Undergraduate financial aid and scholarships

All prospective undergraduate music majors are considered for scholarships at the time of the audition. 

The School of Music offers numerous competitive scholarships to those who demonstrate exceptional talent in his or her chosen area. These awards are determined by audition and are renewable for four years if students meet specific academic and performance criteria. The scholarships named below are some of the funding opportunities available through the School of Music and the University of Iowa.

The University of Iowa offers a wide variety of financial awards. More information on application procedures, deadlines, and available financial aid including scholarships, grants, loans and the College Work-Study program is available on the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) website or by emailing financial-aid@uiowa.edu or calling 319-335-1450. Students must be admitted to The University of Iowa to receive consideration for financial aid.

Iowa Center for the Arts

The Iowa Center for the Arts Scholarship is awarded to selected entering students intending to major in music who demonstrate exceptional talent in their chosen area. Students are considered for this scholarship at the time of their studio audition. Upon recommendation by UI music faculty for the scholarship, students will be asked to submit a video recording of two contrasting pieces for review by three external judges. A non-renewable first-year award of $5,000 is available. 

Current UI sophomore and junior music majors may apply for the Upper Level ICA award. Up to two finalists from each area (brass, woodwind, piano, strings, and voice), as well as up to one organ and percussion finalist may be chosen to perform in the final round competition, which takes place in April. Each area will decide how the finalists are selected. Non-renewable awards of $5,000, $3,000, and $1,000 are available.

School of Music named scholarships

Through the generous support of individuals, the School of Music offers scholarships to qualified students. Award recipients are determined either by audition or nomination. The amount of the awards varies and some may be renewable. Additional information is available from faculty members.

Available selected scholarships

• Robert Swisher Memorial Scholarship in Voice
• Lillian Rice Larson Scholarship in Voice
• Herald Stark Opera Scholarship
• Selma Aas Scholarship
• Lucy V. Kuhl Scholarship
• Helen K. Fairall Scholarship in Strings
• Meredith Willson Scholarship
• Frederick T. Rahn Scholarship in Organ
• Howard Robertson Brass Scholarship
• John D. Hill Trombone Scholarship
• The Himie Voxman Scholarship
• Irwin E Rosheim Prize in Clarinet
• Thomas L. Davis Percussion Scholarship
• Annetta Maria Jackson Memorial Scholarship