USU Launches New Community Pathway Scholarship to Support Local Students

LOGAN, Utah — Utah State University has announced a new scholarship designed to ease the financial burden for Cache County residents returning to school to pursue a graduate degree at USU.

“We recognize that making the leap back into school — especially graduate school — can be challenging,” said Richard Cutler, senior vice provost for graduate studies. “The Community Pathway Scholarship aims at reducing the financial stress of this transition.”

The School of Graduate Studies' Community Pathway Scholarship offers recipients 50% tuition coverage for two semesters and a $500 living stipend per scholarship. The scholarship is specially tailored to attract applicants with roots down in Cache County.

Cache County residents will be able to apply via the Scholarship Universe portal beginning on July 1. The scholarship is available to be awarded as early as the semester of the 2025-26 academic year.

“The Community Pathway Scholarship represents our commitment as a community to a legacy of reducing barriers to academic opportunity, lifelong learning and community support,” said Mike Morales, marketing and communications director for the School of Graduate Studies.

The School of Graduate Studies’ goal is to build a $25,000 endowment fund by Dec. 31, 2029, ensuring the scholarship becomes a lasting resource.

“The benefit of an endowment fund is that this scholarship lasts forever,” said Audrey Gregson, social media & community manager for the School of Graduate Studies. “This means the Community Pathway Scholarship will be a community resource in perpetuity.”

However, fundraising efforts won’t instantly fund the entirety of the scholarship.

“Early on, fundraising efforts won’t fully cover the scholarship costs,” Gregson said. “To ensure the scholarship can be awarded right away, the School of Graduate Studies will cover the difference and will continue to do so until it [the scholarship] becomes self-sustaining through fundraising.”

Community members, businesses and organizations interested in supporting the scholarship can visit gradschool.usu.edu/giving/sponsorship or contact Mike Morales at mike.morales@usu.edu.

Eligibility Criteria

• Current Cache County resident.
• Returning to school after a minimum 3-year break.
• Resident of Cache County for a minimum of seven years prior to applying.
• Accepted to USU Grad School as a full-time student.
• Meets FAFSA financial need criteria.
• Maintaining academic standing as required by the recipients program.

About the Scholarship Process

• The scholarship will be administered through USU’s Scholarship Office.
• A university committee — not sponsors — will oversee the application review and selection.
• One recipient will be selected annually, with potential for expansion as funding grows.
• If unclaimed, funds will remain in the endowment to continue building interest.