State Aid Programs

Utah is experiencing a variety of dramatic changes including population growth, demographic shifts, and a growing need to increase degree attainment of first-generation, low-income, and adult students in order to meet Utah’s workforce needs.

The State of Utah offers several scholarships, grants, and financial aid programs to assist students in paying for college. To navigate, the programs below are listed in alphabetical order.

Utah Colleges / Universities

Public, Technical CollegesPublic, Degree Granting InstitutionsPrivate, non-profit Utah Institutions**
Bridgerland Technical CollegeSalt Lake Community College*Brigham Young University (Provo campus)
Davis Technical College Snow College*Ensign College
Dixie Technical CollegeSouthern Utah UniversityWestern Governors University
Mountainland Technical CollegeUniversity of UtahWestminster University
Ogden-Weber Technical CollegeUtah State University*
Southwest Technical CollegeUtah Tech University (formerly Dixie State University)
Tooele Technical CollegeUtah Valley University
Uintah Basin Technical CollegeWeber State University

*These degree-granting schools also offer technical education programs. The following Utah State regional campuses offer technical education programs: Utah State University – Eastern, Utah State University – Moab, and Utah State University – Blanding.

**This list is not exhaustive of all private colleges and universities in Utah but include those that participate in most state aid programs.

Higher Education Terms

Cost of attendance: scholarships that help cover “cost of attendance” can typically help students with tuition, fees, required books, room and board, and transportation. We strongly recommend checking with you college or university for more information about what costs each scholarship can help you with.

FAFSA: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free application students can complete to qualify for federal grants, work-study, and loans. The FAFSA is required for several state and institutional aid programs. Many Utah high schools host free FAFSA completion nights to help students complete the online form. You can also find more resources to help complete the FAFSA here. Students can also find helpful resources and complete the FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/

Types of Aid: visit this page to learn more about different types of aid. 

Adult Learner Grant Program

The Adult Learner Grant Program provides financial assistance to adult learners (26 years+) enrolled in an eligible online program in a field of industry need. The grant is available at public and private colleges and universities in Utah that offer eligible, online programs, which currently include – Salt Lake Community College, Southern Utah University, Utah State University, Utah Tech University, Weber State University, Western Governors University, and Westminster University. The grant can be awarded up to the cost of attendance after other aid is considered.

Recipients must be 26 years or older, be enrolled in an eligible online program at a participating institution, be a Utah resident, complete the FAFSA, and demonstrate financial need.  Students should contact the financial aid office at their institution for more information about eligible, online programs and the application process.

Opportunity Scholarship (academic)

The Opportunity Scholarship encourages students to complete advanced courses while in high school to prepare academically for college. Students must apply during their senior year of high school. The scholarship is available at Utah’s public colleges and universities as well as the following private, non-profit institutions in Utah – Brigham Young University (Provo), Ensign College, Western Governors University, and Westminster University. Students may defer use of their scholarship to attend a public, technical college in Utah, for a medical reason, or for a humanitarian, military, or religious service. This scholarship can help cover the cost of tuition and fees after other state aid is applied, with a maximum award amount set annually.

Recipients must graduate from a Utah high school, meet all academic requirements (see opportunityscholarship.org for details), complete a FAFSA, apply and meet all deadlines, and enroll or obtain an approved deferment at an eligible Utah school starting the fall semester immediately after high school graduation. Please visit the Opportunity Scholarship website for more information and to learn how to contact the state scholarship team if you have further questions.

Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Grant (PSOCAG) Program
This program was changed from a reimbursement program to a grant program in 2022. Students seeking reimbursement for 2020-21 or 2021-22 coursework should see the PSOCAR section of this page for more information.
The Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Grant (PSOCAG) Program is a state funded tuition grant program for certified peace officers who are enrolled in criminal justice-related programs at public, Utah degree-granting institutions. This grant can be used to cover up to the cost of tuition and fees (maximum $5,000/year) for up to four academic years.
Recipients must be a certified peace officer, currently employed by a Utah law enforcement agency, and seeking a degree in a criminal justice related program. Student should contact the financial aid office or the criminal justice department at their institution for more information about the eligibility criteria, eligible programs, and application process. Criminal justice department contact information can be found here.
Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Reimbursement (PSOCAR) Program

This reimbursement program was changed to a grant program in 2022 (now called the Public Safety Officer Career Advanced Grant or PSOCAG). Reimbursements will continue to be awarded for 2020-21 and 2021-22 coursework, through 2023. Students enrolled in the 2022-23 academic year may contact their financial aid office to apply for grant funding. See more information about the grant program above.

The PSOCAR Program reimburses up to half of tuition and fees (maximum of $5,000 per year, subject to funding) for students enrolled in criminal justice-related programs at a public, degree-granting institution and is available for up to eight academic years. Recipients must be a certified peace officer employed by a Utah law enforcement agency and have four years of work history as a certified peace officer. Additional eligibility criteria, the application, and program contact information can be found at ushe.edu/PSOCAR. Applications must be submitted between July 1 and September 1 each year.

Talent Development Grant Program

This program was formerly an incentive loan program. It changed to a grant program in 2022.

The Talent Development Grant program is intended to recruit and train individuals to work jobs that have a high demand for new employees and offer high wages in Utah, ensuring students with the highest financial need are supported.

This program is available to recent high school graduates and adults who are enrolled in an eligible program at participating Utah public colleges and universities. Currently, these include Salt Lake Community College, Southern Utah University, the University of Utah, Utah State University, Utah Tech University, Utah Valley University, and Weber State University.

Awards may be help cover up to the cost of resident tuition, fees, and books for the number of credit hours that student is enrolled in each semester. Recipients must be enrolled in an eligible program, declare their intent to pursue a qualifying degree and work in a qualifying job in Utah after graduation, complete a FAFSA, and apply for the grant. Students should contact the financial aid office at their institution for more information about eligible programs and the application process.

T. H. Bell Education Scholarship

The T.H. Bell Education Scholarship Program recognizes teaching as a critically important career in Utah by providing financial assistance to future educators. The scholarship is available to recent high school graduates and adults at the following public and private higher education institutions in Utah that offer approved programs: Brigham Young University, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals, Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Southern Utah University, University of Utah, Utah State University, Utah Tech University, Utah Valley University, Weber State University, Western Governors University, and Westminster University.

T.H. Bell Scholarships may help cover the cost of resident tuition, fees, and books, and may be received for up to four consecutive years. Recipients must be enrolled in at least 6 credits in an approved teacher preparation program or in an approved program that prepares an individual to become a speech-language pathologist or another licensed professional providing services in a public school to students with disabilities.

Students should contact the financial aid office or the education department at their school for more information about applying for this scholarship.

Technical Education Scholarship
The Technical Education Scholarship provides financial assistance to students pursuing a technical education certificate in high demand industries. This scholarship is available to recent high school graduates and adults who is enrolled in high demand program at a Utah technical college or a technical program at Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, USU Eastern, USU Moab, or USU Blanding. The scholarship can help cover the cost of tuition, fees, and required textbooks for up to three years.
Recipients must be enrolled in a high demand program and complete the FAFSA. Students should contact the financial aid office for more information about eligible programs and the application process.
Utah Promise Grant

The Utah Promise Grant is a statewide scholarship program that expands access to higher education opportunities to all Utahns by providing scholarships to students who demonstrate financial need. It is available to recent high school graduates and adult learners at Utah’s public colleges and universities (including technical colleges), as well as the following private, non-profit institutions in Utah – Brigham Young University (Provo), Ensign College, Western Governors University, and Westminster University. The Utah Promise Scholarship can help cover the cost of attendance for up to two years.

Recipients must be a resident of Utah (or qualify for resident tuition under Utah Code section 53B-8-106), be enrolled at an eligible institution, demonstrate financial need (usually by completing a FAFSA), and accept all other aid sources. Students should contact their financial aid office for more information about how to apply for this scholarship.

WICHE Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP)

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) allows Utah residents to enroll in cooperating out-of-state optometry and podiatry professional programs because those fields of study are not available at public institutions in Utah. Students enrolled through WICHE’s Professional Student Exchange Program pay reduced tuition. Their home state of Utah pays a “support fee” to the enrolling school to reduce the cost of the student’s education. State support and program participation affecting students are subject to change by legislative or administrative action. A completed and approved application does not guarantee funding; state legislative appropriations determine the number of students the state can support each year. 

Applications for the 2023-2024 school year are due by October 15th. To be considered, applicants must demonstrate 5+ years of Utah residency prior to applying.

Consent Form

Veteran’s Tuition Gap Program

The Veterans Tuition Gap Program (VeT Gap) is a state supplement grant that provides financial assistance to help cover the cost of tuition, fees, and books for veterans who are attending institutions of higher education in Utah and whose benefits under the federal program have been exhausted or are not available. Recipients must be Utah residents, a veteran, enrolled in the final year of their first bachelor’s degree program, and have exhausted their federal benefit. This program is only available to higher education institutions that grant baccalaureate degrees (Southern Utah University, University of Utah, Utah State University, Utah Tech University, Utah Valley University, Weber State University, Western Governors University, Westminster University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Park University, and Roseman University).

Students should contact the financial aid office at their institution for more information about eligibility criteria, available funding, and the application process.

USHE Employee Scholarship
The USHE Employee Scholarship is for Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) employees wishing to attend another USHE institution. Recipients may receive a scholarship for up to 50% of tuition and fees. Applicants must be full-time employees at a USHE institution, be admitted to another USHE institution, and pursuing a credential related to their current job duties. Additional eligibility criteria and application details can be found on the application.
Talent Development Incentive Loan Program

The Talent Development Incentive is a loan given to students who intend to work in Utah in a qualifying job.

Every other academic year, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development selects five jobs that have the highest demand for new employees and offer high wages. Beginning the August of that year, those five positions are designated as qualifying jobs for the purposes of this incentive loan program. Qualifying jobs meet the following criteria:

  • Rank in the top 40 percent of jobs based on an employment index that considers job growth rates and total openings.
  • Rank in the top 40 percent for wages.
  • Requires an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree.

The loan amount may be up to the cost of resident tuition, fees, and books for the number of credit hours that student is enrolled in each semester. 

Full loan details are outlined in Board policy R615, Talent Development Incentive Loan Program.

Utah Private, Non-Profit School Scholarship

This application is for 2020 high school graduates who intended to apply for the Regents’ Scholarship but opted not to do so because their preferred Utah institution did not qualify. Awards are subject to available funding and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.