Scholarship FAQs

Kirkwood’s scholarship program provides support for students at all academic and financial levels, and for all credit programs. Kirkwood's scholarship application connects Kirkwood Eagles to hundreds of internal scholarship opportunities! Best of all, Kirkwood students only need to complete one application to be considered for the hundreds of internal scholarships offered through the Kirkwood Foundation. The application for the next academic year opens October 1. Kirkwood students must fill out a new scholarship application each academic year.

Applications and any necessary information (like transcripts) must be submitted through the scholarship portal by March 15 in order to be considered for first-round funding opportunities. Applications received after that date will be eligible for a limited amount of second-round funding opportunities until July 15.

We encourage students to inquire about private scholarships with their high school, employer, church, or local civic organizations.

You should never pay money or provide a social security number to complete a scholarship application.

You only need to complete one application for all Kirkwood Foundation scholarships, including first and second-round scholarships. You will only need to complete the one application even if you qualify for more than one scholarship, unless the specific scholarship criterion states otherwise. Every attempt will be made to match available scholarships to your specific situation based on the detailed information you provide in your application.

Factors that are considered when selecting candidates include academic achievement, financial need, residency, leadership, program or area of study, or other requirements, including your written summary. Please make sure to proofread your summary before submitting your application.

Certain scholarships are based on full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours per semester), but not all. Scholarships requiring full-time attendance are noted as such within the scholarship criteria. All recipients must enroll in a minimum of six credit hours per semester to receive an award.

A scholarship committee composed of Kirkwood faculty and staff, representing multiple areas of the college, screen the applicants. The committee meets in April to make recommendations based on donor criterion.

Scholarships begin being awarded after the application deadlines: March 15 and July 15. For the majority of scholarships, recipient selection is completed by mid-August.

Should existing scholarship opportunities need to be reopened (if a recipient elects not to attend Kirkwood or declines an opportunity), all eligible applicants will be considered for second-round and/or subsequent awards. This would include any new scholarships established throughout the course of the current school year.

Selected scholarships are awarded by specific departments that may not follow the same timeline for the award selection process. As a result, some scholarships are not awarded until a later date.

NOTE: Since applications can be reviewed at multiple times throughout the school year, you will NOT be notified if you are not selected to receive an award.

You can expect to be notified by email and a letter in the postal mail if you are selected to receive a scholarship. Email notification will be sent to your Kirkwood student email address.  

Most scholarship awards begin in the fall semester immediately following your notification and acceptance of the award(s) and will also be available in the spring of the following year. Some scholarships have a specific arrangement that allows a summer award as well.

Once the current academic year is over, your scholarship funding will end. You would need to reapply after October 1 to be eligible for a scholarship for the next academic year.

Award amounts can vary and can typically be combined with other scholarships and financial aid awards. However, a student may not receive aid that exceeds their cost of attendance.

Scholarships can come from a wide variety of sources. You can inquire about private scholarships with your high school counselor, employer, church and/or local civic organizations.

Keep in mind: You should never pay money to complete a scholarship application.

Please have the check mailed to:

Kirkwood Community College
Attn: Financial Aid
6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Have the donor reference your k-number if possible. If your scholarship requires that you send an enrollment verification form or a transcript of your previous semester's Kirkwood grades, please contact the OneStop office at 319-398-7600.