Incoming Freshman
Scholarships for incoming freshman in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Scholarships are awarded in varying amounts to students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences(full-time student carrying 12 or more credits). Applications must be submitted online starting October 15 prior to year of entry. The priority deadline for freshman scholarship applications is January 15. Applications received between January 16 and June 15 will be given consideration for a limited number of scholarships as supplies last. Do not send applications by mail.
Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
Your application will be considered if you satisfy these eligibility requirements:- An ACT score of 24, OR SAT score of 1020 OR Rank in the upper one-fourth of your graduating high school class. (Exceptions include Younkers-Farm Aid Scholarships. See descriptions below.)
- Acceptance into the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University.
Scholarship winners are selected by the College Scholarships and Awards Committee based on specific criteria listed for each scholarship, plus academic achievement, professional promise and leadership. About half of the scholarships awarded require students to show financial need.
Financial need guidelines:
- We strongly suggest that you submit a Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 14 so that your estimated need is available when selections are made.
- List Iowa State University on your FAFSA form.
- FAFSA forms are available online at the Student Financial Aid website or go directly to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Scholarship recipients are notified in March and April. Awards payments will be distributed in equal installments at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters and credited to the student's university account.
Departmental scholarships also are available. Contact the department's office for information. Click here for a listing of departmental scholarship website links.
For questions, contact the office of the associate dean for academic programs at 515-294-6614.
Scholarship Descriptions and Requirements
Scholarships for Excellence in Agriculture and Life Sciences
Awarded to 10-15 incoming freshmen. Must rank in upper 15 percent of your high school class after six semesters; have a high school cumulative grade point of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale; have an ACT or SAT percentile rank of 90 or higher; be accepted for admission to Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; have potential to make a significant contribution to society; preference given to students with strong high school backgrounds in sciences, social sciences and communications. This scholarship is renewable for three years. Financial need may be a consideration. (Please file FAFSA by February 14 to be considered.)
Scholarships for Excellence in Agriculture and Life Sciences are funded by:Raymond and Mary Baker Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship
Blossom Brandt Agricultural Endowment
Joseph Fleming Endowment
Portia A. Goke Advanced Curriculum Scholarship
Minard G. Mills Memorial Scholarship in the College of Agriculture
Joseph F. Nelson Scholarships in Agriculture
F.W. Schiele Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship
Rice Estate Scholarship
E. Marjorie Smith and Garland Beck Scholarships
Floyd Andre Scholarship for Excellence in Agriculture
Iowa resident planning a career in farming or some related occupation, based on scholarship rather than need. Rank in upper fifteen percent of high school graduating class with cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Have an ACT or SAT percentile rank of 90 or higher. Candidates for renewal of this scholarship must maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA or higher at ISU; earn a minimum 12.0 credits per semester from ISU; complete Ag Studies 111 and 112 during their freshman year, and meet or exceed the minimum leadership and/or extracurricular activity requirements as part of the scholarship for excellence program. This scholarship is renewable for three years.
John Wesley Coles and Eda Coles Scholarship in Agriculture
Preference given to production ag students. Carry 12 or more credits and maintain 2.5 GPA.
Gerald E. Cornelius Scholarship
Preference given to Jackson county resident demonstrating high aspirations to pursue a career in agriculture.
Harold R. and Rachel K. Crawford Multicultural Scholarship
for a minority/multicultural student admitted/enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Preference to students who are Native American.
Carleton Davidson Scholarship in Agriculture
Preference given to student from Montgomery County.
Ted and Hazle DeBerg Agricultural Scholarship
Must have graduated from Hampton-Dumont High School in Franklin County; or North Butler High School in Butler County. Preference given to those involved in 4-H.
Orson B. Dutton Memorial Scholarship
Graduate of Nevada High School. Selection is made by Nevada High School.
Arlene and Harold Estes Agricultural Scholarship
For freshmen in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences pursuing career in agriculture and food industry who demonstrate a significant financial need. Also considered: scholastic achievements and participation in school and community activities. (Please file FAFSA by February 14 to be considered.) Sponsored by ISU Agricultural Endowment.
Future of Agriculture Scholarship
For incoming freshmen; preference given to students who graduated from an Iowa high school.
Lloyd C. Goad Scholarship
Graduate from Marion County high school with financial need and GPA of 3.0 or above. (Please file FAFSA by February 14 to be considered.)
Wayne Gross Memorial Scholarship
High school graduate from Carroll-Kuemper, Carroll Public or other Carroll County high school, preference in that order. Leadership, scholarship, extra-curricular activities.
Charlie J. and Sophia K. Hach Scholarship
Graduate from Green Mountain Independent School District High School. Scholarship, leadership.
Nadyne Harris Endowed Scholarship
For worthy students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Leonard Hermanson Family Scholarship
For worthy students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. (Please file FAFSA by February 14 to be considered.)
International Agricultural Development Scholarship
International Agricultural Development Scholarship. A one-time $3,000 scholarship is available to all new students who successfully complete a World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Internship and enroll in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. This scholarship is only available to those completing the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship and is available one time only during the freshman year. Applications are not required for this award. Please contact us if you qualify.
Robert E. and Patricia A. Jester Scholarship
Resident of Iowa showing professional potential and commitment to agriculture pursuing a degree in Agronomy, Animal Ecology, Animal Science, Biochemistry/Biophysics, Entomology, Food Science & Human Nutrition, Forestry, Zoology, Genetics, Horticulture, Microbiology, or Plant Pathology.
Kline Family Scholarship
Graduate of Iowa high school, 3.0 grade point average, showing leadership qualities and desire for a career in agriculture. Financial need is a requirement (please file FAFSA by February 14 to be considered).
Kolschowsky Foundation Student Scholarships
For a student of color with preference given to students form the Chicago area with interest in the food and agricultural sciences. A student must have: 1. Demonstrated Financial need (as determined by the FAFSA) 2. 3.0 or higher GPA 3. Upper 25% of graduating class 4. US Citizen 5. Graduation from a US high school Preference is given to students from Proviso East Township, Proviso West Township, Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, and the Lutheran Congregations of Career Development. To be considered, Please file FAFSA by February 14. Please contact Aurelio Curbelo, Multicultural Programs in the College of Agriculture, for further information: acurbelo@iastate.edu 515-294-1701
Bill D. Lamb Scholarship
Graduate of Maquoketa High School or Jackson County high school. Preference given to financial need. (Please file FAFSA by February 14 to be considered.)
Machine Shed/Gary Wergin
Resident of Iowa showing evidence of academic promise.
Machine Shed/Lee Kline Scholarship
Resident of Iowa showing evidence of academic promise.
Vincent V. Malcom Scholarship
For worthy students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Dean of Agriculture Multicultural Scholarship
For a multicultural student majoring in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Please contact Multicultural Programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, for further information at 515-294-1701
C.R. Musser/ISU Ag Endowment Scholarships
Must be a resident of Iowa. For students demonstrating an interest in farming as a career, production agriculture, academic performance, and leadership. Sponsored by ISU Agricultural Endowment.
Orscheln Farm and Home Supply Inc. Scholarships
U.S. citizen, resident of Iowa, FFA membership for 4 years or more, evidence of leadership, scholarship, and demonstrated financial need. Must live in Orscheln trade area (Iowa counties of: Appanoose, Boone, Cass, Dallas, Ford, Guthrie, Henry, Jefferson, Johnson, Linn, Mahaska, Montgomery, Muscatine, Page, or Wapello). (Please file FAFSA by February 14 to be considered.)
Peter Paulsen Jr. Endowed Scholarship in Agriculture
For worthy students majoring in animal science, horticulture, agronomy, ag business, entomology, forestry, ag education & studies, ag systems technology.
Howard E. and Ann E. Raffety Scholarship
For worthy student majoring in Ag Systems Technology.
Maxine Sampson Scholarship for Women in Agriculture
for female entering freshman with financial need with a high school GPA of 2.5 or above. (Please file FAFSA by February 14 for consideration)
Younkers Farm Aid Scholarships
Recipients selected based on one-half of family income being derived from farming; upper half of high school class, leadership, financial need. Must live in Younkers trade area (roughly Iowa, southeast South Dakota, southwest and east central Minnesota, southwest Wisconsin, Illinois, southeast Nebraska). (Please file FAFSA by February 14 to be considered.)
NOTE: Scholarship recipients must be enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (full-time student carrying 12 or more credits).
