Last-Dollar Scholarship

Don't let money worries stop you from getting your education.

NOTE: the State of Iowa has made changes to eligibility requirements. Please read below.

Scroll down for answers to frequently asked questions about the Last-Dollar Scholarship.

The Last-Dollar Scholarship is a state-funded program for Iowans who:

• Are new high school graduates starting college full-time or adult learners starting college at least part-time
• Have applied for all other available aid
• Plan to earn a credential for a high-demand job

This program aims to cover any financial gap between tuition and scholarships and federal and state grants. Credentials include post-secondary certificates, diplomas and associate degrees.

WHO QUALIFIES?

This state-funded program is for Iowa residents who meet the following qualifications:

NEW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES who enroll in a qualified program of study full-time or part-time for the fall immediately following high school graduation, apply for the free application for financial aid (FAFSA), and meet ongoing requirements.

ADULT LEARNERS (age 20 and older) who enroll in a qualified program of study full-time or part-time, apply for the free application for financial aid (FAFSA), and meet ongoing requirements.

NEW for 2023-2024 academic year: Students who have an Expected Family Contribution at or below $20,000.

Required prep courses are not covered by Last-Dollar Scholarship funding.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

WHAT CAN I STUDY?

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, CONSTRUCTION, & WELDING

Advanced Automation & Robotics Technology
Computer-Aided Design Technology (CAD)
Construction Technology
Construction Management
Industrial Maintenance Technology
Precision Machining and CNC Technology
Welding Technology

AGRICULTURE STUDIES

Modern Food Production, Agriculture, and the Environment

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Automotive Technology
Automotive Technology - Management

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

Accounting
Business Administration

HEALTH

Medical Assistant
Medical Coding and Billing
Nursing - LPN or ADN
Respiratory Care

IT/MULTIMEDIA

Healthcare Technology Management
IT Management
Network Administration & Cyber Security

WHATS NEXT?

Apply to SCC - Remember to contact us for program eligibility and related steps
Complete your FAFSA - This is your ticket to the Last-Dollar Scholarship!

NEW DEADLINE

To qualify for 2023-2024 funding, submit FAFSA applications by 11:59 PM July 15, 2023.
Don't give up! Apply for SCC and plan your steps. Remember to also apply for SCC Foundation Scholarships.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO KNOW?

Applicants must apply for all other available aid before moving to steps to receive funds for the Last-Dollar Scholarship.

Required prep coursework in eligible programs may not qualify for Last-Dollar Scholarship funding. Contact us to learn details.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do the recent changes to the Last-Dollar Scholarship program impact me?

If you are enrolled in a career-technical or health program that is specifically covered by the Last-Dollar Scholarship for the 2023-24 school year, this may impact you.

This does not apply to anyone in a college transfer AA or AS program or non-qualifying AAS programs.

How do I know if I’m in a Last-Dollar Scholarship-eligible program?

Scropll up to view the complete list of Last-Dollar Scholarship programs offered at SCC.

Why the changes now?

The Iowa legislature passed changes to appropriations for the program as part of the State of Iowa’s 2023-24 budget at the end of April. These changes were not communicated to colleges until this month. The final details are still being worked out at the state level and will be finalized over the coming weeks.

What is the big change to the Last-Dollar Scholarship?

The current form of the program shared by the State of Iowa with colleges now requires that a certain score on your completed 2023-24 FAFSA called your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is at or below $20,000 to remain eligible to receive the Last-Dollar Scholarship Students with an EFC over $20,000 are ineligible to receive it this year. [Note that we are still waiting for final word.]

How do I find my EFC you mentioned in the letter?

If you’ve already completed your 2023-24 FAFSA, log into studentaid.gov and select View Student Aid Report (SAR) from the My FAFSA page to view your EFC (Estimated Family Contribution).

My EFC is below the set amount and I meet all the other eligibility requirements. When and how will I find out if I will be awarded the scholarship?

Because of the late changes by the State and how they impact other grant funds, awards cannot be fully determined until early August.

I got the scholarship last year and haven’t completed my degree but my EFC is over the set amount. Can I still get it this year?

Unfortunately, no.

What if I haven’t completed my FAFSA yet?

It’s important you complete your 2023-24 FAFSA as soon as possible to be considered for this scholarship and as many other state grants as possible.

To complete your FAFSA online, visit our financial aid & FAFSA info page.

Can someone help me complete my FAFSA?

Yes! We’re happy to help and can walk you through the entire process! Contact Mack Turner at (319) 208-5026 or mturner@scciowa.edu.

Does this impact other state or federal college grant programs like Pell, Kibbe or Iowa Vocational-Technical Tuition Grants?

This has no impact on your Pell grant. We don’t know if or to what extent it could impact grants administered by the State of Iowa at this time.

Does this impact any other scholarships I’m set to receive?

No. These changes do not impact scholarships you’ve received from other sources or organizations.

Where can I get more information about the Last-Dollar Scholarship?

The Iowa College Aid website is also maintaining the most up-to-date information on the changes of all state-funded tuition grant programs: www.iowacollegeaid.gov/ScholarshipsAndGrants

I am relying on the Last-Dollar Scholarship to help with my SCC tuition. How else can I do to keep my costs down?

Apply for SCC Foundation scholarships:

The SCC Foundation awards over $350,000 in scholarships every year to all kinds of students and chances are you qualify for at least one. The deadline to apply for fall awards is June 1, but we are extending the application deadline to June 15 for students in career, technical and health programs because of this situation. Get more info and apply at our SCC Foundation scholarship page.

Apply for other local scholarships:

SCC maintains a webpage with local scholarship information.

Here's a list of external scholarships

Note these are third party scholarships each with their own requirements and deadlines.

Your SCC student advocate may also be able to point you toward some other financial aid resources. Call us at (319) 208-5010 (West Burlington) or (319) 313-1923 (Keokuk) and we’ll do our best to answer them and help you navigate the process

The Last-Dollar Scholarship is part of the Future Ready Iowa initiative to build Iowa’s workforce. The goal is to connect Iowans to the training and education needed for high-paying jobs and the bright futures they deserve. This program is intended to cover any remaining tuition after federal and state grants and scholarships are applied. Credentials include post-secondary certificates, diplomas and associate degrees.

Learn more about Last-Dollar Scholarships at iowacollegeaid.gov/lastdollar .

Questions? Contact us.

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