Ellsworth Community College
Iowa Falls, IA · Midwest · Varsity since 2024
College says it is 'offering scholarships to help students with tuition'; amounts not published (contact coach).
Smash
- net price
- $11K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 38%
Esports colleges in Iowa
16 colleges in Iowa field an esports program we track: Briar Cliff University, Des Moines Area Community College, Ellsworth Community College, Graceland University, Grand View University, Hawkeye Community College, Iowa Central Community College, Iowa State University, Iowa Western Community College, Marshalltown Community College, North Iowa Area Community College, Northeast Iowa Community College, Simpson College, University of Iowa, Waldorf University, Western Iowa Tech Community College. None publish a fixed scholarship amount, though several offer awards. The most common titles are Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, VALORANT. The median average net price across these schools is $13,040 per year (College Scorecard).
- Programs
- 16
- Publish aid amounts
- 0
- Median net price
- $13,040
- Median grad rate
- 45%
Graceland University
Lamoni, IA · Midwest · Varsity
Graceland awards one core institutional scholarship weighing need, academics, athletics and activities; the athletics component requires varsity or JV participation, renewable up to four years, primary sport only.
VALORANTRocket League
- net price
- $19K
- acceptance
- 81%
- grad rate
- 42%
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA · Midwest · Varsity since 2017
Previously advertised up to full tuition; current terms not online
LoLOverwatchVALORANTMarvel Rivals
- net price
- $22K
- acceptance
- 99%
- grad rate
- 54%
Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown, IA · Midwest · Varsity since 2022
An April 2026 MCC release says funds raised go to the MCC Esports account 'to provide additional scholarships' to future esports student-athletes; amounts not published. The Iowa Valley scholarships page lists Activity & Athletic Scholarships without amounts.
FortniteMarvel RivalsRocket LeagueSmash+4
- net price
- $8.1K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 42%
Waldorf University
Forest City, IA · Midwest · Varsity since 2020
Waldorf Esports Participation Scholarship for incoming freshmen and transfers who join the esports team and are not receiving another athletic/participation scholarship; stacks with academic merit aid up to stacking limits.
Marvel RivalsOverwatchRocket LeagueSmash+1
- net price
- $20K
- acceptance
- 77%
- grad rate
- 21%
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, IA · Midwest · Varsity since 2022
No esports scholarships published
OverwatchSmash
- net price
- $24K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 48%
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA · Midwest · Club
No esports scholarships published (esports is run by Campus Recreation)
FortniteSmashOverwatchRocket League+1
- net price
- $11K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 39%
Hawkeye Community College
Waterloo, IA · Midwest · Varsity since 2018
No current esports scholarship terms published (2018 launch release and 2020 KCRG/college story said scholarships were available).
FortniteSmashOverwatch
- net price
- $9.6K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 43%
Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge, IA · Midwest · Varsity since 2018
No esports scholarships published (only the 2018 launch release).
FortniteMarvel RivalsSmashOverwatch+1
- net price
- $9.3K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 42%
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · Midwest · Club since 2009
No esports scholarships published
VALORANTOverwatchRocket LeagueRainbow Six+6
- net price
- $19K
- acceptance
- 89%
- grad rate
- 75%
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, IA · Midwest · Varsity since 2021
No esports scholarship terms published by the college (a June 2024 WOWT TV report quotes the program saying 'we offer scholarship').
Marvel RivalsCall of DutyRocket LeagueSmash
- net price
- $15K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 40%
North Iowa Area Community College
Mason City, IA · Midwest · Varsity since 2023
No esports scholarships published
- net price
- $10K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 61%
Northeast Iowa Community College
Calmar, IA · Midwest · Varsity since 2022
No current esports scholarship terms published (a 2022 NICC news story said 'Scholarships are available').
Marvel RivalsOverwatchHearthstone
- net price
- $11K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 51%
Simpson College
Indianola, IA · Midwest · Varsity
No current esports scholarships published. Simpson previously advertised $500–$2,000 per year; in July 2025 it said existing awards would be honored but future esports scholarships were unclear.
LoLRocket LeagueVALORANTSmash
- net price
- $22K
- acceptance
- 86%
- grad rate
- 63%
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Midwest · Club since 2018
No esports scholarships published
Marvel RivalsLoLOverwatchRainbow Six+3
- net price
- $23K
- acceptance
- 84%
- grad rate
- 75%
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City, IA · Midwest · Varsity since 2023
No esports scholarships published by the college (only third-party recruiting directories mention athletic scholarships).
SmashOverwatchVALORANT
- net price
- $8.8K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 50%
Questions & answers
Which colleges in Iowa offer esports scholarships?
Briar Cliff University: aid terms not published (2026); Des Moines Area Community College: aid terms not published (current page); Ellsworth Community College: aid offered · amount varies (2025-26); Graceland University: aid offered · amount varies (undated page); Grand View University: aid offered · amount varies (undated page); Hawkeye Community College: aid terms not published (2018); Iowa Central Community College: aid terms not published (2018); Iowa State University: aid terms not published (2026); Iowa Western Community College: aid terms not published (2024); Marshalltown Community College: aid offered · amount varies (2025-26); North Iowa Area Community College: aid terms not published (2025-26); Northeast Iowa Community College: aid terms not published (2022); Simpson College: aid terms not published (2025); University of Iowa: aid terms not published (2025-26); Waldorf University: aid offered · amount varies (undated page); Western Iowa Tech Community College: aid terms not published (2026-27).
What esports games do Iowa colleges compete in?
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (12 schools), Overwatch 2 (11 schools), Rocket League (8 schools), VALORANT (7 schools), Marvel Rivals (7 schools), Fortnite (4 schools), League of Legends (4 schools), Hearthstone (3 schools), Rainbow Six Siege (3 schools), Call of Duty (3 schools), Counter-Strike 2 (2 schools), Apex Legends (1 school), Street Fighter 6 (1 school).
What is the cheapest esports college in Iowa?
By average annual net price, Marshalltown Community College is the lowest of the programs we track in Iowa at $8,059 per year.