Purple Heart Tuition Waiver
Utah public colleges and universities (Utah Code 53H-11-303); verification by the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs
Utah public colleges waive full undergraduate tuition, and up to $15,000 of graduate tuition, for Utah-resident veterans who earned the Purple Heart.
- How much
- Full undergraduate resident tuition; graduate tuition up to $15,000 total (fees not covered)
- Who qualifies
- Purple Heart recipient (military veteran)
- Utah resident student. Undergraduate waiver unlimited by amount; graduate waiver capped at $15,000 total and five years from acceptance.
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students, adults going back to school, trade school students
- When to apply
- Apply any time No fixed deadline; submit verification before the term you want the waiver applied.
- How to apply
- Ask the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs to verify your Purple Heart, then submit the verification to the admissions/financial aid or veterans office at your Utah public college
- What you'll need
- See how to apply
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (le.utah.gov) and page 2
The details
Utah Code 53H-11-303: every Utah public institution of higher education must waive undergraduate resident tuition for a Purple Heart recipient (a Utah-resident military veteran awarded the Purple Heart) admitted to a degree or certificate program (full-time, part-time or summer). Graduate tuition is also waived, up to $15,000 total, for the shorter of the time to finish the graduate degree or five years after acceptance to the graduate program. Tuition only - fees are not covered. Verification of Purple Heart status comes through the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.
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
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.