The average cost of attending a four year college in the United States, including room and board, is estimated to be $25,000-30,000 a year. It is next to impossible for many highschool seniors to attend the college of their dreams because they can’t afford it. If you’re a Cyclone fan, however, there is good news.
The Christina Hixson Opportunity Award provides awards to high school seniors from each of Iowa’s counties.
These awards are designed to demonstrate Iowa State University’s commitment to the student potential that exists in various ways beyond the measures of class rank or standardized test scores.
The Christina Hixson program provides each recipient with a half-tuition grant (estimated value of more than $20,000 over eight semesters) to be used at Iowa State University.
This scholarship is currently available to high school seniors graduating in 2023 who will be entering as a first-year student at Iowa State University in Fall 2023. This program will provide 100 undergraduates with half-tuition scholarships (estimated value of more than $18,000 over eight semesters). Selection is based on the student’s county, eligibility and potential as demonstrated through the application, letter of recommendation, and financial need analysis. Students may major in any curriculum and must maintain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average for renewal.
*Recipients will be notified by May 1st*
Hixson Opportunity Awards grants one award per county. The county corresponds to the student’s residence at the time of high school completion, which may be different from the county in which the high school is located. If a county has no suitable applicants, an award will not be made for that county.
Applications can be found and submitted online at https://hixson.dso.iastate.edu/ Applications must be submitted online for the Christina Hixson Opportunity Award by February 1 with acceptance to ISU by February 1 and completion of the FAFSA as well.
Mission Statement: The mission of the Hixson Opportunity Awards program at Iowa State University is to foster excellence and ensure the success of all participants. The Hixson program provides various academic, financial, and personal supports to recipients of this private scholarship program, named for Iowa native Christina Hixson. Our dedication to serving all students, aligns with the mission of the University and Division of Student Affairs, and underscores our commitment to their overall success and well-being.