The First Responder Mental Health Services Grant is a state-funded grant program that provides funding to first responders, first responder agency support staff, first responder volunteers, or retired first responders in Utah who are seeking a degree or certificate to become a mental health therapist.

• Eligible Students:        

• First responders, support staff at a first responder agency, first responder volunteers, and retired first responders in Utah as defined in Board Policy R627

• Eligibility Requirements:
  • Be a first responder, support staff at a first responder agency, first responder volunteer, or a retiree who worked as a first responder in Utah
  • Enroll in a degree or certificate program that will qualify the applicant upon completion to become a mental health therapist at an eligible institution
  • Prerequisite degrees do not qualify for funding.
• Eligible Uses:     
  • Tuition and fees
• Award:  
  • Up to $6,000 per academic year, after all other financial aid
• Award Duration:    
  • Up to four academic years
• Eligible Institutions:       
  • Public, degree-granting institutions:
    • Salt Lake Community College
    • Snow College
    • Southern Utah University
    • University of Utah
    • Utah State University
    • Utah Tech University
    • Utah Valley University
    • Weber State University
  • Private, non-profit institutions:
    • Brigham Young University
    • Ensign College
    • Westminster University
    • Western Governors University
• Application Period:     
  • First application period for 2025-26 academic year
  • Opens— May 5, 2025.
  • Deadline— June 13, 2025
• Additional Information:
  Contact scholarships@ushe.edu
• Resources
  • College Financial Aid Office Contact Information