TRIO students at the Iowa Capitol building for National TRIO Day.

Iowa State University TRIO Talent Search is a college preparatory program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The goal of Talent Search is to increase the likelihood that participants graduate from high school and enroll in college. This goal is accomplished by providing participants with academic support, financial aid resources, and personal counseling through monthly school visits. Talent Search advisers work with school counselors and teachers to identify qualified youth who have the potential for success in college.

Two-thirds of students served by TS must qualify as first-generation college-bound and meet income guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Education. To learn more about income guidelines, visit the U.S. Department of Education website.

TRIO Talent Search serves 1,000 students in grades 6 through 12 across 5 central Iowa school districts. Schools served include Fort Dodge, Hampton-Dumont, Marshalltown, Perry and South Tama County.

  • 75.1% of Talent Search seniors

    enrolled in postsecondary education by the fall 2022.

  • 81.5% of Talent Search students in grades 7-11

    persisted to the next grade following the 2021-2022 academic year.

The TRIO Talent Search program identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. Talent Search provides academic, career, and financial counseling to participants and encourages students to graduate from high school and pursue post-secondary education. Talent Search also serves students who have dropped out of high school by encouraging them to reenter the educational system and complete their education.

Our goal... 

The goal of Talent Search is to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in a post-secondary education institution of their choice.

Services Provided by Talent Search
Services Provided by Talent Search
6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th
STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) summer field trip X
STEM Exploration X X X X X X
Information about a variety of careers X X X X X X
In- and out-of-state college visit X X X X
Virtual Tutoring Services X X X X X X
Information about study skills X X X X
Information about colleges and universities X X X X X X
Information about financial aid and scholarships X X
Catalogs, brochures, and viewbooks for colleges X X
Assistance with completing applications for admission X X
Study guides for ACT and SAT exams X X
Fee waivers for ACT and SAT exams X X
Assistance with completing applications for financial aid including the FAFSA X
Fee waivers for college application fees X
Assistance with scholarship searches X