Utah Scholarships in 2024

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List of Utah Scholarships in 2024

In addition to being one of the fastest growing states in terms of population, Utah is second to only Montana in the rate of growth in college students! There were 237,761 students enrolled in Utah’s 36 colleges and universities as of spring 2024. The majority of Utah’s college students are pursuing their educational journeys at The U, USU, Utah Valley, BYU, WGU, Salt Lake Community College, and Weber State University. Attending school in Utah can be expensive so start your search here with our list of Utah scholarships, and apply here online for one of the many scholarships at unigo.com that are available for Utah students!

Understanding Scholarships In Utah

Before we explore all the grants and scholarships available for going to school in Utah, it is important to understand what you can expect to pay to attend college in Utah. Compared to many other states, tuition and fees at Utah’s public colleges and universities are incredible values! If you are a Utah resident attending The U, Utah’s flagship, you can expect to pay tuition and fees of $12,424 for the 2024-25 school year. If you are attending the University of Utah and are not a Utah resident, tuition and fees will run you $34,900. Utah’s other public universities are somewhat more affordable. You’ll pay $9,228 in in-state tuition and fees at USU, $6,962 at Southern Utah University, $6,557 at Weber State, and $6,507 at UVU. Many students from Utah and around the world also consider pursuing their education at one of Utah’s private colleges and universities. Surprisingly, you may pay less in tuition and fees at certain popular private schools in Utah! If you are attending BYU, you’ll pay $13,376 in tuition and fees. If you are an LDS member attending BYU, you will pay half that amount, $6,688. WGU’s tuition and fees are also comparable to attending a state school and in some cases lower. Undergraduate students at WGU can expect to pay $8,010 on average while graduate students will pay an average of $8,444. Federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships are available to many Utah students. Students that receive grants and scholarships from the government and schools often find that they will still incur out of pocket costs associated with pursuing their higher education. For this reason, private scholarships can play an important role for many students in keeping college affordable. This is why applying for private scholarships like the ones on unigo.com can play a critical part in keeping college costs low.

Utah Scholarships for College

There are many opportunities for scholarships if you are or plan to attend college in Utah! Here are some to consider.

Opportunity Scholarship

Utah’s Opportunity Scholarship provides eligible Utah residents with awards of up to $ 1,000 per semester, up to four semesters. This is a merit-based scholarship. You will need to have earned a 3.3 minimum GPA in high school and taken certain AP or advanced courses to be eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship. The Scholarship may be used at many of Utah’s public colleges and universities (except for Utah’s technical colleges)  as well as several private schools including BYU (Provo), WGU, Ensign College, and Westminster University.

Utah Promise Grant

The Utah Promise Grant is available to Utah residents and is a need-based grant. Utah Promise Grant will provide awards up to your cost of attendance but actual awards vary based on funding. You can use the Utah Promise Grant at any of Utah’s public colleges and universities, including Utah’s public community and technical colleges. The Utah Promise Grant can also be used at several of the state’s private schools including BYU (Provo), WGU, Ensign College, and Westminster University. The Promise Grant can provide funding up to completion of your bachelor’s degree!

Prime Scholarship

If you earned a TRANSFORM certificate and are a Utah resident, you could be eligible for a one-time award, up to the cost of attendance to attend any of Utah’s public universities or colleges as well as certain private schools in the state. Actual awards vary and are based on funding. You must apply for the Prime Scholarship in your senior year of high school.

T.H. Bell Education Scholarship

If you are interested in becoming a public school educator and are a Utah resident, you may be eligible for the T.H. Bell Education Scholarship, which can be used for tuition, fees, and books at eligible Utah public universities and community colleges as well as BYU (Provo), WGU, Ensign College, and Westminster University. Award amounts do vary and are based on available funding..

Veterans Tuition Gap Program

If you are a Utah resident and a veteran of the Armed Forces looking to complete your first bachelor’s degree, the Veterans Tuition Gap Program will fund any gap between your federal veteran education benefits and the cost of attendance including tuition and fees, books, housing, and other qualified educational-related expenses. The Veterans Tuition Gap Program can be utilized at one of Utah’s public universities or BYU (Provo), WGU, Park University, Roseman University, or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Grant (PSOCAG) Program

If you are a certified peace officer working for a Utah law enforcement agency and want to go back to school to earn a degree in a field related to criminal justice, the Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Grant (PSOCAG) Program can provide you with a grant of up to $5,000 per year, for up to four years based on available funding. Funds from the PSOCAG Program can only be used at eligible public colleges and universities in Utah except for public technical colleges.

NASA Space Grant Scholarship Program

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the exciting field of aerospace and plan to attend an eligible public Utah technical college, the NASA Space Grant Scholarship can fund up to your entire cost of attendance, based on available funding!

Institutional Grants and Scholarships for Utah’s Colleges and Universities

Many schools in Utah provide students with scholarships and institutional grants to supplement federal and state financial aid programs. Awards from these scholarships and grants can be need-based, merit-based, or a combination thereof. These types of grants and scholarships are designed to attract students by making the complete cost of education including tuition and fees, books, room and board, and other educational-related expenses more affordable for students.

Federal Grants

Utah students from lower income may qualify for federal grants. The most popular federal grant is  the Pell Grant, with a maximum award for 2024-25 of $ 7,395. Pell and other federal grants are need-based and do not require repayment so they can make a big difference in keeping education costs low!

Private Scholarships in Utah

Utah is considered one of the most affordable places to earn a college degree. It also has a great number of grant and scholarship opportunities that help delay the cost of a college education for Utah students. Eligibility for federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships is not guaranteed. Many students who are eligible for these types of programs also find there is still a significant gap between the awards they receive and the cost of attendance. This is where private scholarships can be a big source of support and why all students should consider applying for private scholarships. Here are some of the most popular Utah private scholarship programs to consider: Utah Diesel Tech Pathways (UDTP) Scholarship BPW/Utah Foundation Scholarship Native American Scholarships Hispanic Scholarship Fund Daniels Fund Scholarships University of Utah Gail Miller Scholarship Craig Whittemore Honorary Scholarship Utah Energy Workforce Scholarship Utah Jazz Scholarship South High Alumni Association Scholarship Private scholarships vary in criteria and eligibility, offering opportunities for students pursuing a college education at colleges and universities in Utah and across the United States. You should plan to apply broadly for as many private scholarships as you may qualify. Websites like unigo.com provide comprehensive listings and application details for many private scholarships.

Scholarships for Adult and Graduate Students

Many of Utah’s state financial aid programs including the Utah Promise Grant, T.H. Bell Education Scholarship and the Veterans Tuition Gap Program are designed to support adult learners. This is also true for many scholarships and grants offered by colleges and universities as well as private scholarship programs. If you are a graduate student in Utah, both private and public colleges and universities may offer institutional grants and scholarships, fellowships, and other funding opportunities that can make earning a graduate degree possible.

Tips for Utah Students for Applying for Scholarships and Grants

There is not an infinite amount of funding for scholarships and grants. Many Utah students also rely heavily on grants and scholarships to attend school. For these reasons, scholarships and grants are often competitive. By strategically applying for as many scholarships and grants as possible, you will increase your chances of being awarded scholarships and grants that can make your college dreams within reach! The right strategy also makes all the difference. Here are some tips to live by!  

1. Start Now: It’s never too soon to begin your search and apply for scholarships. Many scholarships have deadlines well before the academic year starts. Some scholarships can be applied for even before your senior year in high school!

 

2. Get Organized: Keep track of deadlines, required documents, and application requirements. Using a spreadsheet or calendar can help you manage your scholarship and grant applications like a pro!

 

3. Personalize Applications: Make sure and personalize your essays and applications  to align with the specific criteria and mission of each scholarship or grant you are applying for.

 

4. Ask for Recommendations: Ask for letters of recommendation from your teachers, counselors, church leaders, or community leaders. Letters of recommendation can really help your scholarship application standout! It is important to ask for these letters as early as possible as other students may also be asking for letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, etc.

 

5. Showcase Your Achievements: Make sure to highlight your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, missions, community service, and future plans.

 

6. Complete the FAFSA: The majority of scholarship and grant programs including Utah’s state financial aid programs as well as grants awarded by schools will require you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to be considered for funding. Since you will also need to complete the FAFSA in order to be considered for any federal student aid programs including Pell Grants, you should plan to submit your FAFSA as soon as you can. We strongly recommend you complete and submit your FAFSA as soon as possible.

Should I take out student loans?

Whether to borrow or not to cover your educational expenses is a decision that requires careful thought and consideration. Unlike grants and most scholarships, loans must be repaid and accrue interest until they are repaid. Student loans are available through the federal government as well as private student loan providers. Loans you receive from the federal government will typically have more favorable terms as it relates to repayment and the amount of interest you will pay to borrow. While they require repayment, student loans when used responsibly can provide an important lifeline for covering the cost of college for Utah’s students. Even if you receive scholarships and grants, you may find you still have out of pocket costs associated with your education. Student loans are one way to address these costs. Pursuing higher education in Utah can be possible for all, regardless of a student’s ability to pay. Applying for all available scholarships and grants can make a big difference in you being able to achieve your educational goals without breaking the bank!