Frequently Asked Questions

At Utah State University, tuition and fees must be paid by the semester's deadline. Once you register for the upcoming semester, you can view your bill and make  payments through TouchNet, USU's online payment service. Be sure to pay your balance in full or set up a payment plan before the late payment deadline to avoid any late fees. More information, including info about semester deadlines and payment options can be found on our Registration Payments website.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is submitted through the federal government. Visit our Student Financial Support website for detailed federal aid information, information about scholarships, and to learn more about the Student Money Management Center. You can also give the Student Financial Support office a call at (435) 797-0173. Many scholarships require that you have filed a FAFSA in order for you to be eligible and so we highly encourage all students to complete the FAFSA every year.

Yes! Direct deposit allows money from your student financial account to be transferred or refunded directly into your personal checking or savings account, if you have any remaining aid after paying tuition. USU students with a U.S. checking or savings account are eligible to set up direct deposit. This is a free, secure, and convenient way to receive your funds without needing to visit a physical bank or taking any additional steps. Visit out Direct Deposit for Your Student Financial Account website for instructions on how to set this up.

Note: The steps outlined on the Direct Deposit for Your Student Financial Account website are to set up direct deposit solely for student account transfers or refunds. To set up direct deposit to receive your job wages (paycheck money) please contact your supervisor or employer for assistance.

The cost of living for a student at Utah State University (USU) varies based on individual lifestyle and housing choices, as well as which USU campus you are attending, and if you are taking classes full or part time. Some things to consider when calculating this cost are housing and food, books and supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous/personal expenses. For a more detailed breakdown, you can visit USU's Cost of Attendance page.

The Utah State Campus Store has all books for classes offered at Utah State. Once you have your schedule of classes, go to your MyUSU Portal and select the "My Course Booklist" on the left side. The Aggie Access Program through the USU Campus Store provides undergraduate students with the option to start the semester with all necessary textbooks each semester for a fixed rate of $250 for Fall, $250 for Spring, and $150 for Summer. This charge will be added to students' Banner accounts each semester and is paid along with student fees and tuition. This means that in some cases, federal aid and scholarships already applied to your account can also cover textbook costs. Campus Store employees will pull your books aside and you can either pick them up in person once you arrive on campus or have them shipped to you. Textbooks are returnable at the USU Campus Store until the Saturday of the fourth week of classes (as long as you haven't used them), so if you drop a class, you have the option to return it! To learn more about the program benefits, how to choose required materials on a per-title basis, or how to opt out, visit the Aggie Access Website.

Students are also welcome to look for their books through other options. The best way to go about this is to search the ISBN online and then look through your options. You can do e-books, rent, buy used, buy new, etc. Also be sure to look and see if the USU library has a copy of your textbook available. It really depends on what your preference is. Just know that by renting or checking it out from the library, you may not have it for the regular semester dates--it is determined by the company that you rent from or when the book is available. You will be responsible for getting them returned, often they won't send very many reminders, and you don't want to be charged a late fee. If you search online, sometimes you can find a better price--but sometimes the better price is at the Campus Store, it depends on the course. The benefit of going through the Campus Store is that you're guaranteed to find everything you need, they get all the books for you, and it's easily accessible.

Yes! Utah State employs over 11,000 people across its campuses and over 5,000 of these employees are students.

The online job board is available at Aggie Handshake regardless of which campus you are attending. This contains a list of both on-campus and off-campus job opportunities. Most students start applying for jobs a month or two before the semester starts, but jobs open all the time so it's important to keep checking back.

USU offers a mobile student ID service. For steps to set up your Mobile USU ID, visit the Card Office website. You will need to submit a photo for your I.D. card if you are a new student. You can contact the USU Card Office at (435) 797-3852 with any additional questions.

Once you register for your first class your official student email will be created. This will be where all official university communication gets sent and it cannot be forwarded to another email address (for security purposes). Learn more about your student email, including the steps on how to access it once it is created, by visiting our Student Email page.

After paying student fees, you can start using your student ID card to access things like USU recreation centers, computer labs, and much more beginning the week before the semester starts.

Regardless of which campus you are attending, you have access to computers with up-to-date technology. Your student I.D. card will allow you to access the labs. You also have 30 free laser printouts per semester in the labs (these do not roll over to the next semester).

Along with this question, many students wonder if a printer is necessary to bring with them. While this is optional, it isn't a necessary item. More likely than not, your free printouts should cover any printing that you'll need for the semester. With the use of Canvas now, hard-copies aren't needed as much. However, with that being said, some students may prefer hard-copies. If that's the case, a printer might be worth considering just for the convenience of it.

Once you pay your student fees, you can attend NCAA regular season home games at no extra cost! Each student must claim their tickets before attending. You can find more information on how to claim tickets here. Once you have claimed your student ticket and saved it to your mobile wallet, simply show your ticket at the door to gain access to these sporting events. Some club sports, such as men's hockey, require all attendees to purchase tickets; students can receive a discount on these tickets by showing their student ID. If you want to buy tickets for family members or other non-Utah State students, you may buy them online.

Every major has a specific academic advisor. If you have not yet decided on a major, there are exploratory advisors located within the Exploratory Advising Center who are ready to help you discuss your areas of interest and general education options. Contact information for future appointments with specific advisors is on the corresponding major First Semester Registration Guide. You can also browse the list of academic advisors at advising.usu.edu.

Utah State offers excellent major and career exploration opportunities. Exploratory Advising and the Career Design Center will help you explore your values, interests, skills, and goals to help you determine the right academic path and support you as you design your future. If you are searching for the major that is right for you, we recommend taking USU 1400 - Career Series 1: Exploring Majors & Careers. This 1 credit course emphasizes relationships between self-knowledge and realities of educational and employment opportunities.

You will want to select a major before you have earned 60 credits (usually after sophomore year).

For incoming students, officially changing your major before you start school requires that you contact the Admission's Office. If you wish to speak to the academic advisor of a major different from your listed major, view the corresponding First Semester Registration guide. Before your classes begin, email admit@usu.edu to change your major or submit the incoming student major change form. Once school starts you will need to meet with the academic advisor of your desired major to change/switch into that degree. Current USU students must meet with an academic advisor to change their major.

You will be able to register yourself after completing orientation module two, "Registration". By viewing the 4-Year Plans found at the bottom of each degree page, you will select a few classes that have been specified in advance by your academic advisor. To see registration dates and times, go to the USU Catalog and view calendars.

For Bachelor Degree seeking students, 120 credits are needed to graduate from Utah State University. In order to graduate in eight semesters, you will need to average 15 credits per semester, or 30 credits per academic year. It is recommended that you register and complete 15 credits per semester. If you are taking 12 credits, you are considered a full-time student by university standards. First-semester students generally take between 12-15 credits. Even though this means you will only be in class about 12-15 hours per week, you will need plenty of time to do homework. If 12-15 credit hours doesn't seem like it will work, discuss the workload with your advisor to make sure you are finishing in a timely fashion.

Some students are able to demonstrate a proficiency in certain subjects without taking the actual class. Language proficiency testing is also available for foreign languages. For more information about CLEP testing visit the Credit by Exam page or the World Languages and Cultures page.

You can view the AP lists on the USU Catalog.

Every incoming student has access to the ALEKS math system for free. ALEKS is the software you will use to place into a math class, and brush up on math skills you lack. You can take up to five proctored exams for placement purposes, and you can work through customized learning modules for up to six months so you can place higher in math, or learn some basic skills so your math class isn't as difficult once you get into it. Visit the ALEKS website and take a proctored math exam to determine where you can place in math. After that, feel free to study in ALEKS before the semester begins, and take additional placement exams if you think you can place higher. This website has information about how to take a proctored exam in Logan, throughout Utah, and at an out-of-state location.

Some students with math ACT/SAT scores, AP scores, or college-credit math grades earned after August 1, 2024 are able to automatically place into a math class because they meet the pre-requisite for the course. If you think you can automatically qualify for a math class, check your test scores in banner by clicking "Test Scores" in your student record.

Math prerequisites typically only last 1 year, math prerequisites for the Fall 2025 semester are valid if they were earned after August 1, 2024.

For course descriptions and prerequisite information, see the University Catalog and click on "Course Numbers and Descriptions." If you need a temporary prerequisite override on a class because you have test scores or credits that are not yet in Banner, go to www.usu.edu/orientation/prereq to request a temporary override, and allow for up to 3-4 business days for the request to be processed. Once processed, the Office of the Registrar will reach out to you. Be sure your scores are in Banner by August 1, 2025 to avoid being dropped from the class.

An important clarification is that by sending USU your high school transcripts, USU only receives your high school grades for admission purposes. If you were enrolled in any concurrent enrollment (CE) courses, these aren't transferred to USU via your high school transcripts. What you'll need to do is get a transcript sent in from whatever institution you took your credits from (i.e. Weber State University, Salt Lake Community College, etc.). The best way to do is to use https://tsorder.studentclearinghouse.org/school/select. It will electronically deliver your transcripts to USU. It typically costs around $5.00 to do so. If for whatever reason your institution does not use that site, contact your institution about what the best way is to get your credits transferred to USU.

There are some options for you to take ALEKS even if you are not able to get to a USU campus. If you are out of state, visit the ALEKS website for instructions on setting up a local proctor. Contact the Math & Stat Advising Office at 435-797-0268 or math.advising@usu.edu with any questions.

University Connections (USU 1010) is a two-credit academic course that is offered on all three residential campuses (Logan, USU Eastern, and Blanding) that is designed to ease your transition to Utah State by helping you understand the purpose of higher education and how you can intentionally take advantage of the many opportunities and challenges available to you as a college student.

• Find your why
• Understand your responsibilities and opportunities
• Develop a mindset of success and belonging
• Meet your mentors

The course provides opportunities to explore the university environment, develop academic connections, and discover ways to broaden your educational experience. Students who attend Connections can move into their residence hall room early and have a chance to acclimate to the environment before the rigors of the semester begin. There are many social opportunities so many students meet their best friends while at Connections. Learn how more about USU 1010 Connections, why you should attend, and how to register for the course on our Connections page.

Just like most USU systems, you will log into the online orientation modules with your A#@aggies.usu.edu and USU password.

Use the USU Campus Map to explore buildings, landmarks, accessibility features, and safety information, and more.

Managing conflicts with your roommate is a common part of the first-year experience. Visit this website to find helpful resources and tips for handling roommate conflicts effectively.

Move-in for on-campus housing varies based on the semester you are attending, and important dates can be found on the Single Housing Rates & Dates website. Additionally, you can contact the housing office at (435)-797-3113 for additional move-in dates for your semester, or other questions you might have. There are lists at the bottom of the University Housing website that also include packing lists. These lists include additional move-in information for you.

If you are living on campus, you will have the opportunity to purchase a parking permit for your specified parking lot after you have signed up for housing through the website below. If you are living off-campus, there are a few shuttle routes that serve parking areas and local apartment complex areas. Most students purchase an economy permit and park in the stadium parking lot. For details visit the Parking website.

While convenient, bringing a car with you to campus is not a necessity. Many students do not bring a vehicle and get around both campus and Cache Valley well via the Aggie Shuttle, the fare-free Connect bus system, biking, or simply by walking.