Scholarships & Funding

The Department of History at the University of Northern Iowa offers several scholarships: for prospective and declared history majors, regardless of year standing; year-specific scholarships to assist sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students; and scholarships for History Teaching and Social Science Teaching majors. Several of our scholarships prioritize students based on need; fill out a new FAFSA each fall to be considered for needs-based scholarships. The University Scholarship Application provides the opportunity to apply for university-level, college-level and departmental scholarships. Our scholarships, listed below, are also available as a PDF.

There are also external resources available for students. Career Services provides students a listing of Resources for History and students can contact Isabela Varela for a consultation on developing application materials. The university also offers support for student community engagement through the Koob Fund.

Department of History Scholarships

History Major Scholarships - any year standing

The James Sanders Scholarship is offered to prospective or declared History majors who can demonstrate financial need. Applicants must have taken, or plan to register for, a course in Asian, African, or Latin American studies.
The Don and Alleen Howard Scholarships are offered to History majors who have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and who can demonstrate financial need.
The Howard Jones Scholarship is offered to students who are declared History or Social Science majors; applicants must have an overall GPA of at least 2.75.
The Michael & Mary L. Wright Endowed Scholarship is provided to History majors who demonstrate financial need.
The Norma “Judy” Peters Hermann Scholarship is provided to undergraduate students majoring in History or Social Science Teaching, who demonstrate financial need. Recipients must have a major GPA of at least 3.0.

Teaching Major Scholarships

The Kim and Steve Carlson Scholarship is offered to History Teaching or Social Science Teaching majors who have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. This scholarship is available to students who demonstrate financial need, but do not qualify for need-based awards.
The Willella Fluellin/Bill and Gwen Hood Scholarship is offered to Social Science Teaching majors who demonstrate financial need.

Year Specific Scholarships: Sophomore, Junior and Senior

The Charles Ray & Ada May Hoxie Scholarship is offered to students who will be sophomores or juniors by the Fall term and who are declared History majors. Applicants must have an overall GPA of at least 3.3.
The Donald E. Shepardson Endowed Scholarships are awarded to juniors and seniors majoring in History with a GPA of at least 3.0 who demonstrate financial need. One scholarship will be awarded to a student transferring to UNI.
The Donald M. Lowe Scholarship is offered to History majors who demonstrate both merit and financial need (preference given to Teaching majors). The recipient must have a UNI GPA of 3.20.
The Social Science Teaching Scholarship provides support for junior and senior Social Science Teaching Majors with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The Jerry and JoAnn Kramer Endowed History Scholarship is offered to junior and senior History majors who demonstrate financial need. The recipient must have a UNI GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The John L. Eiklor Scholarship is awarded to junior and senior History majors. Applicants must have completed 30 semester hours of coursework (at least 15 of which must be at UNI) by the beginning of the fall term. Their minimum overall GPA must be 2.8, with a minimum of 3.0 in History courses. A personal statement/essay is required.
The Leland Sage Scholarship is offered to junior and senior History majors. The applicant must have completed 60 hours of coursework (at least 15 at UNI, with at least 12 of those 15 in History) and have an overall GPA of 2.8, with a 3.0 in History.
The Howard & Merle Thompson Memorial Scholarship is awarded to promising junior and senior History majors. Applicants must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.3 and a grade point average in their major of at least 3.5.

Scholarship for Iowa Community College Transfers

The UNI Dept. of History Partnership Award will be given to two Iowa community college transfer students with an AA degree who plan to major in History. The scholarship requires a GPA of 3.5 or higher and may be renewed if standards are met.

Graduate Scholarships

The Ray Johnston Graduate Student in American History Scholarship is available to students seeking an M.A. degree in American History.
The Tim Hilby History Scholarship is offered to students seeking an M.A. degree in History.
The Loren N. Horton Scholarship is provided to either undergraduate or graduate students majoring in History with preference given to graduate students.

How to Apply for UNI Scholarships

Start the University Scholarship Application:

Make sure you've completed a recent FAFSA, between October 1 and January 15. FAFSA Home Page
Complete the general University Scholarships online application by clicking here.
List a faculty member from history as a reference; we will reach out to the listed reference as needed.