Financial Aid and Scholarships

Gender & Sexuality Services Administered Scholarships

Rainbow Fund

Gender & Sexuality Services is responsible for administering the Rainbow Fund Scholarship, which was established by a donation to the University of Northern Iowa Foundation from community members in spring 2017 and is additionally supported by donations from community members. The scholarship is intended to support a deserving University of Northern Iowa student based on merit and LGBTQIA activism.

Gender & Sexuality Services

Rainbow Fund Scholarship Criteria

To apply for the Rainbow Fund Scholarship, a student must meet the following criteria:

  1. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
  2. Applicants must be a returning sophomore through senior standing for the next academic year at UNI.
  3. Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA or higher and be enrolled as a full-time student at the university in any academic discipline.
  4. Applicants must identify with the LGBTQ+ community in the form of personal identity with or strong activism, dedication and commitment to the LGBTQIA community at UNI.
  5. Applicants are required to provide a short essay, not to exceed two pages, answering the following questions:
    1. What work have you done for the LGBTQ+ community?
    2. What are your plans to stay involved, dedicated and committed to addressing the needs and interests of the community?

Please click on this link to reach the UNI Scholarship Application. Students who apply for scholarships should complete the UNI Scholarship Application by February 1, 2024. Essays may be emailed to Gender & Sexuality Services coordinator or printed and delivered to Gender & Sexuality Services, and must be received no later than Monday, February 12, 2024. 

Other On-Campus Scholarships

We encourage UNI students to use the UNI Scholarship Application to apply for scholarships. A few other LGBTQ-specific scholarships are available on this application. To be considered, please mark your identity as an LGBTQ student in the demographic information.

The Women's and Gender Studies Program also hosts the Agathon Fellowship: $1,000 for students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to and have an active role in the support of LGBT issues. 

Off-Campus Scholarships

Students may also be interested in looking at LGBTQ-specific scholarships available on the national level. The largest scholarship fund for LGBTQ students is the Point Foundation, which awards over 80 scholarships each year.  

Financial Aid 

Some of the concerns facing the LGBTQ community include barriers and complications with name or gender changes, the need for dependent override on the FAFSA, and possibilities of being deadnamed during financial aid appointments. Our Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships is supportive of LGBTQ-identifying students. To contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, please call 319-273-2799, email finaid@uni.edu, or stop by Gilchrist 105.