Native Student Scholarship

Enrolled member of one of the federal recognized Utah tribes; Utah residents or otherwise eligible for in-state tuition rate; current FAFSA on file.

The Native Student Scholarship program provides a commitment that tuition and mandatory fees will be covered by grant and scholarship funds from all sources, up to a maximum of 18 credit hours per semester. The covered tuition and mandatory fees include tuition differential charges as well as fees such as the matriculation fee and the student success fee; however, it does not include course fees or e-book fees.

The Native Student Scholarship is renewable for up to eight semesters (fall and spring), or until you receive a baccalaureate degree (whichever comes first), as long as you continue to meet scholarship renewal and good standing requirements. The Native Student Scholarship can apply to summer enrollment, as long as all requirements are met, and would count as one of the eight semesters of maximum eligibility.

The Native Student Scholarship is a “last dollar” program, which means funds from this program will cover any remaining amount of tuition and mandatory fees not already covered by other grants (such as the Federal Pell Grant) and scholarships (such as the Utah Regents Scholarship, a departmental scholarship, or an outside scholarship). The scholarship amount may vary each semester depending upon tuition and mandatory fee charges as well as other scholarships and grants received. Be aware that when tuition and fee charges are covered fully by other scholarships and grants, and thus your Native Student Scholarship amount is zero for that semester, you will still remain in the program; however, that semester still counts as a semester of program eligibility.

To remain in good standing, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress and in order to receive this award, you must enroll as a full-time student.

Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress will result in the cancellation of your scholarship for that term.

Your scholarship may be renewed each year, provided you maintain satisfactory academic progress.

UOSFA will review your standing for these requirements each year at the end of the spring semester. Failure to meet the renewal or good standing requirements will result in loss of the scholarship.

A student must have a current, completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at the University of Utah (school code 003675) by the first day of classes for each semester receiving the scholarship. Students need to file the FAFSA once a year and we recommend filing the FAFSA by no later than February 1 each year (Due to the delayed opening of the FAFSA for the 2024-2025 academic year, we will accept FAFSA applications through August 1, 2024). Failure to meet this deadline may result in loss of the scholarship.

Additional financial aid requirements, such as documents requested to verify information on the FAFSA, must be resolved and completed by the first day of classes.

This scholarship generally applies only to fall and spring semesters as long as you meet the eligibility criteria; this award does not apply to enrollment or charges during the summer term unless you specifically request use of the scholarship during summer and you continue to meet all eligibility criteria (and use of the scholarship during a summer term will count toward your maximum number of terms of eligibility). Other scholarships or grants received could affect your eligibility regardless of the timing of when they are received; this means a scholarship or grant received late in the semester after your Native Student Scholarship has already been awarded could cause an adjustment to the Native Student Scholarship amount you received.

Should your residency classification change to non-resident or other ineligible status, you will no longer be eligible for the Native Student Scholarship.

Students receiving a scholarship, fellowship, or other financial aid administered by the University of Utah are required by state law to certify that they are eligible to receive the scholarship as a U.S. citizen or a citizen of another country who is lawfully present in the U.S. If students do not know whether they are in the U.S. lawfully, they should seek the advice of an immigration attorney before accepting this award.

The University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (UOSFA) will, in extenuating circumstances, allow a student to take a Leave of Absence from a scholarship once they are a continuing student. A continuing student will need to work with the Registrar’s Office on any type of Leave of Absence (https://registrar.utah.edu/handbook/leave.php) and be approved for a Leave of Absence through the official processes. Unless on an approved Leave of Absence, interruptions of continuous enrollment in fall and spring semesters render the student ineligible for the scholarship.

For questions regarding eligibility for a leave of absence, please contact the Registrar’s Office

For questions or concerns, please contact UOSFA at financialaid@utah.edu or (801) 581-6211.