Legacy Students: Free Tuition At The University Of Utah?

The University of Utah offers a range of scholarships and tuition fee reductions for students. One such scholarship is the Alumni Legacy Non-Resident Scholarship, which is a merit-based scholarship for non-resident first-time students. To be eligible, students must have a parent or grandparent who holds a degree from the University of Utah and must complete the admissions process by December 1. The scholarship provides $3,000 per academic year and can be renewed for up to eight semesters if certain academic requirements are met. While this scholarship does not offer free tuition, it can help reduce the financial burden for legacy students attending the University of Utah.

Alumni Legacy Non-Resident Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Non-Resident Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship offered by the University of Utah to non-resident first-time, first-year students. This scholarship is worth $3,000 per academic year or $1,500 per semester for the fall and spring semesters. It is important to note that this scholarship does not typically cover summer enrollment or Learning Abroad programs.

To be eligible, students must be pursuing their first bachelor's degree, and their parent or grandparent must hold a degree from the University of Utah. Applicants are selected based on their unweighted, cumulative GPA at the time of application, and course rigor is also considered.

There is no additional application required for this scholarship beyond the standard admissions process, which must be completed by December 1.

It is worth noting that this scholarship is only available to students earning their degree at the University of Utah's main campus. Additionally, students receiving this scholarship may qualify for residency reclassification, but the scholarship will be forfeited if the student gains Utah residency for tuition purposes.

Utah State University also offers a similar Alumni Legacy Nonresident Scholarship, which allows non-resident students with at least one parent who graduated from the university to pay resident tuition for one year.

University of Utah tuition reduction

The University of Utah offers tuition reduction to several categories of students.

Alumni Legacy Non-Resident Scholarship

The University of Utah offers the Alumni Legacy Non-Resident Scholarship to non-resident first-time, first-year students whose parents or grandparents hold a degree from the University of Utah. The scholarship is worth $3,000 per year ($1,500 per semester for fall and spring semesters). This scholarship is a merit-based award and is based on the student's cumulative GPA at the time of application, as well as course rigor. The scholarship is renewable for up to eight semesters or until the student receives a baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first. To maintain the scholarship, students must remain in good standing by enrolling as full-time students and completing a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester.

Tuition Reduction for University Employees and Their Families

The University of Utah also offers tuition reduction to university employees and their families. Faculty and staff become eligible for tuition reduction after six months of full-time employment, while spouses and domestic partners of employees become eligible after one year of consecutive full-time employment. Dependent children under the age of 26 become eligible for tuition reduction after the employee has completed three consecutive years of full-time employment. The tuition reduction applies to one-half of the applicable resident or non-resident rate for undergraduate and graduate courses.

Utah System of Higher Education Scholarship

In addition, the University of Utah participates in the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) Employee Scholarship program. This scholarship is available to full-time employees of a USHE institution who are admitted as students to a different USHE institution. The scholarship covers up to 50% of tuition and fees, with an annual award cap based on program demand.

Alumni Legacy Waiver at Utah State University

While not directly related to the University of Utah, it is worth noting that Utah State University also offers an Alumni Legacy Waiver for non-resident students who are children or grandchildren of USU graduates. This waiver allows students to pay reduced tuition during their first year at USU and counts towards the 12-month requirement to establish Utah residency.

Alumni U Tradition and Heritage scholarships

The University of Utah offers the Alumni Legacy Non-Resident Scholarship, also known as the Alumni U Tradition and Heritage Scholarships. This scholarship is a merit-based award for non-resident, first-time, first-year students pursuing their first bachelor's degree. To be eligible, the student's parent or grandparent must hold a degree from the University of Utah.

The scholarship amount is $3,000 per academic year ($1,500 per semester for fall and spring semesters). The scholarship can be renewed for up to eight semesters (fall and spring) or until the student receives their first bachelor's degree, whichever comes first. To renew the scholarship, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and complete a minimum of 24 credit hours during the academic year.

The Alumni U Tradition and Heritage Scholarships do not cover summer enrollment or Learning Abroad programs. Students receiving this scholarship may qualify for residency reclassification, but the scholarship will be forfeited if the student gains Utah residency for tuition purposes.

Utah residency status

The University of Utah offers a range of tuition reduction and scholarship opportunities for students, including legacy students. However, it is essential to understand Utah residency status and its requirements to determine eligibility for certain benefits and scholarships. Here is a detailed overview of Utah residency status:

• Domiciled in Utah for the entire year
• Domiciled in Utah at any time during the year
• Maintained a place of abode in Utah and spent at least 183 days or more in the state during the year
• Enrolled as a resident student at a Utah State higher education institution

Tests for Domicile in Utah:

Utah employs three tests to determine an individual's domicile status:

• Child Tax Credit Test: If an individual or their spouse claims a Child Tax Credit on their federal return, and the dependent is enrolled in a Utah K-12 public school, they are considered domiciled in Utah. This does not apply if the individual is the noncustodial parent and divorced from the custodial parent.
• Resident Student Test: If an individual or their spouse is enrolled as a resident student at a Utah State higher education institution, they are considered domiciled in Utah.
• Permanent Home Test: Even if the above two tests are not met, an individual is still considered domiciled in Utah if they or their spouse own a permanent home in Utah and have voluntarily settled with the intention of making it their permanent residence.

Non-Resident and Part-Year Resident Status:

A non-resident is an individual who was not domiciled in Utah at any time during the year, maintained no place of abode in Utah, and did not spend 183 days or more in the state. A part-year resident is an individual who meets the definition of a resident for only part of the year and is a non-resident for the remaining part.

Impact on Tuition and Scholarships:

Additionally, the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) Employee Scholarship provides a 50% tuition and fees award to employees of USHE institutions who attend a different USHE institution as a student.

USU Alumni Legacy Waiver

The USU Alumni Legacy Waiver is a bill passed by the Utah Legislature that allows non-resident students who are children or grandchildren of USU graduates to pay a reduced tuition fee. The bill, House Bill 349, was sponsored by Rep. Val K. Potter, R-North Logan, and passed on March 6. The waiver was initially created in 2009 by House Bill 364, which allowed students whose parents had graduated from Utah State University to receive a reduction in their non-resident tuition. In 2013, the waiver was expanded to include the grandchildren of USU graduates.

The Alumni Legacy Non-Resident Scholarship is only available to non-resident students who are first-time undergraduates and have at least one parent who graduated from Utah State University with an associate degree or higher. The scholarship allows students to pay resident tuition for one year, after which they must establish Utah residency to continue paying resident tuition. The scholarship is worth $3,000 per year and is renewable for up to eight semesters or until the student receives a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first. To be eligible for renewal, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and complete at least 24 credit hours during the academic year.

The USU Alumni Legacy Waiver has been well-received by the university community, with USU vice president of University Advancement, Matthew White, expressing enthusiasm for the increased opportunities it provides for legacy students. The waiver also helps the institution by increasing the number of legacy waivers awarded and allowing students to pay resident tuition in their first year.

Frequently asked questions