligible bachelor's degree program of study at an eligible school.
Recipients must be continuously enrolled and continuously receiving the grant to qualify in future semesters.
Enrollment during the summer semester is not required to meet the continuous enrollment/receipt provision.

Eligible Schools

Eligible schools are Iowa's three public universities, an accredited private college or an approved virtual institution that offers eligible programs of study.

Priority for Awards

Priority for Awards:

Eligible renewal applicants, by application date
Eligible new applicants, by application date

Eligible Programs of Study

The Future Ready Iowa Grant Eligible Programs list is based on job demand and might change from year to year. This program, as the name implies, is intended to cover any remaining gap between federal and state grants/scholarships and tuition and qualified fees. Because the directory of eligible programs list is based on job demand, it might change from year to year. Last-Dollar Scholars are eligible to receive additional support through college success coaching, and the Future Ready Iowa Texting Program.

College Success Coaching and Texting Program

Last-Dollar Scholars will benefit from receiving electronic nudges and in-person personalized guidance on navigating college life. College success coaches are available to guide and support students throughout Iowa. They will deliver helpful reminders and connect students with academic resources and student services. Coaches are available to meet virtually with scholars for assistance.

The Future Ready Iowa Texting Program will provide students with timely reminders and tips, as well as the opportunity to communicate with their college coach for answers to college success questions.

UNI Future Ready Award

To qualify for the UNI Future Ready Award, students must have:

Meet UNI and online program admission requirements - with 24+ transfer credits from an Iowa college and currently reside in Iowa.
Enroll in at least 3 units per term (includes fall, spring and summer). Scholarships may be adjusted if enrollment changes. The final scholarship award is based on units enrolled 10 days into the term.
Complete the FAFSA demonstrating financial need.
The Future Ready Award will be automatically awarded to eligible students. Funding is contingent on available funding.

Future Ready Award amounts will vary, depending on how many credits a student is registered for each semester.

Category Tuition per unit of credit

Undergraduate Online Programs $366
Technology fee per course $46
Records & Documents fee charged once at graduation $115
Enrollment Fee per course
Grad Publication fee charged once during first term
Management: Business Administration BA Online and Accounting Hybrid BA$449

The UNI College of Business has a supplemental tuition ($83/unit of credit) for students who are a declared major in the College of Business and are classified as a junior, senior or graduate student.

Future Ready Initiatives Beyond Iowa

While the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship focuses on Iowa residents, similar initiatives exist in other locations.

City Colleges of Chicago: Future Ready

City Colleges of Chicago is taking affordable education to the next level. Future Ready is a last-dollar award, meaning if you are eligible for financial aid, scholarships, or other grants, that funding will be applied to your tuition costs before your Future Ready funding is applied.

Read also: "Scholarships": A Deep Dive

Credit Programs

Future Ready is a last-dollar scholarship for students pursuing credit programs.

Students must complete their program in 150% time. For example, if a student applies to a two-year program, they must complete the program in three years.
Select the application method that matches your desired program (credit or continuing education application).
Apply for financial aid. An advisor will need to change your program plan for you.
Complete the Future Ready consent form and all of the steps in the Future Ready checklist.
Future Ready will cover all of the courses on your Future Ready program plan, assuming you complete in 150% time. For example, 150% time means if a student applies to a two semester program, they must complete the program in three semesters. If a student goes beyond that 150% time period, classes are no longer free through Future Ready.
Courses that are on your program plan and are required to complete your chosen program are covered through Future Ready.
Future Ready only covers the costs of your tuition.

Students that are financial aid eligible who are planning to enroll in Future Ready credit programs must submit a FAFSA at fafsa.gov and all supporting documentation each award year while in the program (the award year begins in fall and ends in summer). Future Ready is a last dollar scholarship for credit programs. If you are eligible to apply for financial aid, you must do so to remain eligible for Future Ready. If students withdraw from a class, they can retake it and get it covered the second time, assuming it is within their 150% time to complete and on their program plan. Undocumented students are able to take part in this program. Students who meet the Future Ready criteria and are in a Future Ready program will be applied a tuition waiver. Your account will be updated to reflect this funding during the semester. If you have already paid a portion or all of your tuition for that program, the prior payment for Future Ready courses may be refunded.

Workforce Equity Initiative

City Colleges of Chicago also offers a variety of educational opportunities designed to improve employment outcomes across Chicago’s black, unemployed, and underemployed residents.

Qualifying Programs at NCC

Accounting/Clerical Accounting
Administrative Office Management
Advanced Welding Technology
Agriculture
Associate Degree Nursing
Associate Degree Nursing-Extended
Automotive & Light Duty Diesel Technology
Business Management
Design Technology
Diesel Technology
Electrical Technology
Engineering Design
Health Information Technology-Online
Heavy Equipment Operation & Maintenance
Industrial & Commercial Wiring
Industrial Instrumentation & Control
Information Technology Specialist
Medical Coding-Online
Medical Lab Technology (through Kirkwood Community College)
Paramedic
Pharmacy Technician
Powerline
Powerline Technology
Practical Nursing
Practical Nursing-Extended
Production Welding
Radiologic Technology
Web & Graphic Design

Miami Dade College’s Future Ready Miami-Dade Scholarship

Miami Dade College’s Future Ready Miami-Dade Scholarship ensures all Miami-Dade County residents can complete an associate degree at Miami Dade College tuition-free. To ensure the success of all scholarship recipients, Miami Dade College is providing comprehensive support services, including personalized on-boarding assistance, individualized help with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), career counseling, resume development, and dedicated student success advisors. The scholarship funds will be applied at the in-state tuition rate after all other resources available to cover tuition and fees have been applied.

The Broader Context of Future Ready Iowa

Future Ready Iowa is a workforce initiative that connects Iowans to the training and education required for good-paying jobs and careers that improve people’s lives. Education and training beyond high school is the new minimum in today’s technology-driven, knowledge economy. By 2025, 68 percent of Iowa jobs are expected to require training or education beyond high school.

To have the most future-ready, capable workforce we have to connect more Iowans with opportunities to obtain relevant education and training. This will help employers and our economy as Iowans earn higher incomes and improve their quality of life. The Future Ready Iowa goal is that 70 percent of Iowans in the workforce (ages 25-64) have education and training beyond high school by 2025.

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