You toured the school. You liked what you saw. The class of ten. The teacher who greeted every student by name. Then you got home, sat at the kitchen table, and did the math.
For most Iowa families, that math has changed. Many don’t know it yet.
The quick answer
Iowa’s Education Savings Account (ESA) gives $8,148 a year toward tuition to every Iowa student in Kindergarten through Grade 12. You can use it at Maharishi School. That’s the 2026–27 amount.
There is no income limit. It doesn’t matter what you earn. It doesn’t matter where your child goes to school today. If your family lives in Iowa, your child qualifies.
Ready to use it here? Our Iowa ESA page walks you through each step.
What the ESA is, in plain words
The state calls it a savings account. It works like a voucher.
Each year, Iowa sets aside money for every student’s education. The ESA lets that money follow your child to the school you choose. You don’t deposit anything. You never pay it back. The state puts the funds in an account in your child’s name, and that account pays tuition.
The law behind it is the Students First Act, signed in 2023. Since the 2025–26 school year, it’s open to every Iowa family, at every income.
The word to remember is income-blind. Your income is never part of the decision. A family of three and a family of seven get the same amount per student.
Who qualifies
The rules are short.
- Your child lives in Iowa. The state confirms this through your Iowa tax return.
- Your child is in Kindergarten through Grade 12. A kindergartner must turn 5 by September 15.
- Your child attends an accredited school. Maharishi School is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). That’s the credential the ESA requires.
No test score. No essay. One application covers every child in your household.
Preschool is the one exception. The ESA starts at Kindergarten. If your child is 3 or 4, our admissions team can point you to other help.
What the money covers
Tuition and fees come first. That’s the state’s rule.
The money arrives in two parts. Half is ready on July 15 for the fall. The other half comes December 1 for the spring. You pay tuition through Odyssey, the company that runs the program for the state.
Money left after tuition stays in your child’s account. It carries into the next school year. Nothing is lost.
In Kindergarten, the ESA covers tuition in full. From Grade 1 up, it covers a large share. Our financial aid and payment plans can help close the gap. You’ll find current rates on our tuition page.
When to apply
This is the part families miss.
The ESA has one application window a year. For 2026–27, it opened at 8:00 a.m. on April 16. It closed at 11:59 p.m. on June 30. No early applications. No late exceptions. Miss it, and you wait a full year.
The state sets new dates each spring. The last two windows opened in mid-April. We’ll post the 2027–28 dates here as soon as Iowa announces them.
You apply for each school year. Current ESA families apply again every spring.
Here’s the order that works best:
- Visit this fall or winter. Meet the teachers. Sit in on a class. See if it’s the right place for your child.
- Apply to Maharishi School. Enrollment is separate from the ESA. We’ll help you with both.
- Apply for the ESA when the spring window opens. We’re glad to walk you through it.
What the money opens up
The ESA can make the school affordable. It can’t tell you if it’s right for your child. Only a visit can do that. Here’s what you’ll find.
A class of ten. That’s the average here. Your child won’t get lost in a room of thirty. A teacher will notice when something’s off, often before your child says a word.
Results that open doors. One in three of our graduates goes on to a top-50 college or university.* Recent graduates have enrolled at Princeton, Duke, Notre Dame, and UC Berkeley.
Less pressure, not more. Phones stay away during the school day. Attention stays on the work and on each other. Students work hard without the grind. They learn to stay steady when the stakes rise. That lasts longer than any test score.
Maharishi School has done this work for more than 50 years. The ESA just makes it easier to see if it fits your family.
Your next step
The next ESA window opens in the spring. That makes fall and winter the best time to visit. You’ll see a normal school day. You’ll meet the people who teach here. You can ask every question on your list.
If this sounds like what you want for your child, we’d love to show you around.
*Classes of 2020–2026. Of 63 graduates, 21 enrolled at a college or university ranked in the top 50 by U.S. News & World Report (National Universities and National Liberal Arts Colleges). International universities excluded.
ESA facts from the Iowa Department of Education, current as of September 2026.
Common questions
Does the Iowa ESA cover tuition at Maharishi School?
Yes. Maharishi School is accredited by ISACS, so ESA funds apply to tuition and fees for Kindergarten through Grade 12.
How much is the Iowa ESA?
$8,148 per student for 2026–27. The state sets the amount each year.
Is there an income limit?
No. Since 2025–26, every Iowa student in Kindergarten through Grade 12 qualifies, whatever the family earns.
When can I apply?
Once a year, in a spring window. For 2026–27, it ran April 16 to June 30. The 2027–28 dates come out next spring.
Does preschool qualify?
No. The ESA starts at Kindergarten. Our admissions team can share other options for ages 3 and 4.
What happens to unused funds?
They stay in your child's account and carry into future years.
Do I need to apply every year?
Yes. Every school year needs a new application, even for current ESA families.