Every generation of Utahns has worked hard to leave the next generation better off. From the earliest settlers who carved farms and built schools in desert valleys to the innovators driving today’s economy, Utah’s story has always been about investing in people and possibility. That legacy continues today as the University of Utah renews its promise to our state and its families.
This week, we announced Utah Promise, a new commitment that ensures eligible Utah students from families earning less than $100,000 a year will have their tuition and mandatory fees fully covered. Beginning fall 2026, the scholarship will cover up to four years of full-time study for first-time, first-year Utah resident undergraduates who meet these requirements: family household income and assets are each less than $100,000 a year, as defined by federal student aid guidelines, and an unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 or higher.
According to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, about one in three Utah households — roughly 385,000 — earn between $45,000 and $99,999 a year, a range that often slips through the cracks of traditional aid programs. This scholarship helps close that gap so qualified Utah students can achieve their academic goals regardless of their circumstances.
Keeping higher education within reach
American higher education has long wrestled with a defining question: Is college meant for everyone or only the privileged few? Our earliest public universities were founded on the belief that a nation thrives when education is within reach for all — not reserved for an elite class. That conviction made higher education one of the most powerful engines of upward mobility in the world.
Yet the question of access has never been fully settled. Even today, rising costs and complicated financial aid systems can make college feel out of reach for many capable students. The University of Utah believes affordability and access are inseparable from our public mission. Families deserve greater clarity and confidence in the process.
Utah Promise is one way we’re addressing that need. It simplifies what we can control, offering Utah families a clear, predictable commitment: that when students work hard and qualify academically, the U will help ensure cost is not a barrier to earning a degree.
Part of a broader commitment
Utah Promise is just one piece of a larger effort to make a University of Utah education more transparent, affordable and aligned with our goal to serve all Utahns. It builds on the success of our For Utah scholarship, which covers tuition and mandatory fees for Pell Grant eligible students.
And earlier this year, we simplified our merit-based scholarship structure by introducing a straightforward GPA-based grid. Under the new system, Utah students with a 3.5 GPA or higher automatically qualify for one of five scholarships — ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 — depending on academic performance. For parents and counselors, this approach adds clarity to the process. Families can easily see where they stand and what support their students qualify for before they even apply.
Together, these initiatives — the Utah Promise, the For Utah scholarship and the new merit-scholarship grid — create a more open, understandable system that recognizes both achievement and need. We want every Utah family to see that there’s a place for them at the University of Utah, whether their student is the first in the family to attend college or one of many continuing a proud tradition.
Looking forward
The University of Utah is celebrating 175 years, and we’re still climbing. Our vision has never been clearer: to improve the life of every Utahn and advance a new national higher education model for delivering societal impact.
The Utah Promise marks a major milestone in that ongoing transformation. Across the country, families are asking whether college is still worth it. In Utah, the answer is yes — when universities operate with purpose, discipline and heart. The Utah Promise is more than a scholarship. It is a statement of confidence in our students, a demonstration of accountability to taxpayers and donors and a reminder that in Utah, opportunity and responsibility still go hand in hand.
Our promise to Utah families is this: We will continue to make higher education accessible, affordable and worthy of the trust you place in us.
To learn more about Utah Promise and other U scholarships, visit admissions.utah.edu/financial-aid-scholarships
