Scholarship program though SWCC changes

Southwestern Community College students considering using the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship may have to review their eligibility for it has been restructured as part of state legislation signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in early June.

Iowa launched the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship program in fall 2019 to cover tuition gaps for students pursuing education in fields leading to high-demand jobs in Iowa at Iowa’s community colleges and some not-for-profit independent colleges. The program was specifically designed to cover remaining gaps between federal and state grants or scholarships, as well as tuition and qualified fees.

“Southwestern’s financial aid department has been working diligently, in cooperation with Iowa College Aid, to inform and assist the students who have been affected by the changes in the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship guidelines. This process will most likely continue right up until the first day of the fall semester,” according to a statement from Southwestern.

Legislation recently made changes to the eligibility requirements for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship program for the 2023-24 academic year. The scholarships are still in place.

With the new requirements, students who have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) above $20,000 are no longer eligible to receive the Last-Dollar Scholarship during the 2023-24 academic year.

According to Iowa College Aid, recipients with a high EFC previously represented about 11% of all Last-Dollar Scholarships, but now account for almost 25% of scholarships.

In addition to the communication provided by the state, the SWCC financial aid department has mailed and emailed students explaining these changes. Students, who have questions or concerns with the new requirements, are encouraged to contact SWCC’s financial aid department at finaid@swcciowa.edu or 641-782-1434.