Utah scholarships and grants

Open to most students

• WICHE Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) - Utah support

  Based on available Utah funding; WICHE PSEP support fee schedule for 2027-28: optometry $23,408/yr, podiatry $20,195/yr (paid to the school, reducing tuition)

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)

  Open now · due October 15, 2026Service scholarship

  The catch: Return to Utah to practice optometry or podiatry after the program; the length and repayment terms aren't stated, so ask USHE.

  Utah pays a support fee so Utah residents can attend cooperating out-of-state optometry and podiatry programs at reduced tuition, in exchange for returning to practice in Utah.

  • What it takes: state application
  • For grad students
  • For optometry, podiatry students
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  Checked against the official page October 5, 2026

• Student Teacher Stipends (Stipends for Future Educators)

  Up to $6,000 per student teacher (prorated by length and funding; taxable)

  Utah State Board of Education (USBE)

  Apply any timeService scholarship

  The catch: Sign an affidavit that you intend to work as a licensed Utah teacher; no length or repayment terms are stated.

  Utah pays student teachers up to $6,000 for completing student teaching in a Utah public school, with an affidavit committing to seek work as a licensed Utah teacher.

  • What it takes: state application
  • For undergrads, grad students
  • For education (student teaching) students
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• Utah Promise Grant

  Varies based on available funding; up to cost of attendance

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Apply any time

  Need-based Utah grant that can cover up to the full cost of attendance for Utah residents (recent graduates and adults) at Utah public and participating private nonprofit colleges.

  • What it takes: FAFSA only
  • For students starting college, undergrads, adults going back to school, transfer students, trade school students
  • Need-based: the FAFSA decides how much you get.
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  Checked against the official page October 5, 2026

• First Credential Scholarship (formerly PRIME)

  $625 one-time (class of 2026; subject to available funding and number of qualified applicants)

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Check dates

  One-time Utah scholarship ($625 for the class of 2026) for high school seniors who finish five concurrent-enrollment GE courses, a technical-college CTE program, or a youth apprenticeship.

  • What it takes: state application + FAFSA
  • For high school seniors, students starting college
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  Checked against the official page October 5, 2026

• Adult Learner Grant Program

  Up to the cost of attendance

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Check dates

  Need-based Utah grant, up to cost of attendance, for independent adult students enrolled in eligible online programs in high-need fields.

  • What it takes: FAFSA only
  • For adults going back to school, undergrads
  • For eligible online programs in designated fields of industry need students
  • Need-based: the FAFSA decides how much you get.
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• NASA Space Grant Scholarship (Utah technical colleges)

  Varies based on available funding; up to cost of attendance

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Check dates

  Scholarship toward cost of attendance for U.S. citizens in aerospace-supporting programs at four Utah technical colleges.

  • What it takes: See how to apply
  • For trade school students, students starting college, adults going back to school
  • For aerospace-supporting technical programs students
  • Who can get it: US citizen
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  Checked against the official page October 5, 2026

• Talent Development Award Program

  Varies based on available funding; resident tuition, fees and books

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Check dates

  Utah award covering resident tuition, fees and books (based on funding) through degree completion for students pursuing qualifying high-demand, high-wage degrees at Utah public colleges who intend to work in Utah.

  • What it takes: FAFSA only
  • For students starting college, undergrads, adults going back to school, transfer students
  • For qualifying high-demand, high-wage degree programs (designated by USHE) students
  • Partly need-based: your FAFSA can affect whether you get it or how much.
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• Technical Education Scholarship

  Based on available funding; tuition, fees and books

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Check dates

  Utah scholarship covering tuition, fees and books (based on funding) for up to three years for students in designated high-demand technical education certificate programs.

  • What it takes: FAFSA only
  • For trade school students, students starting college, adults going back to school
  • For designated high-demand technical education programs students
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• Opportunity Scholarship

  Class of 2026: up to $800 per semester for up to four semesters ($3,200 total); tuition and general fees only, after other state aid. Class of 2027 amount not yet announced.

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Opens later

  Utah's statewide merit scholarship for Utah high school graduates who complete advanced (AP/IB/concurrent) courses and earn a 3.3 GPA; the class of 2026 gets up to $800 per semester for four semesters.

  • What it takes: state application + FAFSA + transcript
  • For high school seniors, students starting college
  • Needs a 3.3+ GPA
  • Usual timing: Annual, senior year of high school: application opens early January, priority deadline late January, final deadline mid/late March (class of 2027: opens Jan 4, priority Jan 29, final Mar 18, 2027); decision emails by early May.
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• CTE Scholarships and Tuition Awards

  $1,000 to full tuition for up to one year, depending on the institution

  Utah State Board of Education (USBE), with participating Utah public colleges

  Opens later

  Competitive scholarships of $1,000 up to full tuition for one year at participating Utah public colleges for outstanding high school seniors in career and technical education (CTE).

  • What it takes: state application + essay + recommendation + transcript
  • For high school seniors, students starting college, trade school students
  • For career and technical education programs students
  • Who can get it: lawfully present in the United States
  • Usual timing: Annual: application opens early November, due late January; recipients notified February-March (2027: Nov 2, 2026 - Jan 29, 2027).
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For specific students

Military families, foster youth, certain careers and more. Each card says who qualifies.

• Utah National Guard State Tuition Assistance (STA)

  Up to $7,000 per state fiscal year (tuition and fees, paid to the school)

  Utah National Guard (Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs / adjutant general)

  Apply any timeService scholarship

  The catch: Serve 2 years in the Utah National Guard from each course's end date; earn a C or better and report grades, or it's recouped.

  Up to $7,000 per state fiscal year in tuition assistance for drilling Utah Army and Air National Guard members, usable at any accredited school, with a two-year service obligation.

  • Who it's for: active drilling member of the Utah Army or Air National Guard
  • What it takes: state application + membership
  • For undergrads, grad students, trade school students, adults going back to school
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• Higher Education for Senior Citizens and Veterans (space-available tuition exemption)

  Tuition and other charges waived except a registration fee (space-available classes)

  Utah public colleges and universities (Utah Code 53H-11-304)

  Apply any time

  Utah residents 62 or older and veterans can take classes at Utah public colleges on a space-available basis exempt from tuition and other charges, paying only a registration fee.

  • Who it's for: Utah resident aged 62+ or veteran
  • What it takes: See how to apply
  • For adults going back to school
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• Police Officer's and Firefighter's Survivor Tuition Waiver

  Resident tuition and general fees for up to nine semesters (after other scholarships/benefits)

  Utah public colleges and universities (Utah Code 53H-11-306); administered by the Utah Department of Public Safety

  Apply any time

  Utah public colleges waive resident tuition and general fees for up to nine semesters for the children and surviving spouses of Utah peace officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.

  • Who it's for: child or surviving spouse of a Utah peace officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty
  • What it takes: state application
  • For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students, adults going back to school
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• Purple Heart Tuition Waiver

  Full undergraduate resident tuition; graduate tuition up to $15,000 total (fees not covered)

  Utah public colleges and universities (Utah Code 53H-11-303); verification by the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs

  Apply any time

  Utah public colleges waive full undergraduate tuition, and up to $15,000 of graduate tuition, for Utah-resident veterans who earned the Purple Heart.

  • Who it's for: Purple Heart recipient (military veteran)
  • What it takes: See how to apply
  • For students starting college, undergrads, grad students, adults going back to school, trade school students
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• Scott B. Lundell Military Survivors' Tuition Waiver

  Full undergraduate tuition (fees, books and housing not covered)

  Utah public colleges and universities (Utah Code 53H-11-308); certification by the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs

  Apply any time

  Utah public colleges waive undergraduate tuition for dependents of Utah service members killed or who died of wounds on active duty (post-9/11 for Guard/Reserve).

  • Who it's for: surviving dependent of a Utah service member killed on active duty (military family)
  • What it takes: See how to apply
  • For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students
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• Tuition Waiver for Wards of the State (Foster Youth)

  Resident tuition, up to nine semesters (last-dollar after Pell and scholarships)

  Utah public colleges and universities (Utah Code 53H-11-302); administered and reimbursed by the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS)

  Apply any time

  Utah public colleges waive resident tuition for up to nine semesters for young adults (17-26) who spent at least 24 months in DCFS custody with a long-term foster care goal and were not adopted.

  • Who it's for: former foster youth (Utah DCFS custody, long-term foster care goal, not adopted)
  • What it takes: state application + FAFSA
  • For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students
  • Partly need-based: your FAFSA can affect whether you get it or how much.
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• Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Grant (PSOCAG)

  Up to tuition and fees, maximum $5,000 per year (based on available funding)

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Check dates

  Utah grant of up to $5,000 per year (up to tuition and fees) for certified peace officers employed by a Utah law enforcement agency who are pursuing a criminal-justice-related degree at a USHE institution.

  • Who it's for: certified peace officer employed by a Utah law enforcement agency
  • What it takes: FAFSA only
  • For undergrads, adults going back to school, grad students
  • For criminal justice-related programs students
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• T.H. Bell Education Scholarship

  Based on available funding; may cover up to resident tuition, fees and books

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Check datesService scholarship

  The catch: Teach or work as a speech-language pathologist in a Utah public school; the length and repayment terms are set by the state and school.

  Utah scholarship covering up to resident tuition, fees and books for up to four years for students in approved teacher-education or speech-language pathology programs who commit to work in Utah public schools.

  • Who it's for: Only some students qualify. The official page explains who.
  • What it takes: FAFSA only
  • For students starting college, undergrads, adults going back to school, transfer students
  • For education, teacher education, speech-language pathology students
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  Checked against the official page October 5, 2026

• Veterans Tuition Gap Program

  Based on available funding; may cover tuition, fees, books, supplies and housing allowance

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Check dates

  Utah grant for veterans in the final year of a first bachelor's degree who have used up their federal veteran education benefits; covers tuition, fees, books, supplies and a housing allowance (funding-based).

  • Who it's for: military veteran
  • What it takes: FAFSA only
  • For undergrads, adults going back to school
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  Checked against the official page October 5, 2026

• First Responder Mental Health Services Grant

  Up to $6,000 per academic year, after all other financial aid

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Opens later

  Utah grant of up to $6,000 per year (after other aid) for current, volunteer, support-staff or retired Utah first responders studying to become mental health therapists.

  • Who it's for: Utah first responder, first responder agency support staff, volunteer, or retired first responder
  • What it takes: state application
  • For undergrads, grad students, adults going back to school
  • For mental health therapy (counseling, social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, etc.) students
  • Usual timing: Two USHE application periods per academic year; 2026-27 second window Oct 15 - Nov 16, 2026 (spring/summer 2027 awards); 2027-28 first window to be announced in spring 2027.
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• Karen Mayne Public Safety Officer Scholarship Program

  Varies based on available funding; tuition, fees, required textbooks, and POST training/certification

  Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education

  Opens laterService scholarship

  The catch: Work as a certified peace officer in Utah for at least 5 years after POST certification; repayment terms are on the official page.

  Utah scholarship covering tuition, fees, textbooks and POST academy training for high school graduates who will train and work as certified peace officers in Utah for at least five years.

  • Who it's for: aspiring Utah public safety officer (commitment to serve 5 years as a certified peace officer)
  • What it takes: state application + FAFSA
  • For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students, adults going back to school
  • For criminal justice-related programs students
  • Usual timing: Annual USHE application, about early January to ~March 20 (2026-27: Jan 5 - Mar 20, 2026); 2027-28 dates not yet posted.
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• Utah National Guard State Tuition Waiver (STW)

  Base tuition waived for one or two semesters (fall and/or spring); fees not covered

  Utah National Guard with Utah public colleges and universities (presidential waivers set aside for Guard members, Utah Code 53H-11-305)

  Opens later

  Base-tuition waiver for one or two semesters for Utah National Guard members studying full-time toward a first associate or bachelor's degree at a Utah public college or university.

  • Who it's for: Utah National Guard member
  • What it takes: state application + transcript + essay + membership
  • For students starting college, undergrads
  • Needs a 2+ GPA
  • Usual timing: Annual: applications January 1 - April 30 for the following school year. 2026-27 applications are closed (waitlist applications accepted).
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