Student Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for Iowa’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program, students must meet the following age-based criteria:
Minimum Age:
Students must be at least 5 years old on or before September 15 of the school year they are applying for.
Maximum Age:
Students must be under 20 years old at the start of the school year to remain eligible.
These age guidelines help determine whether a student can participate in the ESA program for a given school year.
Please note:
The cutoff for using ESA funding will be whenever a student finishes 12th grade or turns 20, whichever comes first.
If a student turns 20 during the school year, their ESA funding will end on the day of their 20th birthday—even if the academic year is still in progress.
Quick Summary
Eligible Age Range: Ages 5 (by September 15) through 19
Ineligible: Students who turn 5 after September 15 or who are 20 years old or older
Funding Stops: On the student’s 20th birthday or when they complete 12th grade, whichever comes first
If you have questions about your student’s eligibility, please reach out to our support team for assistance.