The University of Utah is thrilled to announce the launch of its new ‘Utah Promise’ scholarship, set to begin in Fall 2026. This groundbreaking program will offer a full tuition and mandatory fees waiver for qualifying first-time, first-year undergraduate students. Eligibility is tied to federal student aid guidelines, specifically for students whose family income and assets are each below $100,000 annually. This commitment underscores the university’s dedication to making higher education attainable.
University of Utah to offer full tuition scholarship
Expanding Access to Higher Education
University President Taylor Randall emphasized in the official announcement that this initiative is designed to significantly boost college access for working and middle-income families throughout Utah. He stated the university’s firm resolve to ensure that financial limitations will not deter deserving students from achieving a college degree. Randall views the scholarship as a crucial step towards empowering more Utah residents to pursue higher education without the burden of overwhelming financial stress.
Eligibility and Application
To be considered for the Utah Promise scholarship, prospective students must achieve an unweighted high school GPA of at least 3.5. This scholarship will cover tuition and mandatory fees for up to four years of full-time study, utilizing a combination of various scholarships and grants.
The application process requires students to apply for admission to the University of Utah by the priority deadline of December 1st. Additionally, they must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1st. To maintain the scholarship, recipients are required to re-submit the FAFSA annually to verify continued eligibility, uphold full-time enrollment, and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 throughout their academic career.
An Administrative Perspective
Provost Mitzi Montoya emphasized that the Utah Promise program is instrumental in ensuring more students remain enrolled and graduate promptly by dismantling financial obstacles. She noted that this program allows students to dedicate their full attention to academic pursuits, research endeavors, and preparing for their careers, rather than being preoccupied with how to pay for tuition.
Building on Success
This new scholarship expands upon the university’s already robust financial aid framework, which includes the ‘For Utah Scholarship’—a program that covers tuition and fees for students eligible for federal Pell Grants. The Utah Promise is designed to offer comparable benefits to families who might not meet the criteria for federal need-based aid but still encounter significant challenges in funding a college education.
University Goals
University officials confirmed that the Utah Promise program will be sustained through a combination of public and private funding. It represents a key component of the institution’s ongoing commitment to streamlining financial aid processes and boosting graduation rates for Utah residents. The overarching goal, according to the university, is to enhance educational access, particularly for first-generation college students, and to fortify the state’s skilled workforce.