Students living in Alliant Energy communities have big goals and a lot of hard work ahead of them. We want to ease the financial burden of college and strengthen the places we call home.
Through partnerships with colleges and universities in communities we serve, we offer scholarships for students beginning their next chapter in higher education. If you or someone you know is headed off to a two- or four-year college, university or technical/vocation school, we might be able to help them on their journey.
In 2024, our scholarships reached more than 100 students pursuing their career goals. Our contributions offset tuition costs and students' loans by providing over $130,000 in support.
Apply for an Alliant Energy Innovation Scholarship
Alliant Energy recognizes outstanding community leadership in young people and helps students reach their academic goals.
We award $1,000 scholarships to up to 25 students annually through the Alliant Energy Innovation Scholarship program.
We select recipients based on their leadership in community service activities and volunteer work; academic grade point average; standardized test scores; and a 350-word essay submission.
Eligibility guidelines
To be eligible, scholarship applicants must have participated in a leadership role in community service work or volunteer activities. They must also meet all of the following criteria:
- Applicant must be a high school senior planning to pursue a degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) or a craft/skilled trade (examples include but are not limited to Electrical Power Distribution, Gas Utility Construction and Service, and Welding).
- Applicants must be U.S. residents, age 24 and under, who are dependent children* of current customers in good standing or are current customers in good standing of one of Alliant Energy’s utility subsidiaries (Interstate Power and Light Co. or Wisconsin Power and Light Co.) and living in the Alliant Energy Corporation service area at the time of the application.
- Applicants must be students who will for the first time enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school located within the Alliant Energy Corporation service territory (Iowa and Wisconsin) for the entire upcoming academic year. Students who have taken post-secondary classes prior to graduating from high school are still eligible.
- Applicants must have a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 to 4.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).
* Dependent children refers to natural or legally adopted children, stepchildren, or legal wards of the employee who qualify for benefits provided by the company.
Restrictions
Employees of Alliant Energy Corporation, Scholarship America, their subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies and the immediate family (spouses, parents, children or siblings and their spouses) and persons living in the same household of such employees who are employed at the time of application are ineligible to receive a scholarship.
Review criteria
A scholarship committee at Scholarship America will carefully review each application in search of the most deserving recipients. Judges consider several criteria, including:
- Consideration of a STEM major
- Leadership experience and community service or volunteer activities.
- Academic grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).
- The content of a 350-word essay submission.
Class rank is not a determining factor. Scholarship awards are for one year only and limited to undergraduate study. We accept applications Dec. 2 to Feb. 3.
With questions, contact Cara Florey at [email protected] or (507) 931-0621, extension 1621.
Full list of scholarships offered by Alliant Energy
In addition to the scholarships above, opportunities are also available through our partnering schools. These opportunities are for students whose fields of study are reflective of careers in the energy industry. Each individual school manages the application and selection processes for these scholarships. Please contact the school to learn how to apply.
Iowa
| Institution | city | awards | areas of study/other designation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Coe College (Endowment)
|
Cedar Rapids | 1 | One for business |
| Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement | Iowa State Fair | 2 | Two for agriculture |
|
Iowa Lakes Community College
|
Estherville | 2 | Two for wind energy and turbine technology program |
|
Iowa State University (Endowment)
|
Ames | 6 |
Four for engineering Two for agriculture One reserved for the child of an Alliant Energy employee |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | 1 | One for Cybersecurity and Compliance program |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown | 3 | Three for Utility Technician program |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Peosta | 2 | Two for gas utility construction and service |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon | 3 | Three for powerline or powerline technology |
| University of Northern Iowa (Endowment) | Cedar Falls | 5 |
Five for College of Business Administration One reserved for the child of an Alliant Energy employee |
Wisconsin
| institution | city | awards | areas of study/other designation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackhawk Technical College | Janesville | 6 |
Six for electric power distribution, electro-mechanical technology, |
| Madison Area Technical College | Madison | 4 |
One for computer information systems One for accounting One for civil/mechanical engineering One for EMT or Fire Service program |
|
Mid-State Technical College
|
Wisconsin Rapids | 2 |
One for electrical power engineering technician One for industrial mechanical technician |
| Moraine Park Technical College | Beaver Dam | 7 |
Four for electrical power distribution Three for gas utility construction |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay | 3 |
Three for gas utility construction or electrical power distribution |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore | 6 | Six for electrical power distribution |
| UW-Fond du Lac | Fond du Lac | 1 | One for agriculture, business, engineering, computer systems, science or environmental science |
| UW-Madison | Madison | 2 |
Two for engineering (School of Engineering - Diversity Affairs) |
| UW-Platteville | Platteville | 5 | Five for agriculture, business administration, engineering, accounting, communication technologies, comprehensive business or computer science |
| UW-Rock County | Janesville | 1 | One for mechanical engineering |
| UW-Sheboygan | Sheboygan | 1 | One for engineering, agriculture or environmental studies |
| UW-Whitewater / UW-Whitewater Rock County (Endowed) | Whitewater | 1 | One for electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, information technology, cybersecurity, computer science or business analytics |
Employees of Alliant Energy Corporation, Scholarship America, their subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies and their immediate family (spouses, parents, children or siblings and their spouses) and persons living in the same household of such employees who are employed at the time of application are ineligible to receive a scholarship through any of the above-mentioned programs unless otherwise noted.