Utah benefits for college students

Food assistance: SNAP (Food Stamps)

Utah's name for SNAP, run by Utah Department of Workforce Services. If you are enrolled at least half-time, you need a student exemption to qualify, such as working 20 hours a week, work-study or caring for a young child. If you are enrolled less than half-time, the student rule does not apply and only the regular SNAP rules do. See every exemption →

The state's SNAP requirements page says only: "Students between the ages of 18 and 49 may be able to receive SNAP if they meet certain requirements." It gives no Utah-specific list of exempt programs.

Apply for SNAP (Food Stamps)

Health coverage: Utah Medicaid

Utah has expanded Medicaid, so adults with low incomes, students included, can qualify based on income. All your health coverage options →

Adult Expansion Medicaid covers adults 19-64 under the income limit. From Jan. 1, 2027 (new applicants) and renewals due March 2027 or later, most expansion adults must do 80 hours a month of community engagement; going to school at least half-time counts as a qualifying activity.

Apply for Utah Medicaid

Child care help: Employment Support Child Care

Going to college or training can count, with limits. School alone does not qualify: you must work an average of 15+ hours a week at minimum wage or more (two-parent homes: one parent 15 hours, the other 30). With that work, care can also cover training, but the course of study must be completable within 24 months, must be in person or on a set class schedule if online, associate degrees that are part of a four-year degree are not supported, and post-graduate work or a second degree is not supported. Exception: the work minimum can be waived for parents finishing a high school diploma or GED.

Apply for Employment Support Child Care · Help on campus (CCAMPIS) →

Phone and internet: Lifeline

We found no extra state Lifeline discount on Utah's official pages, so the federal discount applies. Who qualifies →

Apply for Lifeline

Taxes

Utah residents who qualify for and claim the federal EITC and have Utah W-2 wages can claim a state credit equal to 20 percent of their federal EITC (capped at their Utah W-2 wages); it is nonrefundable, so it can only reduce Utah tax owed. The Utah State Tax Commission's own Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) lets you file your current-year Utah individual income tax return online, even without creating a TAP profile. Free tax preparation is also available through VITA (call 2-1-1) and the state coalition at UtahTaxHelp.org.

Utah Earned Income Tax Credit (code AM) · Free state filing · Federal education tax credits → · Free federal filing →

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