UNI STEM Scholarships

Announcing the new UNI STEM Scholarship Program for 2025.  The University of Northern Iowa will award a $2,000 STEM Scholarship to one participant of each of the following events:  Iowa Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa, and State of Iowa Physics Competition.  The UNI STEM Scholarship is one-time and nonrenewable and subject to additional criteria outlined in each student’s award letter. Applicants must apply during their Junior (11th grade) year and must apply and be accepted to UNI in order to be considered.

Who is eligible to submit an application? Only current High School Juniors who competed (actively participated on a team or by presenting their own original research) in the current year are eligible to apply for a UNI STEM Scholarship.  Applications are subject to verification and those who do not meet the qualifications will not be considered.

After completing the scholarship application, you must also apply to the University of Northern Iowa and be accepted prior to priority date for scholarship applications during your Senior year in order to be considered for one of the UNI STEM Scholarships.  The scholarship committee will review all eligible applications annually in February and award one $2,000 scholarship to an eligible candidate from each of the three events.  Awardees will be announced by early March annually.  Awardees must attend UNI as 1st year college students to claim their scholarship.

STEM Support Services

Criteria

UNI STEM Scholarships are awarded to high school students who have demonstrated their commitment to STEM scholarship through participation in specific state/regional STEM competitions.  A maximum of one scholarship will be awarded per competition per year.  If no eligible applications are received for a specific competition in a specific year then the scholarship will not be awarded. The STEM Scholarships are one-time and nonrenewable and subject to additional criteria outlined in each student’s award letter.  
Including, at time of award, students must meet these criteria:

  • must have been an active member of the team that competed in either the Iowa Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa, or State of Iowa Physics Competition during their Junior (11th grade) year of high school.
  • must apply for the scholarship by completing the form on this page.
  • must apply to UNI and be accepted prior to the priority date (generally early February) during their senior year of high school.
  • must be selected to receive the Scholarship by the award committee.
  • must then attend UNI as a first year student in order to claim the award.

Other Limitations

  • Individual awardees may claim only one UNI STEM Scholarship
  • All information provided in the applicant's scholarship application is subject to verification.

FAQ

decorative image promoting the stem scholarship program, including a student proudly standing in front of a board full of math equations.
I'm not planning to be a STEM Major, should I still apply?  Yes!  Awardees must come to UNI as Freshmen but may select any major, including entering as a seeking student (undecided).

I haven't decided which college I want to attend, should I apply?  Yes!  Apply and also plan a visit to the UNI campus.  Come check us out and we hope you'll discover that UNI is the right fit for you!

I attended one of these events prior to 2025 and was told I was eligible for a scholarship based on the previous STEM Talent Scholarship guidelines. What do I do?  If you were part of an event specific STEM Talent Scholarship program prior to 2025 and submitted your proof of participation form, we have your details on record.  Be sure to mention this program when you are discussing your financial aid package with UNI.  

UNI STEM Scholarship Form

Student Information














Event & Award Information


Iowa Regional FIRST Robotics Competition




Applications for the UNI STEM Scholarship are open to 11th graders who compete in either the Iowa Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa, or State of Iowa Physics Competition.

The UNI STEM Scholarship committee shall select one awardee per year per competition to be awarded the $2,000 UNI STEM Scholarship, which is a one-time non-renewable award. Applications and scholarships are subject to verification of the information provided. In order to be considered for a UNI STEM Talent Scholarship, the applicant must complete this application, in full, following their participation in one of these events as an 11th grader and apply to the University of Northern Iowa and be accepted to the University of Northern Iowa. Applications for the scholarship and to UNI are due by January 15th annually in order to be considered. Scholarship awardees must attend the University of Northern Iowa as freshmen to claim their scholarship.
State of Iowa Physics Competition




Applications for the UNI STEM Scholarship are open to 11th graders who compete in either the Iowa Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa, or State of Iowa Physics Competition.

The UNI STEM Scholarship committee shall select one awardee per year per competition to be awarded the $2,000 UNI STEM Scholarship, which is a one-time non-renewable award. Applications and scholarships are subject to verification of the information provided. In order to be considered for a UNI STEM Talent Scholarship, the applicant must complete this application, in full, following their participation in one of these events as an 11th grader and apply to the University of Northern Iowa and be accepted to the University of Northern Iowa. Applications for the scholarship and to UNI are due by January 15th annually in order to be considered. Scholarship awardees must attend the University of Northern Iowa as freshmen to claim their scholarship.
State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa






Applications for the UNI STEM Scholarship are open to 11th graders who compete in either the Iowa Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa, or State of Iowa Physics Competition.

The UNI STEM Scholarship committee shall select one awardee per year per competition to be awarded the $2,000 UNI STEM Scholarship, which is a one-time non-renewable award. Applications and scholarships are subject to verification of the information provided. In order to be considered for a UNI STEM Talent Scholarship, the applicant must complete this application, in full, following their participation in one of these events as an 11th grader and apply to the University of Northern Iowa and be accepted to the University of Northern Iowa. Applications for the scholarship and to UNI are due by January 15th annually in order to be considered. Scholarship awardees must attend the University of Northern Iowa as freshmen to claim their scholarship.

Contact Information

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