Karen Mayne Public Safety Officer Scholarship Program
Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) - Utah Board of Higher Education
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.
- How much
- Varies based on available funding; tuition, fees, required textbooks, and POST training/certification
- Who qualifies
- aspiring Utah public safety officer (commitment to serve 5 years as a certified peace officer)
- Must enroll in POST basic training when eligible and commit to five years as a Utah certified peace officer. Cannot also hold PSOCAG for the same degree.
- For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students, adults going back to school
- For criminal justice-related programs students
- When to apply
- Opens later Annual USHE application, about early January to ~March 20 (2026-27: Jan 5 - Mar 20, 2026); 2027-28 dates not yet posted.
- How to apply
- Apply online through USHE during the annual window (new and renewing students) and complete the FAFSA
- The 2026-27 window ran January 5 - March 20, 2026
- What you'll need
- state application + FAFSA
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (ushe.edu) and page 2
The details
Karen Mayne Public Safety Officer Scholarship Program (Utah Code 53H-11-403). Eligibility: high school graduate; when eligible, enroll in a basic training course at a state-certified (POST) academy; enroll in a qualifying criminal-justice-related program at an eligible institution; commit to work as a certified peace officer in Utah for at least five years after POST certification; not a PSOCAG recipient for the same degree; FAFSA per Board policy R623. Covers tuition, fees, required textbooks, and POST training and certification; amount varies with funding; up to four academic years. Eligible: the 8 public degree-granting institutions, the 8 public technical colleges, BYU (Provo), Ensign College, WGU and Westminster University.
More money from Utah
- Opportunity ScholarshipClass 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.
- First Credential Scholarship (formerly PRIME)$625 one-time (class of 2026; subject to available funding and number of qualified applicants)
- Adult Learner Grant ProgramUp to the cost of attendance
- CTE Scholarships and Tuition Awards$1,000 to full tuition for up to one year, depending on the institution
- NASA Space Grant Scholarship (Utah technical colleges)Varies based on available funding; up to cost of attendance
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
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