Highlights
Applications open October 1st - March 1st.
Award Information
The Idaho Opportunity Scholarship is a scholarship provided by the State of Idaho that any Idaho high school graduate can apply for. Renewable up to four years, awards can provide up to $3,500 a year. That's up to $14,000 over four years if you continue to meet the annual eligibility requirements.
The Opportunity Scholarship is need-based
- 70% of the scores given to students' applications are based on the SAI from the FAFSA®.
- 30% is based on students’ GPAs.
- A final score is calculated based on the combined need score and merit score.
- Applicants are then ranked from highest to lowest, based on the final score.
The number of scholarships available is based on how much funding is available that year.
- Have an unweighted, cumulative GPA of at least a 2.7.
- Proof of Idaho Residency.
- Graduate or will graduate from an Idaho high school, Idaho home school, or its equivalent. (GED/HSE from Idaho)
- Must be pursuing your first certificate, first associate's degree, or first bachelor's degree.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) by March 1 for the year you are applying.
- Make sure to include BYU-Idaho as a school on your FAFSA®
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as specified in program rules.
- Apply to and enroll at BYU-Idaho.
Application
USE YOUR PERSONAL EMAIL WHEN APPLYING NOT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL EMAIL so you can continue to receive information after graduation.
Other information you will need:
- Your social security number.
- Your high school GPA and graduation date.
- You and your parents’ demographic information.
- Link your Next Steps Idaho Account to your Scholarship Idaho account (you may need to provide a launch code from your Next Steps Idaho profile).
- Accept your offer and ensure that BYU-Idaho has received your completed FAFSA®.
- Maintain a 2.7 BYU-Idaho cumulative GPA and complete at least 67% of your classes.
- Complete your credit benchmarks each year.
- If you plan to go on a mission, leave of absence requests must be submitted in writing to jmiller@edu.idaho.gov.
What To Do Next
Step 1:
Check your email often and respond quickly, especially in the summer - All offers will be sent from Scholarship Idaho using the email you used during account creation.
Step 2:
Contingent offers are NOT final until the State Board of Education:
- Verifies your FAFSA® submission by March 1.
- Ranks all applications based on need (FAFSA®) and merit (GPA).
Step 3:
Be sure to accept any Idaho Opportunity Scholarship offers!
- Applicants MUST accept their official offer and verify their details by the date listed in their offer email.
A failure to respond to any offer by the deadline will constitute an express rejection of the offer, and it is not appealable.
Receiving An Idaho Opportunity Scholarship
How Much can I receive?
Idaho Opportunity Scholarships can be awarded for up to $1750 a semester.
Your award amount is based on the number of credits you are enrolled in. When combined with other free aid, your total awards cannot exceed your cost of attendance.
If you have questions about your award amount, email: idahostateaid@byui.edu
When will I Receive my Idaho Opportunity Scholarship?
Idaho Opportunity funds are sent directly to your student account and are applied to tuition.
Enrolled in 12 or more credits: Funds are disbursed to your student account on the third day of the semester.
Enrolled in fewer than 12 credits: Funds are disbursed to your student account after the add/drop deadline.
Maintaining Your Scholarship
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Meet credit benchmarks based on how many years you have received the Idaho Opportunity scholarship:- After first year (completed 30 credits)
- After second year (completed 60 credits)
- After third year (completed 90 credits)
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Complete the renewal confirmation/questionnaire by March 1st.
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Academic Progress:
- Maintain a minimum 2.7 GPA.
- Meet BYU-Idaho’s satisfactory academic progress standards.
- Stay on track for timely degree completion. (Associate’s Degree: 2 years & Bachelor’s Degree: 4 years)
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You must still be enrolled on the Financial Aid Determination Date or your scholarship will be returned
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Leave of absence requests must be submitted in writing to jmiller@edu.idaho.gov 60 days before the semester that your leave begins.
