USU Launches Utah State Promise Scholarship Endowment Fund to Advance Access for New Students

LOGAN — Utah State University President Brad L. Mortensen has announced the launch of the Utah State Promise Scholarship Endowment Fund, a new philanthropic initiative designed to sustain and strengthen access to higher education for Utah students with financial need.

The announcement was made during Mortensen’s inauguration on Jan. 16, where he emphasized shared responsibility, opportunity and the land-grant mission that defines Utah State.

“Institutions of higher education do not depend on one person,” Mortensen said. “They thrive because multitudes believe in an enduring promise from the better angels of our nature. For our land-grant university, that promise is opportunity, discovery and service to every corner of Utah.”

The Utah State Promise Scholarship is a “last-dollar” scholarship for new undergraduate students who are Utah residents and Pell Grant eligible. After federal Pell Grants and other scholarships are applied, the Utah State Promise covers remaining tuition and student body fees — helping these students bridge critical funding gaps throughout their path to earning a degree.

Currently, 1,307 enrolled students are supported through the Utah State Promise Scholarship, with approximately $2.5 million awarded each year to help these students along their academic journeys at Utah State.

Demand for the scholarship continues to grow. Expanding the opportunity to all eligible new and current students requires an additional $4 million in funding each year. This ongoing annual support would impact an estimated 2,800 students. Establishing a permanent endowment will help Utah State continue to meet the needs of these students while reducing reliance on university funds.

To accelerate the creation of the endowment, Utah State University Advancement has committed to matching gifts dollar for dollar, up to $25,000.

“Advancement is proud to support the Utah State Promise Scholarship Endowment with a dollar-for-dollar match,” said Matt White, vice president of advancement and president of the USU Foundation. “This match is an investment in access and momentum. It allows donors to immediately double their impact while helping ensure this scholarship remains available to future generations of students.”

Mortensen invited members of the Aggie community to join him in building the endowment.

“I invite you to join Camille and me in endowing this fund for our students whose talent, potential and determination deserve opportunity,” Mortensen said.

The Utah State Promise Scholarship is currently available to incoming, full-time, first-year or transfer undergraduate students who are Utah residents, Pell Grant eligible, and admitted for the summer or fall semesters. Their scholarship is renewable for up to four years, provided they remain Pell eligible, complete the FAFSA annually and maintain good academic standing. Awards vary by student and may cover up to full tuition and student body fees. The scholarship is available at all Utah State campuses.

During his inaugural remarks, Mortensen identified expanding educational opportunity, supporting student degree completion and strengthening statewide impact as early priorities of his presidency. The Utah State Promise Scholarship Endowment directly supports those goals by helping students start strong and stay on track from their first semester forward.

Students can learn more about current eligibility and apply for the Utah State Promise Scholarship at usu.edu/promise.

Donors interested in supporting the endowment — and having their gift matched — can contribute at usu.edu/utahstatepromise.