Scholarships & Funding

Scholarships and awards are available to both incoming UNI students (first-year and transfer students) and current UNI students. Your application, completed through the online University Scholarship Application, will be used to apply for college-level scholarships. All applicants will be considered for any of the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences scholarships for which they qualify and have submitted the appropriate supporting documents.

To be considered, nominees for all awards must attend UNI in the following fall semester. To receive the full amount of the award, the student must enroll for both fall and spring semesters of the next academic year.

Other scholarships, listed on the Financial Aid Directory of Scholarships, are available through the various departments in the college. Please see individual department websites for additional scholarship opportunities. For more information regarding financial aid opportunities, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.

College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences

Incoming Students

Donald and Marguerite McKay Scholarship

Funds authorized by the CHAS Dean to recruit and support outstanding students for study in biology, chemistry and biochemistry, earth science and physics.

  • Amount varies; up to $2,000 per year for two years
  • Qualifications
    • Incoming freshmen
    • Students who plan to major in the following departments:
      • Biology
      • Chemistry & Biochemistry
      • Earth Science
      • Physics
  • Required Materials
    • A completed UNIversity Scholarship Application for the Science, Technology and Mathematics Scholarship
Albert D. & Susan (Johnson) Donovan Endowed Scholarship

Funds to be used to provide scholarship support for incoming freshmen students with a major or intended major in science, technology or mathematics areas in CHAS.

  • Amount varies; approximately $500 for one year
  • Qualifications
    • Students who plan to major in one of the following departments:
      • Biology
      • Chemistry and Biochemistry
      • Computer Science
      • Earth Science
      • Technology
      • Mathematics
      • Physics
      • Science Education
    • Preference to students who demonstrate a charitable spirit and the inclination to provide support to future students at UNI.
  • Requirements

 

Current Students

The online application deadline for each of these scholarships (with the exception of the Study Abroad and the Jo Hern Curris Scholarships) is January 15. Nominees will be notified by departments approximately two weeks later and letters will be sent to recipients later in the spring. Applications submitted by UNI seniors should indicate an expected graduation date. Scholarships will become a part of the student’s financial aid package. The scholarship will be credited to the student’s U-bill at the beginning of each semester.

Louis Begeman Memorial Scholarship

The Louis Begeman Memorial Scholarship is awarded each year to outstanding second-semester juniors.

  • Amount varies
  • Qualifications
    • Preference given to chemistry and biochemistry or physics majors planning to enroll for graduate work
  • Requirements
Jo Hern Curris Fund for Student Performance

Guidelines

Constantine Curris, former President of the University of Northern Iowa, provided funding for the Jo Hern Curris Award in honor of his wife. It is designed to support expenses of students majoring in Art, Music, or Theatre when engaged in university-related exhibitions and performances. The award is to be used in support of student activities and outreach. Examples of such expenses could include, but are not limited to, expenses associated with a music recital, the mounting of an art exhibit, or a student theatre production. Funds cannot be used in support of anyone other than students, or in support of established events such as musical tours or dramatic productions.

The maximum award is $500 per proposal. The actual amount of the award will depend on the quality of the application, as well as the costs involved in completion of the project. The recipients will use the award, with the assistance of department staff during the fall or spring semester. If several students work together on a project, the dollar amount will be split equally among all participants.

Students majoring in Art, Music, or Theatre may apply in writing to the appropriate department head, who will evaluate and rank order the proposals before submitting them to the Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences.

The application packet should consist of the following:

  • Jo Hern Curris Fund for Student Performance Application Form
  • Supporting documentation, to include:
    • Rationale for the project.
    • Description or outline of the project, including a diagram, sample, or example, as appropriate to the nature of the proposal.
    • Realistic time-line for completion of the project.
    • A statement of the dollar amount requested.  If the cost of the project is greater than $500, please submit a list of additional sources of funding.

The deadline for the completed packets to be submitted to the Art, Music or Theatre department office is October 1.

UNIversity Scholarship Application

James Hearst Award

The James Hearst Award is awarded to an undergraduate that exhibits academic and artistic promise. 

  • Amount varies
  • Qualifications
    • Junior or senior (the following fall semester)
    • 3.0 major GPA; 3.0 GPA overall
    • Academic or artistic promise is the primary basis for the award, but need is also considered.
    • Student in the following departments:
    • Art
    • Languages & Literatures
    • Music
  • Requirements
    • UNIversity Scholarship Application
    • At least one letter of recommendation from a faculty member who is familiar with the student’s work and who can attest to demonstrated scholarly/artistic contributions to the department and to the discipline. Please deliver this letter to the departmental office.
C.W. Lantz Scholarship

The C.W. Lantz Scholarship supports students primarily interested in the teaching of or research work in biology, chemistry and biochemistry, earth science or physics.

  • Approximately $1,200 (academic year)
  • Qualifications
    • Junior or senior
    • 3.0 GPA
    • 48 credits completed, with at least 32 from UNI
    • Student in one of the following departments:
      • Biology
      • Chemistry & Biochemistry
      • Earth Science
      • Physics
      • Science Education
  • Required Materials
Clifford McCollum Scholarship

The Clifford McCollum Scholarship is awarded to recognize undergraduate scholarship and service in the college, as well as to acknowledge the potential in a student for future professional development.

  • Approximately $1,000
  • Qualifications
    • Minimum 3.25 GPA
    • A minimum of 90 semester hours of credit, at least 45 from UNI
    • Must demonstrate outstanding professional service
    • Student in one of the following departments:
      • Biology
      • Chemistry & Biochemistry
      • Computer Science
      • Earth Science
      • Technology
      • Mathematics
      • Physics
      • Science Education
  • Required Materials
Dorothy Muzzy Scholarship Loan Program

The Dorothy Muzzy Scholarship Loan Program was designed to assist students in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Department of Physics in the completion of their undergraduate studies. Selection is based on financial need, scholarly achievement and potential in the major field.

  • Loan of up to $1,500, depending on the student's need
    • 5% interest rate
    • Repayment to begin 90 days after graduation
  • Qualifications
    • Must have completed a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit
    • Financial need
    • Selection is based on financial need, scholarly achievement and potential in the major field
    • Student in the following departments:
      • Chemistry & Biochemistry
      • Physics
  • Required Materials
Students First Scholarship - NS

The Students First Scholarship was designed to recognize and support outstanding students.

  • One academic-year scholarship of approximately $675
  • Qualifications
    • Minimum 3.0 GPA overall
    • Student in the following departments:
      • Biology
      • Chemistry & Biochemistry
      • Computer Science
      • Earth Science
      • Technology
      • Mathematics
      • Physics
      • Science Education
  • Required Materials
Student First Scholarship - CHFA

The Dean's Award is distributed to those students who have made an outstanding contribution to their department.  

  • Amount varies
  • Qualifications
    • Full-time student
    • Need is not necessarily a factor
    • Student in one of the following departments:
      • Art
      • Communication Sciences & Disorders
      • Communication Studies
      • Languages & Literatures
      • Music
      • Philosophy & World Religions
      • Theatre
  • Required Materials
Irene M. Thompson Scholarship

The Irene M. Thompson Scholarship is awarded to students with outstanding contributions to the total program of the college and departments.

  • Amount varies
  • Qualifications
    • Full-time student
    • Minimum 2.0 GPA (undergraduate students), 3.0 GPA (graduate students)
    • Need is not necessarily a factor.
    • Undergraduate or graduate student in the following departments:
      • Art
      • Communication Sciences & Disorders
      • Communication Studies
      • Languages & Literatures
      • Music
      • Philosophy & World Religions
      • Theatre
  • Required Materials
    • UNIversity Scholarship Application
    • At least one letter of recommendation from a faculty member who is familiar with the student’s work and who can attest to demonstrated scholarly/artistic contributions to the department and to the discipline. Please deliver this letter to the departmental office.
David Sands Wright Scholarship​

The David Sands Wright Scholarship was established to support arts educators that exhibit promising ability who need financial assistance to prepare themselves for teaching careers in the fine arts.

  • Amount varies; minimum of $500
  • Qualifications
    • Graduate or undergraduate teaching majors in art, music or theatre
    • Must be on a teaching track
  • Required Materials
    • UNIversity Scholarship Application
    • At least one letter of recommendation from a faculty member who is familiar with the student’s work and who can attest to demonstrated scholarly/artistic contributions to the department and to the discipline. Please deliver this letter to the departmental office.
Clippinger-Ferrier Scholarship

The Clippinger-Ferrier Scholarship is Award is distributed to those students who have made an outstanding contribution to their department.  

  • Amount varies
  • Qualifications
    • Full-time student
    • Need is not necessarily a factor
    • Student in one of the following departments:
      • Art
      • Communication Sciences & Disorders
      • Communication Studies
      • Languages & Literatures
      • Music
      • Philosophy & World Religions
      • Theatre
  • Required Materials
Orville & Winifred Deeds Scholarship

The Orville & Winifred Deeds Scholarship Award is distributed to those students who have made an outstanding contribution to their department.  

  • Amount varies
  • Qualifications
    • Full-time student
    • Need is not necessarily a factor
    • Student in one of the following departments:
      • Art
      • Communication Sciences & Disorders
      • Communication Studies
      • Languages & Literatures
      • Music
      • Philosophy & World Religions
      • Theatre
  • Required Materials
Study Abroad Funding

Participating in experiences beyond the classroom such as field trips and internships is an integral part of an education in CHAS. To prepare students to become global citizens, CHAS students are eligible to apply for funding in order to support study abroad.

Note: that the deadlines differ from that of the online scholarship application.

  • March 31 for summer programs.
  • April 30 for fall or academic year programs.
  • November 30 for winter or spring programs.
Alan and Barbara Hubbard Math, Chemistry, and Physics Education Scholarship

The Alan and Barbara Hubbard Math, Chemistry, and Physics Education Scholarship

This fund is to be used to provide scholarship support for sophomore, junior or senior students majoring in math education, physics education or chemistry education with a minimum GPA of 3.2, and students in the Masters of Math Education program.

Preference shall be given to a student from the Tracy Area High School in Tracy, Minnesota.

The scholarship may be renewed provided the student maintains the criteria mentioned above. 
 

Requirements

The Reninger Scholarship is awarded to either an undergraduate or graduate student that displays need and both academic and artistic promise.

  • Amount varies
  • Qualifications
    • Minimum 3.5 major GPA, 3.25 GPA overall
    • Need is a primary consideration
    • For undergraduates or graduates majoring in programs in the following departments
      • Art
      • Communication Studies
      • Languages & Literatures
      • Music
      • Theatre
      • For AY 2020-21, first consideration will be given to applications from Music.
  • Required Materials
    • UNIversity Scholarship Application
    • At least one letter of recommendation from a faculty member who is familiar with the student’s work and who can attest to demonstrated scholarly/artistic contributions to the department and to the discipline. Please deliver this letter to the departmental office.