Iowa Students First Education Savings Account
Education savings account. $8,148 per student for 2026-27.
How Students First ESA works
| What you get | $8,148 per student for 2026-27. Paid in two equal installments, fall and spring. Homeschooled students do not qualify. |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Any Iowa K-12 student enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school. The income limit ended in 2025-26. |
| How full it is | 41,044 students used an ESA in 2025-26, up from 27,866 the year before. There is no cap. |
| When to apply | One window a year. For 2026-27 it ran April 16 to June 30, 2026. Miss it and there is no ESA that year. |
| How the money moves | The state’s contractor holds the account and the parent pays tuition and fees through its portal. |
| What it covers | Tuition and fees first, then other expenses on the state’s list. |
We read this on 2026-09-20 from: Iowa Department of Education, ESA; Iowa DOE, 2025-12-19 enrollment release. Rules change when the legislature meets, so check the official program site before you count on a number.
Run your own numbers
What would you pay?
We filled in the standard Students First ESA amount. Change it if your award letter says something different. An award can never be more than the school actually charges. This is arithmetic, not a quote.
Which schools take it
In Iowa an ESA can be used only at an accredited nonpublic school. Schools marked here are on the Iowa Department of Education’s accredited nonpublic school directory for 2026-27, which makes them eligible. The state calls this year’s file preliminary until October.
Browse Iowa private schools The state’s own list
- Private schools in Des Moines (30)
- Private schools in West Des Moines (30)
- Private schools in Ankeny (25)
- Private schools in Cedar Rapids (16)
- Private schools in Iowa City (13)
- Private schools in Coralville (12)
- Private schools in Dubuque (12)
- Private schools in Bettendorf (11)
- Private schools in Davenport (11)
- Private schools in Gilbertville (11)
- Private schools in Waterloo (11)
- Private schools in Sioux City (9)
- Private schools in Cedar Falls (8)
- Private schools in Hull (8)
- Private schools in Decorah (5)
- Private schools in Dyersville (5)
- Private schools in Alton (4)
- Private schools in Council Bluffs (4)
Get one email when applications open
Most programs open once a year, and several ran out of money or seats in 2026. Pick your state and we will email you the day the next window opens, with the official link. That is the only email you get.
One email per application window. No calls, no sharing your details.
Questions parents ask
How much does Students First ESA pay in Iowa?
$8,148 per student for 2026-27. Paid in two equal installments, fall and spring. Homeschooled students do not qualify.
Who is eligible?
Any Iowa K-12 student enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school. The income limit ended in 2025-26.
Does it cover the full cost of private school?
Not always. The award is a set amount and every school sets its own price. Ask each school for tuition plus fees, then subtract the award. The calculator on this page does the sum for you.
How do I know a school accepts Students First ESA?
In Iowa an ESA can be used only at an accredited nonpublic school. Schools marked here are on the Iowa Department of Education’s accredited nonpublic school directory for 2026-27, which makes them eligible. The state calls this year’s file preliminary until October.
When do I apply?
One window a year. For 2026-27 it ran April 16 to June 30, 2026. Miss it and there is no ESA that year.
Other states
- Texas: TEFA
- Arkansas: EFA
- Oklahoma: PCTC
- Tennessee: EFS
- Missouri: MOScholars
- Florida: FES / FTC
- Arizona: ESA
- Utah: UFA
- West Virginia: Hope
- North Carolina: Opportunity Scholarship
- Indiana: Choice Scholarship
- Ohio: EdChoice
- Alabama: CHOOSE Act
- Louisiana: LA GATOR
- Georgia: Promise Scholarship
- South Carolina: ESTF
- New Hampshire: EFA
- Idaho: PCTC