Students must apply for the Opportunity Scholarship during their senior year of high school.

All 2023 high school graduates may qualify for the scholarship by meeting the advanced course requirements. Read this 2023 Application FAQ document for more information.

The 2023 high school graduate application will open November 15, 2022.

• The priority deadline is December 2, 2022.
• The final deadline is February 1, 2023.
• All students are encouraged to meet the priority deadline.
• Apply here.

2024 graduates (and beyond) should check this website regularly for updates. Any updates from the legislative session are posted each spring.

These requirements were created after examining data from recent Utah high school graduates to identify the top predictors of college success.

• Earn a 3.3 cumulative high school GPA
• Complete 3 advanced courses (see next question for more details about eligible courses)
  • Complete 1 Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Concurrent Enrollment (CE) course in each of the core areas of high school graduation:
    • math,
    • science, and
    • language arts
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Graduate from a Utah high school

Students earn core credit by completing the following courses in each subject area, based on Utah State Board of Education (USBE) standards. Students will need to work with their high school to find out which courses are available at their school.

Eligible courses are any Concurrent Enrollment (CE), Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) course that aligns to a USBE core code starting with “06” (Language Arts), “07” (Mathematics), and “08” Science. We recommend using the Concurrent Enrollment Master List (core code listed) to find acceptable CE courses. Courses that align with other subject areas will not be accepted.

Students may earn credit through Early College courses completed in grades 9-12 that are included on the CE Master List as described above.

This list is not comprehensive. Please contact our office if you have questions about specific courses.

Language Arts

• AP English Language
• AP Literature & Composition
• CE English 1010
• CE English 2010
• CE English 2200
• CE Communication 1010 (Applied Communication)
• CE Humanities
• IB English A Literature
• IB English Language & Literature

Mathematics

• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Statistics
• CE Math 1010
  • Math 1010 does not fulfill the General Education Quantitative Literacy requirement. Math 1010 is intended only for students who cannot place directly into Math 1050 College Algebra after completion of Secondary MATH III)
• CE Math 1030
• CE Math 1040
• CE Math 1050
• CE Math 1060
• CE Math 1210
• IB Mathematics

Science

• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Environmental Science
• AP Physics
• CE Biology 1010/1015*
• CE Biology 1020/1025*
• CE Biology 1610/1615*
• CE Human Biology 1050/1055 or 1090* (when aligned with USBE Science core credit code)
• CE Chemistry 1010/1015*
• CE Chemistry 1110*
• CE Chemistry 1210/1215*
• CE Environmental Science (Envs 1010/1015 or Bio 1400/1405)*
• CE Geology 1010/1015*
• CE Physics 1010/1015*
• IB Biology
• IB Chemistry
• IB Environment Science & Society
• IB Physics
• IMPORTANT: See the CE Master List for science courses with a core code beginning with 08 for all acceptable science courses

*Lecture credit required (example: Biology 1010), lab credit recommended, but optional (example: Biology 1015)

A maximum award amount may be determined based on available funding and the number of qualified applicants. Individual awards may be used toward the cost of tuition and fees, after other state aid is applied.

The Opportunity Scholarship can be used at Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Southern Utah University, Utah State University, Utah Tech University (formerly Dixie State University), Utah Valley University, University of Utah, Weber State University and the following private, non-profit institutions in Utah: Brigham Young University (Provo), Ensign College, Westminster College, and Western Governors University.

Students may defer use of the scholarship to attend a technical college that is part of the Utah System of Higher Education and then transfer to an eligible institution listed above. Please contact the scholarship office if you have questions about this process.

Deferment of the Opportunity Scholarship may also be granted for students who plan to provide a religious, humanitarian, or military service, face medical reasons that inhibit their ability to attend school, or other reasons approved by an eligible institution. Scholarship recipients must coordinate any deferment with individual institutions before departure.

To simplify the scholarships available from the State of Utah and update the previous requirements, the Utah Legislature voted during the 2021 Legislative Session to replace the Regents’ Scholarship and the New Century Scholarship with the Opportunity Scholarship.

These changes will better align the scholarships administered by the Utah System of Higher Education. The three main scholarships offered to high school graduates include the need-based Utah Promise Scholarship, the Technical College Scholarship, and the achievement-based Opportunity Scholarship. There are also several scholarships tied to specific work-force needs in the state. Contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend for other scholarship opportunities.

The Opportunity Scholarship has simplified requirements, which are easier for students to follow and understand.

The scholarship leverages the effectiveness of earning college credit while still in high school. For example, Concurrent Enrollment courses cost $5/credit, are transferable, and are widely available to Utah students.

The new scholarship changes allow for better collaboration between the Utah System of Higher Education and K-12 partners at the Utah State Board of Education to address existing equity gaps.

These scholarship requirements are based on data relevant to Utah high school students and are tied to college success.

No, the Opportunity Scholarship is achievement-based and requires students to complete advanced coursework in high school. Completing a FAFSA is required as part of the application process, but federal aid is not considered when determining eligibility.

You can contact the State Scholarship office for more information:

• scholarships@ushe.edu
• (801) 646-4812