Graduating high school students can apply to receive up to $8,000 from the Idaho LAUNCH grant program.
Applications opened Oct. 1. The “priority deadline” is Nov. 30, but applications deadline is April 15, 2027.
LAUNCH is a $75 million state-funded grant intended to help Idaho high schoolers go on to colleges, universities and career-technical education programs. Students can receive up to $8,000 to cover up to 80% of their tuition and fees for a two- or four-year degree or specialized job training, as long as they attend an in-state institution.
How to apply
Students can apply at the LAUNCH website: nextsteps.idaho.gov
To qualify, students must:
- Graduate from the current school year at an Idaho public school, charter school, private school, home school or GED program. They must also be under 21 by April 15 of the current year.
- Be an Idaho resident.
- Be enrolled in or have applied to an eligible Idaho college or university.
- Begin enrollment by fall semester after graduation.
- Complete a career pathway plan.
To complete a career pathway plan, students complete a series of activities online to help find an in-demand career in Idaho.
Not all careers qualify for the grant: A list of around 155 jobs on the Next Steps Idaho website shows eligible career paths.
Some of the highest-paid options on the list include chief executives, database architects and data scientists.
If applications exceed the amount of available funds, applications will be given priority based on their financial need and their chosen career path.
Students do not need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for the grant.
The program’s effectiveness
A January 2026 report shows that LAUNCH fueled a 5% increase in Idaho’s college go-on rate in 2024. The program also drove an 11% increase in the share of Idaho students who remained in-state for college.
Adults seeking job training can qualify for Idaho LAUNCH courses to learn things like welding, a commercial driver’s license, and more.
