Take Harder Classes, Earn Bigger Scholarships at Utah State University Southeast Campuses

Beginning with the 2027-28 academic year, Utah State University Southeast students will have more ways to earn scholarships and make a Utah State education more affordable.

The updated scholarship approach aligns USU Southeast more closely with scholarship opportunities across the Utah State University system while continuing to reflect the lower tuition scale available at USU Eastern, USU Blanding and USU Moab. For students and families in Price, Blanding, Moab and surrounding communities, the message is simple: Your effort can pay off at Utah State, and a college degree can remain within reach close to home.

New first-year students who apply to USU by the scholarship deadline will automatically be considered for eligible awards. The streamlined approach is designed to make scholarship planning easier to understand, with clearer criteria based on GPA, academic preparation and the number of challenging courses students complete in high school.

“USU wants students across the state to have clear, consistent scholarship opportunities, no matter which campus they choose,” said USU President Brad Mortensen. “By aligning scholarships across the USU system and expanding access to stackable awards, we are helping more students in rural areas see that college is possible, affordable and within reach.”

Scholarships Designed for Southeast Students

The updated scholarship structure creates a more consistent review process for incoming students while recognizing that tuition and award amounts differ by campus. Beginning in 2027-28, incoming resident first-year students attending USU Southeast may qualify for the following awards:

• Premier Awards: These scholarships are based upon index score, which reflects the highest academic achievement with strong HS GPA and ACT or SAT test scores.
• High School GPA Awards: These academic awards are based upon HS GPA only.

New Advanced Coursework Scholarships Beginning Fall 2027

New resident-first year Southeast students will also be eligible for the new Advanced Coursework Scholarships, a two-year scholarship that rewards students for taking challenging high school courses. Students may receive this scholarship in addition to high school GPA awards, giving them another way to increase their total scholarship support.

Qualifying coursework includes AP, honors, International Baccalaureate, concurrent enrollment and technical education classes. The more rigorous coursework a student completes by Feb. 1, 2027, including completion of a first credential in high school, the more scholarship money they may unlock.

This scholarship recognizes that college readiness is reflected not only in a student’s grades, but also in their willingness to challenge themselves academically. For students deciding whether to take a more challenging class, the scholarship helps make the value clearer: those courses can help students prepare for college, build confidence and earn additional scholarship money at USU.

• 1-5 rigorous courses: $500 per year, 2 years total.
• 6-10 rigorous courses: $1,000 per year, 2 years total.
• 11 or more rigorous courses: $1,500 per year, 2 years total.

A Clearer Path for Students and Families

Together, the updated Southeast scholarship model gives students and families clearer information earlier in the college planning process. Instead of navigating different scholarship rules from campus to campus, students can better understand what they may qualify for and how their grades, course choices and academic preparation can help them earn more support.

For USU Southeast, affordability remains one of the strongest reasons for students to choose a local Utah State campus. Between lower tuition, first-year scholarships, the Affordability Grant and stackable scholarship opportunities, students at USU Eastern, USU Blanding and USU Moab have multiple ways to reduce the cost of earning a Utah State degree while staying connected to their communities.

“This update is about opening doors for students,” Mortensen said. “When students can stay closer to home, pay less in tuition and still access meaningful scholarship opportunities, it changes what feels possible for them and their families.”

The scholarship update reflects Utah State University’s mission as the state’s land-grant university: to expand access to higher education, support student success and serve communities across Utah.

Students and families can learn more at usu.edu/scholarships.