Newswise — The University of Utah announced Thursday the For Utah Scholarship, which will provide a fully funded path to a degree at the state’s flagship research university for eligible Utah students.

The For Utah Scholarship will combine federal, state and university funds to cover tuition and fees for academically qualified, Pell Grant-eligible first-time freshmen who are Utah residents. No loans are part of this program.

Students who are eligible will be able to attend the U with no tuition or fees. The program is the first of its kind in the state.

The Utah Promise Scholarship, offered through the Utah System of Higher Education, and Pell Grant funding will be used to cover the first two years of attendance at the U. The For Utah Scholarship and Pell Grant money will be applied to tuition and fees during the final two years of enrollment at the U.

“We want to ensure that every student eligible for the scholarship is able to enroll at the state’s flagship research university,” said Ruth Watkins, president of the University of Utah. “The new For Utah Scholarship builds on the efforts of the Utah Legislature to ensure affordability of college for Utah residents from all financial backgrounds.”

The U anticipates it will invest approximately $2.5 million annually when the program is fully implemented, using existing unrestricted scholarship money and ongoing efforts to raise donor support for student scholarships.

Applications are now open for high school students interested in attending the U beginning fall 2020. The application deadline for the scholarship has been waived this year.

“This program will be a game changer for students throughout the state as it makes a world-class education an accessible option for all,” said Steve Robinson, senior associate vice president for Enrollment Management. “We call this scholarship ‘For Utah’ because it ensures cost is not a barrier for any qualified student in our state who wants the best degree imaginable.” 

Learn more about the program at admissions.utah.edu/ForUtah.