Overview

The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) administers the Regents’ Scholarship, which encourages high school students to take a college-prep curriculum above and beyond the Utah high school graduation requirements. This merit-based scholarship is awarded to students who take the right courses during grades 9-12, earn the right grades, submit their ACT score, and complete the application. The Regents’ Scholarship can be used at any Utah public or private nonprofit university.

Growth

The number of Regents’ Scholarship applications received each year continues to skyrocket. In fact, 4,066 students submitted an application in 2015, a 22% increase over the number of 2014 applicants (3,324). This impressive growth speaks to Utah students’ continued and increasing interest in the Regents’ Scholarship.

Number of Regents’ Scholarship applicants, 2010 – 2015

Application timeline

Applicants submitted their materials by the February 1 deadline. Regents’ Scholarship staff review the students’ applications, ensuring their materials demonstrate  specified requirements have been met. In April, students will receive a letter notifying them if they are on-track to receive the scholarship, and what remaining documents are needed to complete their scholarship application. These letters will be sent out beginning today and through April 15. If an applicant hasn’t yet received a notification letter by May 1, they are encouraged to call the Regents’ Scholarship office.

Required courses

To be eligible for the Regents’ Scholarship, students must complete the following required courses during grades 9-12:

• 4 credits of English
• 4 progressive credits of Math
• 3.5 credits of Social Science
• 3 credits of lab-based Science (one each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
• 2 progressive credits of the same World Language during grades 9-12

One scholarship, three awards

Depending on the student’s grades, ACT score, and college savings through the Utah Educational Savings Plan, it will be determined which award(s) the student qualifies for: Base Award, Exemplary Academic Achievement Award, and/or Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP) Supplemental Award. The student can qualify for up to three different awards, but must earn the Base Award in order to be eligible for the other awards. To learn more about the qualifications for each award, see the 2015-16 Regents’ Scholarship Program Guide.

Award amounts for 2015-16

The Regents’ Scholarship is funded by the state of Utah, and funding can vary from year-to-year. For the 2015-2016 college academic year, the three award amounts are as follows:

• Base Award: up to $1,000 one-time
• Exemplary Academic Achievement Award: up to $1,250, renewable for up to four semesters
• Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP) Supplemental Award: up to $400 one-time matching funds