New Utah Promise Scholarship

Beginning in Fall 2026, the U will offer a new scholarship to qualifying students that will guarantee full coverage of tuition and mandatory fees for eligible first-time, first-year Utah residents whose family household income and assets are each less than $100,000 per year, as defined by federal student aid guidelines. The new scholarship, called Utah Promise, is designed to expand access to the U for high school students across the state. 

Utah Promise underscores the university’s commitment to affordability and opportunity as part of its broader focus on student success. By ensuring that students from working- and middle-class families can attend without having to cover the burden of tuition costs, the program will help more Utahns pursue their degrees, graduate on time, and thrive in their careers. 

“This is a transformative step for the University of Utah,” says President Taylor Randall HBA’90. “No student should have to choose between pursuing a college education and their family’s financial security. Utah Promise ensures that higher education is within reach for thousands of talented students across our state.”

To qualify, students must complete a free application for admission by the Dec. 1 priority deadline, have an unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 or higher at the time of admission, and submit the FAFSA by Feb. 1. The program covers up to four years of full-time enrollment through scholarships and grants.

Recipients must maintain their eligibility each year by continuing to file the FAFSA and meet income and asset requirements. They also need to complete full-time course loads each semester while maintaining a minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA.

“Utahns deserve affordable, high-quality education that prepares them for their eventual careers,” says Provost Mitzi Montoya. “Utah Promise is about investing in the people and future of our state. It gives more students the freedom to focus on learning, leadership, and discovery without the stress of overwhelming tuition bills.”

The initiative uses both public and private donor funding and complements the For Utah scholarship, which already covers tuition and mandatory fees for Pell Grant-eligible students.