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Scholarship Requirements
Yes, you must meet all the academic and general requirements in order to earn the scholarship.
To earn the Regents’ Scholarship, you must:
The required courses must be completed during grades 9-12 and are as follows:
To learn which courses are acceptable read the Regents’ Scholarship Rules and Requirements or use the Regents’ Scholarship Course Warehouse. Keep in mind, not all courses that count toward graduation requirements satisfy the Regents’ Scholarship requirements.
More information regarding the course and credits can be found below in the subsection titled “Courses, Credits and Grades”.
The Regents’ Scholarship was created through Utah legislation, and is subject to change on an annual basis.
In addition, the program materials may be updated to better communicate the rules of the scholarship.
In some cases, the list of courses that satisfy the scholarship will change as courses evolve or new classes are created by the Utah State Board of Education.
Updates will be posted each spring (typically in April) on our website with information for the upcoming high school academic year.
Legislation was passed in 2019 requiring changes to the scholarship starting with the class of 2020. Additional adjustments to the program were passed through legislation in 2020 effecting 2020 graduates and beyond.
Read more about the changes here.
Award Information
The Regents’ Scholarship award amount varies based on individual student circumstances and can be used for up to four semesters. Scholarship funds are awarded to cover tuition and fees after other state aid is awarded to the student. The award is subject to legislative funding, the number of qualified participants, can vary from year to year, and can be reduced based on other state aid the student receives.
No, the Regents’ Scholarship is a merit scholarship but does require students to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as part of the application per state statute.
The scholarship award is sent directly to the college or university where you are enrolled, and is deposited into your student account.
Yes, however the Regents’ Scholarship is considered to be a “last dollar” scholarship after other state aid has been applied to your financial aid package. The Regents’ Scholarship may be used for tuition and fees after other state aid is applied.
In addition you cannot receive both the Regents’ Scholarship and the New Century Scholarship.
Courses, Credits, & Grades
Taking challenging courses in high school is one of the best ways to make sure you are ready for college courses. Research shows that students who complete this coursework in high school do better on the ACT and in their college courses. For more details you can read The Utah State Board of Regents’ Recommended High School Curriculum.
The Regents’ Scholarship requires completion of specific courses. These courses may be different from those that are accepted for high school graduation. To find out more, read the Regents’ Scholarship Rules and Requirements or use the Regents’ Scholarship Course Warehouse.
A list of courses that will satisfy the scholarship is provided in the Regents’ Scholarship Rules and Requirements or you can view Commonly Accepted Courses on the Regents’ Scholarship Course Warehouse.
Yes. If your school does not offer the courses required for the Regents’ Scholarship, you can complete these courses through other means.
Options include:
Yes. Students can complete courses through online sources that are accredited by Cognia. Use the Regents’ Scholarship Course Warehouse to learn which online courses are acceptable or contact the Regents’ Scholarship office for information.
No. There is no minimum grade requirement in the required courses. Students will qualify based on taking the correct courses, their cumulative GPA, and successfully applying by set deadlines. Students may earn a “P” grade and still be considered for the scholarship. However, if you earn an “F” in a course, you will not earn full credit for the course which may impact your ability to meet the course requirements. Courses must be included on your official transcripts.
Approved college coursework worth three or more college credits will be counted as one credit towards the fulfillment of the scholarship’s credit requirements. The college credit must be shown on your official college transcript. A high school transcript, even if it shows you took concurrent enrollment, will not count for the concurrent enrollment course evaluations. See the Rules and Requirements for more information.
Yes. If any of the courses you need counted toward the scholarship requirements were taken through concurrent enrollment, you must submit an official college transcript as part of your application materials. A high school transcript will not be sufficient.
Application Process
You will apply during your senior year. The application opens mid-November and closes February 1. Each year a priority deadline is established (typically the first part of December). Information regarding the deadlines will be posted on RegentsScholarship.org.
When students apply they must provide documentation demonstrating that they have earned a 3.3 cumulative GPA. This documentation is due no later than February 1. Final documentation with a final cumulative GPA of at least a 3.3 will be required by July 1st.
All course requirements must be taken during grades 9 through 12 and completed by the date of high school graduation.
You will create an online Regents’ Scholarship account and apply through that account. As part of the application, you will be required to submit supporting documents such as transcript(s) and complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
More specific instructions on how to apply for the scholarship will be on RegentsScholarship.org when the application becomes available in mid-November.
The online application, as well as supporting documents and FAFSA submission, are due (postmarked) by February 1 of each year or by the priority deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Those that apply by the priority deadline may be given priority consideration for the scholarship. The priority deadline also provides students the opportunity to turn in documents early and confirm that everything has been received prior to the final deadline.
Yes. All students must complete the FAFSA by the established Regents’ Scholarship application deadline per state statute. If the FAFSA is not completed, the application for the Regents’ Scholarship will be considered incomplete and the student will not be considered for the scholarship. Be sure to fill out the FAFSA for the college academic year that begins the fall semester after your high school senior year.
Late application materials are not accepted. Students who miss the application deadlines will not be considered for scholarship awards unless there were unusual extenuating circumstances. In such cases an appeal must be submitted demonstrating excusable neglect as defined in Utah Board of Higher Education Policy. Appeals to submit an online application late will not be considered.
Yes. Though not required, it is strongly recommended that you keep a copy of all submitted documents for your own records. In addition, we recommend sending the required supporting documents by certified mail, as this provides a way to track the documents and make sure the Regents’ Scholarship Office receives them.
First:
You will submit your online application and materials by the February 1 deadline. Check your account regularly to ensure your materials have arrived by logging in and clicking on the Document Checklist. If they seem to be missing, contact the scholarship office as soon as possible.
Second:
Once all of your application materials have been received, the Regents’ Scholarship staff conducts an initial review of your application file. You will be notified via your online Regents’ Scholarship student account of the status of your application. This notification is sent no later than May 1. If you have not received notification by May 1, please contact the scholarship office immediately.
There are two outcomes to the initial review: either you are “ineligible” or you are “on-track” to receive an award (note that “on track” does not mean you have been awarded a scholarship yet).
Third:
If you are “on-track” for the scholarship, you will receive additional instructions on how to submit documentation to verify that all requirements were completed during 12th grade. Those final documents are due July 1.
Even if you were “on track” to receive a scholarship after the February 1 deadline, if the scholarship office does not receive your final documents, you will not be eligible to receive a scholarship award.
Fourth:
After receipt of the final documents, the Regents’ Scholarship staff conducts a final review of your application file. The results of the final review are typically sent 8-10 weeks after the receipt of the final documents.
Additional details regarding the application process are available under the “Current Applicants” section.
Students are notified via the Message Center in their Regents’ Scholarship account. When a message is sent to the Message Center you will get an email instructing you to log in to read your message. You can opt to also receive a text message that will instruct you to login to read your message. It is very important that when you get a notice to log in you do so quickly and read the message thoroughly. Often messages are time sensitive and require you to take action within a set period of time. Do not assume the message is not important or does not pertain to you.
Under Utah Board of Higher Education Policy (R609), all Regents’ Scholarship applicants have the right to appeal an adverse decision. Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the date of notification of the adverse decision by submitting the Appeal form. A submission of an appeal does not guarantee a reversal of the original decision.
Payment of Award
You will work with the Financial Aid office of the college you are attending to receive your scholarship funds. The Financial Aid office will need to verify that you have met the requirements to renew your scholarship prior to applying the funds to your tuition and fees. For more information regarding the renewal requirements see below.
In some cases, you may not receive the award payment until after the college semester has started and tuition deadlines have passed. It is your responsibility to comply with and meet any tuition payment deadlines. The Regents’ Scholarship then acts as a reimbursement.
The Regents’ Scholarship can be used at the following public Utah colleges and universities:
Utah System of Higher Education:
Technical Colleges:
Private Non-Profit Colleges:
Please note that the private, non-profit schools listed must agree to participate in this program, thus the ability to use the scholarship at those colleges is subject to change.
All students must enroll in and complete a minimum of 12 credits, earning a 3.0 GPA each semester in order to remain in good standing.
If you plan to delay your college enrollment for medical, military, or humanitarian/religious service reasons, you must receive an approved deferment or leave of absence from the college you plan to attend.
If you earn less than a 3.0 semester GPA while attending college you will be placed on probation. While on probation you can still receive funds, however, if you earn less than a 3.0 semester GPA for a second time, you are no longer eligible for the scholarship.
Yes. If you will not be enrolling in the fall semester immediately following high school graduation, you must apply for a deferral with the Regents’ Scholarship office. In general, acceptable reasons to request a deferment include: medical conditions, military service or humanitarian/religious service. More detailed instructions related to the deferment process can be reviewed in the Deferment Information.
If you do not maintain continuous enrollment in fall and spring semesters, you must apply for a leave of absence with the college that you are attending. Failure to do so will result in the loss of your scholarship.
Other Questions
The scholarship is funded through a state appropriation determined by the Utah State Legislature. This is why award amounts are determined on an annual basis—they are subject to legislative funding, the number of qualified participants each year, and individual student circumstances. Therefore, award amounts may vary from year to year, and are dependent on when the recipient is enrolled in college. If you defer your scholarship, your award amount may be different when you return and enroll in college.
FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. In short, the law prohibits the sharing of your educational records with anyone—including your parents—once you turn 18. If you want to allow your educational records to be disclosed to someone other than yourself, you must complete a Student Information Release Form. It is very important for you to complete a Student Information Release Form prior to military or religious service if you need someone to access information regarding the scholarship.
If you need someone to act on your behalf in regards to the scholarship, you will need to submit a notarized copy of power of attorney.
Contact Regents’ Scholarship
801-646-4812
Regents’ Scholarship Program
P.O. Box 145114
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-5114
Utah System of Higher Education
The Gateway
60 South 400 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
General: 1-801-646-4784
Scholarships: 1-801-646-4812
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