Robert D. Blue Scholarship
Offered by State of Iowa
About this scholarship
The Robert D. Blue Scholarship is a State of Iowa award of $500 to $1,000 for an Iowa resident attending or planning to attend an Iowa college or university. It is open both to current high-school seniors preparing for college and to students already enrolled at an eligible Iowa institution. Named for former Iowa governor Robert D. Blue, the program looks for literary and scholastic ability as well as the qualities of truth, courage, fellowship, and moral character. The Iowa Department of Education’s current program page links directly to the scholarship application and identifies May 31 as the annual deadline. Selection considers the applicant’s high-school grade-point average, demonstrated financial need, two reference letters, and a 500-word essay. Those components matter together: the award is not presented solely for grades, and applicants should use the essay and references to provide concrete evidence of character, academic promise, and the values highlighted by the program. Before starting, a student should confirm Iowa residency and the planned or current Iowa institution, identify two recommenders who can speak specifically to the student’s abilities and conduct, and prepare the essay to the required length. The official application route is maintained separately at rdblue.org and is linked by the Iowa Department of Education; applicants should complete that form rather than relying on a third-party scholarship listing. Questions may be directed to the scholarship contact in the Treasurer of State office shown on the official program page.
Eligibility
- Be an Iowa resident
- Be a current high-school senior or a student already enrolled in college
- Attend or plan to attend a college or university in Iowa
- Provide the academic information requested in the official application
- Demonstrate financial need
- Submit two reference letters
- Submit a 500-word essay addressing the application prompt