A new scholarship available to first-year University of Iowa students who are starting this year aims to help those students complete their undergraduate degrees in four years.

The Summer Hawk Tuition Grant will award Iowa residents a full-tuition scholarship for up to 12 semester hours of summer study. First-year, first-time students entering the university this summer or fall will automatically receive the awards.

The value of the scholarship is determined by the actual number of hours for which a student enrolls during a single summer.

“We want to give students every opportunity to graduate in four years,” says Barry Butler, UI executive vice president and provost. “Our university is already a great value, but this program further helps students and families reach their goals.”

The scholarship may be used any summer after an academic year in which a student enrolls in at least 24 semester hours. It must be used within four years of admission to the university.

The UI offers three summer sessions—a three-week session that begins immediately after the spring semester, an eight-week session that starts in early June, and a six-week session that begins in late June. Students can use the scholarships to cover any combination of courses during the summer they use the scholarship.

“This program will help us make efficient use of our classroom resources, but its benefits to students are what matter most,” Butler says. “We are committed to keeping a UI education affordable and helping students get a timely start on careers or graduate study.”

Find more information about the program on the Office of Admissions website.