ISSO Scholarships

Overview

Every semester, ISSO awards scholarships to degree-seeking students who have documented financial need. ISSO awards multiple scholarships from a variety of funding sources. A large portion of the scholarship funds come from International Student Tuition.

Students can apply for ISSO scholarships every fall and spring semester once eligible. It is possible that students may be awarded multiple ISSO scholarships. ISSO encourages students to apply for every scholarship for which they are eligible.

The scholarships amounts can fluctuate from year to year. The amount of each scholarship will be disclosed on the application form.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to apply for an ISSO Scholarship:

  • Must have a valid immigration status and have been at ISU in current degree-seeking program for one full academic year (fall and spring semester). For some scholarships, applicants are required to be in F-1 or J-1 status.
  • Preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need.
    • ISSO defines financial need as an unexpected or unavoidable change in finances that affects a student's ability to be successful in their studies (ex. serious illness, family emergencies, political upheaval, currency devaluation, etc.)
  • Applicants must meet all additional criteria listed under each scholarship.
  • ALL scholarships require a letter from the candidate explaining their financial need and how they will use the scholarship funds (500 word maximum).  Some scholarships require an additional letter to address individual scholarship criteria (500 word maximum).
  • Students participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Post-Completion Academic Training (AT) are not eligible.

 

Scholarship Requirements

Below are the various scholarships offered through the ISSO. Scholarship availability and amount will differ each semester. Applicants are encouraged to review the scholarship application in full to better understand availability and amount for that particular semester. Note, not all scholarships are available each semester.

 

Global Scholars Award for Retention

  • Amount: $500 (min) to $2,000 (max)
  • Must be paying the international student tuition rate in a degree-seeking program
  • Cannot have an assistantship
  • Minimum GPA: 2.5 (Undergraduate) and 3.0 (Graduate)
  • Preference given to students who have demonstrated financial need
  • Preference given to students employed on campus (not on assistantship) and involved in student activities

Tuition Assistance Grant

  • Amount: $600 (min) to $2,000 (max)
  • Must be undergraduate student
  • Must be in F-1 or J-1 status
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Minimum GPA: 2.5
  • Preference given to students closest to graduation

International Incentive Scholarship

  • Amount: $1,500
  • Must be undergraduate student
  • Must be in F-1 or J-1 status
  • Must have completed 24 credit hours at Iowa State University
  • Minimum GPA: 3.0
  • Preference given to students who have demonstrated financial need

Kennedy-Nehru Memorial Scholarship for the Promotion of International Understanding

  • Amount: Varies
  • Must be in F-1 or J-1 status
  • Must have completed 25 credit hours at Iowa State University
  • Must have contributed to the promotion of international understanding while at Iowa State University
  • Minimum GPA: 2.5
  • Preference given to students who have demonstrated financial need

R. Howard and Hazel Kintzley Porter Memorial Scholarship

  • Amount: Varies
  • Must be in F-1 or J-1 status
  • Must demonstrate financial need and/or academic excellence
  • Must be enrolled full time and making normal progress toward a degree at Iowa State University

Paik Kee Kim Memorial Scholarship

  • Amount: Varies
  • Must be in F-1 or J-1 status
  • Minimum GPA: 3.0
  • Preference given to students who have demonstrated financial need and/or academic excellence
  • Preference given to Korean student or student of Korean ancestry
  • Submit an additional letter describing purpose of student’s education

Rosenfeld International Scholarship

  • Amount: Varies
  • Must be in F-1 or J-1 status
  • Minimum GPA: 2.5 (Undergraduate) and 3.0 (Graduate)
  • Preference given to students who have demonstrated financial need and/or academic excellence

Marie and Binford Spencer International Scholarship

  • Amount: varies
  • Must be in F-1 or J-1 status
  • Minimum GPA: 2.5 (Undergraduate) and 3.0 (Graduate)
  • Preference given to students who have demonstrated financial need and/or academic excellence
  • Preference given to undergraduate students from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe

John Hatsios and Andromache Tsandes Hatsios Award

  • Amount: Varies
  • Must be in F-1 or J-1 status
  • Minimum GPA: 2.5 (Undergraduate) and 3.0 (Graduate)
  • Preference given to students who have demonstrated financial need and/or academic excellence
  • Preference given to students who are employed on campus and who are involved in campus activities
  • Preference given to students from Greece or of Greek descent

Mario Gutierrez Award

  • Amount: Varies
  • Must be in F-1 or J-1 status
  • Minimum GPA: 2.5 (Undergraduate) and 3.0 (Graduate)
  • Preference given to students who have demonstrated financial need and/or academic excellence

Application

How to Apply

ISSO will send an email each semester to students when they are able to apply for the ISSO scholarships (Fall: mid-September and Spring: mid-February). During the application submission timeframe, students may submit their scholarship application in ISU's OneApp.

 

OneApp

Students filling out the OneApp will first apply to the general application. Based on your responses, you will be matched to various campus and community scholarships for which you are eligible including the ISSO Scholarships. Once matched with ISSO Scholarships, you must then submit the ISSO Scholarship application.

 

Application Letter

Students must submit a letter detailing their financial hardship and how the scholarship award money will be used. Only one letter must be submitted for the scholarship application, unless additional documents are required.

Need help writing your scholarship letter? The Writing and Media Center (undergraduate and graduate students) and Center for Communication Excellence (graduate students only) are excellent resources. 

 

Application Timeline

Students can apply for ISSO scholarships starting February 1 when the OneApp opens. Applications will close Tuesday, February 28 at 11:59 p.m. As a reminder, late applications will not be accepted.

It can take ISSO up to approximately one month to award scholarships. Once ISSO makes a decision, an email will be sent to all applicants.

 

Awarding ISSO Scholarships

Your scholarship will be placed on your U-bill during the same semester that you are awarded the scholarship. Your scholarship should be seen on your U-Bill within 2 weeks after you are notified via email that you had been awarded a scholarship. Please email isso@iastate.edu if your scholarship doesn’t show up on your U-bill within 2 weeks of being notified.

 

Questions

If you are an undergraduate student, you should contact Gene Manhattan (geneman@iastate.edu). If you are a graduate student, you should contact Elaine Tan (etan@iastate.edu).