Idaho Launch

Idaho Opportunity Scholarship for Adults

The Idaho Opportunity Scholarship for Adult Learners supports Idaho residents returning to college at least part time (6+ credits) after a break of 24 months or more. Applicants must have graduated from an Idaho high school or equivalent and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. 

Application Portal

What Dates Should I Remember?

From the application opening to closing please review the important dates associated with the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship.

December 1, 2026

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline for the Spring Semester

April 15, 2027

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline for the Summer Semester

July 1, 2027

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline for the Fall Semester

How Much Money Can I Get?

  • The scholarship amount depends on how much other financial aid (grants and scholarships) you've already received. 
  • Awards range from $0 to $3,500 per year. 
  • If you take 6 to 8 credits, you can receive up to half of the award. 
  • If you take 9 to 11 credits, you can receive up to three-quarters of the award. 
  • If you take 12 or more credits, you can receive the full award. 
  • If your total aid already covers the full cost of attendance (either your school's cost or the state-set amount of $28,061, whichever is lesser), you won't receive additional funds from this scholarship.
  • You'll never get more than your actual tuition and fees. 

What Do I Need To Do Before I Apply?

Before you apply, make sure you are ready. You will need to meet the eligibility rules and complete the FAFSA by the deadline. 

  • Meet the Residency and Graduation Requirements

    You must be an Idaho resident and have graduated, or be about to graduate, from an Idaho high school, Idaho home school (with a transcript), or earned a GED/HSE in Idaho. 

    You must have an unweighted, cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.7 while receiving the scholarship. 

    You must have earned at least 24 college credits before a cease in enrollment, must not be currently enrolled, and must not have completed more than 2 classes in the last 24 months. 

  • Align Your Educational Goals

    You must pursue a certificate, first associate's degree, or first bachelor's degree and plan to attend an eligible Idaho college or university during the upcoming academic year (fall semester). 

    Eligible Colleges and Universities: 

  • Complete the FAFSA

    Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the year in which you are attending before the due date listed beside the semester you will be attending: 

    • Spring Semester - December 1
    • Summer Semester - April 15
    • Fall Semester - July 1


    Learn More About the FAFSA

  • Complete a Graduation Plan

    A graduation plan is requried for all recpients of the Idaho Opportunity for Adult LEarners scholarship. This is a form that will outline your plan to graduation. Please log in to your Scholarship Idaho dashboard and you should see a popup-window for the plan. 

    Scholarship Idaho Dashboard

How do I apply?

You will need to apply for the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship for students through Scholarship Idaho, the common application tool for Idaho's sponsored grants and scholarships. 

Application Portal

Scholarship Application Guide

Learn what materials to prepare and how/when to start applications for the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship. 

Scholarship Application Guide

How Will I Be Notified?

All offers, will be sent from Scholarship Idaho using the email you used during account creation. 

Best practice recommendations to not miss emails (like an offer): 

  1. Ensure scholarshiphelp@edu.idaho.gov is set as a safe sender. 
  2. Make sure you set allow text messaging on your cell phone during the application process. This allows our team to let you know to check your email. 
  3. Set calendar reminders on your phone to start checking your email and SPAM or junk folder one month prior to the offer rounds listed above. 
  4. Set calendar reminder to login to you Scholarship Idaho account on each of the offer round dates listed above to see if your status has changed to "offered". If so, you must click either the "accept" or "decline" button available on the site. 

Text messages are only sent as courtesy reminders and do not constitute an official offer. Applicants MUST accept their official offer and verify their details by the date explicitly listed in their offer email. 

The Office of the State Board of Education is not responsible for applicants' failure to check their email (including junk mail folders) in a timely manner. A failure to respond to any offer by the deadline will constitute an express rejection of the offer and is not appealable. 

I've Been Awarded the Scholarship. What Now?

If you are offered the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship, there are important steps that you MUST follow in order to redeem your funds. Read closely. 

1

Accept Offer

You must accept or decline your award by the date listed on your award notification. A failure to respond will be interpreted as an explicit refusal of the funds. 


TIP: Your login email will be the same address that the award notification was sent to. 

2

Check for Updates

Each school handles scholarships differently, so check your financial aid portal or contact your financial aid office for updates. 

TIP: Your scholarhsip isn't final until your eligibility is confirmed by your school and the Idaho State Board of Education. 

3

Stay On Track to Graduate College

You must finish an associate degree in 2 years of a bachelors degree in 4 years. If you start with no prior credits, you must complete 30 credits each year. 

TIP: Your progress is checked every year by the scholarship team. If you fail a class, you did not complete it or earn the credit, so those credits will not count. 

4

Receive Your Funds

The scholarship is sent directly to your school. Your school applies the funds to your tuition and fees. 

TIP: Some institutions award earlier in the summer than others. If you are not awarded by the end of September, please email info@nextsteps.idaho.gov. 

Please note that by accepting this offer, students are indicating that they understand and agree to the requirements associated with this scholarship. Continuing Eligibility appears on page six, section 302; 01-04. Review rules HERE. 

How do I renew my scholarship?

If you wish to renew your Idaho Opportunity Scholarship, there are important steps that you MUST follow in order to redeem your funds. Read closely. 

1

Watch for Renewal Availability

In November, check your Scholarship Idaho account to see if the "Renew" button appears next to your scholarship. 


TIP: If you don't see it yet, your renewal isn't ready. 

2

Complete the Renewal Form

Each year you want to keep your scholarship, log in to your Scholarship Idaho account and fill out the renewal form by March 1. 

3

Complete a Graduation Plan

If you have more than 120 college credits, you must submit a graduation plan showing how you will complete your degree. 

Tip: Log in to your Scholarship Idaho dashboard, the graduation plan will be a pop-up window. 

4

Maintain Eligibility

Stay on track toward your degree and keep a 2.7 GPA or higher or you may not be able to renew. 

5

Report Changes Right Away

If you plan to take a break or drop classes, you must tell the Idaho State Board of Education30 days before the break starts. 

TIP: Failing to notify the Idaho State Board of Education might cause you to lose your scholarship. 

6

Watch for Updates

Your school will send your GPA and credit info to the Board. If you meet all the requirements, your award will be processed in the summer. 

TIP: Sometimes awards are not finalized until late summer or September. 

FAQ's

No. The Idaho Opportunity for Adult Learners is only for students earning a certificate, associate's degree, and a first bachelor's degree. 

As long as you have not enrolled in classes you may apply. 

No. You must be an Idaho graduate, home school, or its equivalent to be eligible for any state funded scholarships. 

It is not. The GPA requirement is set in Administrative Code and exceptions cannot be made. 

The Opportunity Scholarship is a "last dollars" award, meaning it is to assist in filling in the gap in your cost of attendance after other scholarships and grants. If you have other scholarships and grants that come close to meeting your cost of attendance, your Opportunity Scholarship will be reduced so you do not exceed your cost of attendance. Keep in mind that Northwest Nazarene University and College of Idaho are required to the state average cost of attendance when making awards, which is $28,061 for the 2025-26 year. 

The Opportunity Scholarhsip is need-based, which means 70% of the score given to students' applications are based on the SAI (Student Aid Index) from the FAFSA and 30% is based on students' GPA's. A final score is calculated based on the combined need score and the merit score. Applications are then ranked from highest to lowest, based on the final score. The number of scholarships offered is based on how much funding is available that year. 

Unanswered Questions?

If you have unanswered questions about the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship, please contact our scholarship team.

scholarshiphelp@edu.idaho.gov
208-332-1595