Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Assistance For Any Student

We offer financial aid options to our undergraduate, transfer, degree completion, and graduate students.

No matter your educational path, there are ways to help make your time at Morningside more affordable. There are state and federal aid in the form of grants, work-study, and low-interest loans. Morningside offers special scholarships and funding to help our students, and there are always private scholarships and loans to consider. Whatever your situation is, our financial aid team is here to help you find the best mix of funding to make your education possible.

By the Numbers

Numbers are important when we are looking at the cost of a college education. If you will be a first-time, full-time undergraduate student at Morningside, see below for an idea of how we (alongside federal and state grants and programs) can help make college more affordable.

2024-2025 AID DETAILS

2023-2024 AID DETAILS

admissions ug financial aid 3diff module up to 16395

IN STATE
AND FEDERAL RESOURCES

$15K–$27K*

average Morningside award range

Financial Aid Breakdown

You could get up to 85% of full-time first-year tuition covered through just these resources alone. And it doesn't stop there – if you receive private scholarships, student loan funding or other resources, you'll be 100% covered. You could receive up to $16,395 in State and Federal Resources & 15K - $27K Average Morningside Award Range Here's how those numbers break down:

State & Federal Resources

Pell grant: Up to $6,895
Iowa tuition grant: Up to $7,500
Work study: Up to $2,000

Morningside Resources

Scholarships: $11,000–$25,000
Visit grant: $1,000
Talent Grant: Up to $5,000
FAFSA Submission Grant: $1,000
ACT/SAT Incentive Scholarship: $1,000-$5,000
Monte Grant: Up to $4,000

Average Award Package Range	$15,000-$43,395*
Average Range of Your Mside Investment	$5,645-$34,040*

*These ranges are for first-time, full-time, on-campus students enrolling for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Federal & State Aid + Institutional Loans

There are several federal and state programs designed to help make college more affordable for families. The first step to seeing which funding sources you qualify for is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

How to Apply

Grants

Grants are one of the best kinds of aid because they don’t need to be paid back. They are awarded for one year at a time and can be renewed. Here are a few examples of federal and state grants:

Loans

Federal loans have to be paid back, but are fixed at a low interest rate. Some loans accrue interest while you're in school (unsubsidized), while others don't (subsidized). Some examples of federal loans include:

Work Study

The government funds an opportunity for you to earn money and gain experience working on campus. You must be eligible for need-based financial aid to qualify for federal work study. A typical Morningside work study award is $2,000 per year. The dollars earned through work study employment will not impact your FAFSA the following year. If you don't qualify for work study, it is possible to get an on-campus job paid through campus payroll. Contact Student Financial Planning for more information at finaid@morningside.edu or 712-274-5159.

Institutional Loans

Mabel E. Sherman Private Student Loan

Preference is given to residents of Ida or Cherokee County Iowa residents.
Interest rate is fixed at 5%.
No cosigner requirement.
Annual loan limits: Usually $3,000 (varies based on funding availability).
The Sherman Loan repayment begins ten years after the date of the disbursement of your first Sherman Loan. The loan is interest-free for ten years after the date of the disbursement of your first loan.

McElroy-Morningside Private Student Loan

Must be a U.S. Citizen.
Must be enrolled full-time and eligible for a Morningside scholarship.
Interest rate is fixed at 5%.
A cosigner is required.
Annual loan limit: Usually $3,000 (varies based on funding availability).
Cumulative Loan Limit: $12,000
Interest and repayment begin 6 months after student is enrolled less than half time.
Repayment term: Up to 10 years.

Contact the Financial Aid team for more information.

Contact Financial Aid

Circumstances and Verification Forms

2021 Forms

2021-2022 Special Circumstances Form

2021-2022 V1 Dependent Student Verification Form

2021-2022 V1 Independent Student Verification Form

2022 Forms

2022-2023 Special Circumstances Form

2022-2023 V1 Dependent Student Verification Form

2022-2023 V1 Independent Student Verification Form

Morningside Scholarships

Morningside offers several scholarship and grant opportunities to first-year students. Academic scholarships, talent awards and engagement awards are all available. We even offer a grant just for making an official campus visit. Let our Office of Financial Planning assist you.

*If you graduate high school in 2024, select "2024-2025 Scholarships & Grants"

2024-25 SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

2023-24 Scholarships & Grants