The financial aid office at the school your teen plans to attend is the best place to get information about federal, state, school and other sources of student financial aid.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form used by virtually all two and four-year colleges, universities and career schools for the awarding of federal student aid and most state and college aid. The FAFSA is the application for federal grants and scholarships (like the Pell Grant) and must be completed if the student is to receive any financial aid. The results of the FAFSA determine how much financial aid each student will receive.
Students who are in foster care anytime after their 13th birthday can answer ‘yes’ to question #55 which asks, “At anytime since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?” By answering ‘yes’ to this question, the student will be treated as an independent student and no parental (biological or adoptive) information is required. Students who answer ‘yes’ to this question should expect that the college/university will require proof of the student’s foster care status. Most colleges/universities will accept a copy of the court order placing them into the care of DHS or a letter from a social worker on DHS letterhead.
The FAFSA should be completed in the fall (beginning Oct. 1st) for students intending to start college the following August. For assistance completing the FAFSA, please contact your Transition Planning Specialist. To apply, visit: 
Youth must be under the age of 21 the first time they participate in the ETV program (meaning they must be attending class and receive a disbursement prior to age 21). Funding can continue until the age of 23.
Students must complete the FAFSA and reapply each year and are required to meet the academic progress standards of the college/university or make satisfactory progress towards completion of the training program to renew this grant.
After careful review of policy, funding, student need, and the constant cost of rising education, Iowa College Student Aid and the Department of Human Services (DHS) are extending the Education Training Voucher (ETV) to support youth receiving a graduate level education.
The Social Security Act § 477, of The John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Programs, which funds the Education Training Voucher (ETV) , allows at state option, funding for graduate level courses. Graduate school for youth formerly in foster care is currently being funded in several other ETV programs across the United States. Iowa is joining other states to promote and support higher education at all levels.
The ETV program can fund student until they are age 23, assuming they have been participating prior to age 21 and continuously enrolled. Priority for funding will be given to undergraduate students in date-received order application. Once all undergraduate students have been funded, after July 1 of each year, graduate level applicants may be awarded in date-received order.
This policy will go into effect immediately. Applicants for graduate school can start applying now, and if approved, may be awarded to attend graduate school as soon as the fall 2016. Applicants are to complete the standard ETV application and also email the ETV Coordinator to notify they have applied.
The Iowa College Student Aid Commission and DHS are confident expansion to graduate education programs will improve the ETV program in Iowa and will help ensure youth formerly in foster care have every opportunity to reach their education goals.
All Iowa Opportunity Foster Care Grant
Youth must have high school credential (either a GED or diploma) and must:
Be an Iowa resident,
Attend an Iowa college or university,
Age out of the state training home or Iowa juvenile home (leave placement within 30 days of turning 18)
Youth must be under the age of 23 the first time they participate in the All Iowa Opportunity Foster Care Grant program (youth must be attending class and receive a disbursement prior to turning 23). Funding can continue until the age of 24.
National Foster Parent Association
The National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) offers scholarships for foster youth, adopted youth, or biological youth of currently licensed foster parents, who wish to further their education beyond high school, including college or university studies, vocational / job training, and correspondence courses, including the GED. Foster parents must also be members of NFPA. For more info on application requirements and deadline, visit: 
Foster Care to Success
Foster Care to Success (for the past 30 years known as the Orphan Foundation of America) is the nation’s oldest and largest organization with the sole purpose of helping young people transition from foster care to successful adulthood through education. Each year they fund approximately 100 new students through the Casey Family Scholars and Foster Care to Success scholarship programs. Applicants must have been in foster care for the 12 months prior to their 18th birthday and scholarships are awarded based on a combination of merit and need. The online application is open between January 1 and March 31 annually. For more information including complete eligibility requirements and to submit an application, visit www.fc2success.org.
Morency Foster Youth Scholarship
The Morency Foster Youth Scholarship helps young adults in the foster care system continue their education and pursue their lifetime goals. Applicant must have been in the foster care system for 12 consecutive months prior to their 18th birthday, or 12 consecutive months prior to beginning their post-secondary education. Applicant must graduate from a high school located in one of the following counties: Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Jackson, Lee, Louisa, Scott, Muscatine, Johnson, Washington, or Van Buren. Applicant must be 21 years of age or younger. Applicant must be enrolled in, or have been accepted into an educational institution for the purpose of earning a degree, diploma, certificate of completion, etc. A minimum of one $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to an individual in Iowa. The Morency Foster Youth Scholarship application can be found on 
The Fory Charitable Trust was created in 2008 to carry on the legacy of Wilma Sue Fory's support of work with orphans in Russia and Ukraine. Ms. Fory had an intense love for and desire to assist orphans in Russia and Ukraine, as well as provide for those children who were adopted by loving families in the United States. Ms. Fory was a firm believer in higher education. Scholarships may be awarded in an amount up to $2,000 per calendar year. The deadline for submission of applications is March 1. To qualify for financial assistance, the following criteria must be met: Adopted from Russia and have proof of adoption and U.S. citizenship;
Immigrant to the United States from Russia and have proof of your place of birth and legal status to be in America. For more information, visit the following link: 
Horatio Alger Iowa Scholarship
The Horatio Alger Iowa Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to students in the State of Iowa who have exhibited integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity and who aspire to pursue higher education at the University of Iowa. The University of Iowa has generously agreed to match the Horatio Alger Scholarship, making the $3,000 Horatio Alger Award worth $6,000. Applicants must pursue a bachelor's degree at the University of Iowa (proof of enrollment will be required, students may start their studies at a two-year institution & then transfer to a four-year institution). Application deadline for this scholarship is typically at the end of October. More info: www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/program_iowa.cfm
Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa Scholarships
The Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa will award three scholarships to high school seniors planning to obtain post-secondary education (college or vocational). Three scholarships valued at $1,000 each will be awarded. Application deadline is March 31. To apply, visit: 
National Center for Learning Disabilities Scholarship
The Anne Ford $10,000 Scholarship is given to a high school senior with an identified learning disability who is pursuing an undergraduate degree. To learn more and to find a list of other scholarships for student with learning disabilities, visit: 
Eychaner Foundation - Iowa's Matthew Shepard Scholarship
The Matthew Shepard Scholarship Program assists lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Iowa high school students with college financial aid. All scholarships are renewable annually for up to four years upon evidence of academic achievement, continued service to the LGBT community and an interview with the scholarship committee. For more info, visit: 
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is the nation’s largest, oldest, and most successful minority higher education assistance organization. UNCF provides scholarships and internships for students at about 900 institutions. 
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the nation's leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education. HSF provides the Latino community more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. 
American Indian College Fund
The AICF raises funds to support student scholarships and other developmental needs at the nation's tribal colleges and universities across the U.S. AICF administers several scholarship programs offered to American Indian students attending both tribal colleges and selected mainstream universities. 
Association on American Indian Affairs
The Association of American Indian Affairs offers several scholarship opportunities to Native Americans. Application information for the following school year, is available on their website in February/March. www.indian-affairs.org/scholarships/aaia_scholarships.htm
Scholarship Program for Foster Alumni Age 25 and Over
At Foster Care Alumni of America, we believe in all people from foster care. That is why we launched a scholarship program for foster care alumni 25 and over, to help fill a gap in educational opportunities for older alumni. For more information go to: 
Scholarship Release Date: May 29, 2017
Scholarship Application Due Date: July 28, 2017
Notification of Award: August 25, 2017.
Distribution of Funds: September 2017
Congressional Foster Youth Internship Program
www.ccainstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80&Itemid=34