644325 - Pathway to Completion Grant for Community Colleges
Funding Opportunity Details

Community Engagement

Final Application Deadline: Dec 15, 2025 5:00 PM

Description

• Program Description

  The Iowa Department of Education’s Bureau of Iowa College Aid is offering a grant opportunity for community colleges: the Pathway to Completion Grant, which is aimed at re-engaging students who have stopped out of college due to being unable to register for classes because they owe minimal amounts of institutional debt. The origins of this grant stem from Take 2, Hawkeye Community College’s successful program focused on this same goal. By removing institutional debt as a barrier to students returning to classes, Hawkeye and Take 2 continue to show a positive return on investment for both the college and students. 

  The Pathway to Completion Grant seeks to replicate the success of Take 2 at the statewide level. Successful grantees will join a Community of Practice, including leaders from Hawkeye, to share knowledge, strategies, and best practices related to re-enrolling Iowans to complete postsecondary programs.

   

  Additional Information

  Grant application opens: November 17, 2026 at Iowagrants.gov.

  Grant application closes: December 15, 2026

  Award notifications: We anticipate grants will be awarded on a rolling basis through January 15, 2026, pending approval by the Iowa Department of Education.

  Award Amount: Applicants may request funds up to $7,500.  

  Eligibility Criteria: The Pathway to Completion grant is open to all Iowa Community Colleges. 

   

  Contacts

  Anne Thomas, Community Engagement Consultant 

  anne.thomas@iowa.gov

  Megan Sibbel, Community Engagement Consultant

  megan.sibbel@iowa.gov

   

  How to Apply

  Successful applications will include all of the required components of the Pathway to Completion grant application. 

   

  Program and Budget Narrative

  Applicants will be required to respond to a series of brief narrative questions, outlining the current landscape as it relates to stop-outs and student debt. Applicants will provide a brief plan for participation in the Community of Practice, implementation of new practices to re-enroll stop-out students, or expansion of existing programs addressing stop-outs due to student debt. 

   

  Narrative questions: 

  Current state + goals

  1. What is the current landscape at your institution in terms of students stopping out due to student debt? Include information about the number of stop-outs related to student debt and your institution’s planned efforts to address the issue. 

  2. How will this funding assist you in implementing new practices or expanding existing programs to address stop-outs due to student debt?

  Budget

  3. Please provide a budget narrative that includes your request amount (up to $7,500) and an itemization of how you anticipate utilizing the funds to support or expand your program.  Remember to include funds to send two staff to an in-person, one-day spring convening (if this is not a part of your grant request, the institution will assume the cost).  

  Grant expectations

  4. Do you agree to participate in the Community of Practice tied to this funding and send two individuals to an in-person spring convening? 

  5. Do you agree to participate in data collection and evaluation activities as requested by the Bureau of Iowa College Aid specific to this project? 

  6. Do you agree to the “Access to Records” statement?

  7. Do you agree to the “Records Retention” statement?