University of Utah
PA-8: Affordability and Access

For Utah Scholarship (University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid)
URL:https://financialaid.utah.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/freshman/for-utah-terms.php
A merit-based and need-based scholarship program awarded to first-time, first-year students who have at least a 3.20 cumulative high school grade point average at the time of admission to the University, are residents of Utah, and are Federal Pell Grant recipients for the Fall 2022 semester. The For Utah 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 for which the scholarship is provided.

TRIO Programs (Student Affairs)
URL: https://trio.utah.edu/
TRIO Programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and consist of outreach and student service projects designed to identify and provide academic success services to qualified individuals. The University of Utah currently operates two federally funded programs, Upward Bound (UB) and Student Support Services (SSS). Upward Bound is a college preparation and access program. In 2021 it served 95 low-income and first-generation students from Utah school districts with s tutoring, career exploration, and post-secondary admissions and financial aid application assistance. Student Support Services served s 225 University of Utah low-income, first generation and/or students with disabilities through academic courses, tutoring, academic advising, financial aid application assistance, and graduate school preparation and planning.

Return to the U (RTU)
URL: https://return.utah.edu/
Return to the U helps adult learners complete their education at the University of Utah, whether they are ‘stopped out’ U of U students who want to come back and finish their degree, or transferring from other institutions. The University of Utah offers lower-cost tuition for students taking all their classes online as part of a qualifying UOnline online undergraduate degree program and FLEXU weeklong intensives to take a semester long class in just one week.

FlexU
URL: https://continue.utah.edu/flexu
Intensive and flexible format courses give students an opportunity to take a semester long class in just one week (pre- and post-work required) in order to complete needed credits. One-week intensive courses are offered intersession or
during fall break.

UOnline
URL:https://online.utah.edu
UOnline classes allow students to juggle school, work, and family obligations. RTU completion pathway programs were selected in part because
majors are available fully online.

Center for Child Care and Family Resources
URL: https://childcare.utah.edu/learn/index.php
offers services to assist University students, faculty and staff in their search for quality child care services. Identifies family-friendly campus spaces for student-parents.

Marriott Library Family Reading Room
URL: https://lib.utah.edu/spaces/family-reading-room.php
The J. Willard Marriott Library offers reserveable family study rooms with books and toys to occupy children while their parents study.

Student Family Housing
URL: https://housingoptions.utah.edu/
The University of Utah family housing program is one of the largest of its kind in the country with 943 unfurnished apartments in East and West Village primarily intended for students and their families. The Village buildings are grouped into “courts” designed around open space and playgrounds. Sunnyside Apartments, opening in August 2023, is a new property under construction that will provide housing and community programs for students with families, (married/partnered students and students with children), and single graduate students.

SOURCES
Common Data Set 2021-22, H2. Full-time Undergraduate (Incl. Fresh.)
• H2.I On average, % of need that was met, 66%
• # of students determined to have financial need
• 17% of undergraduates are age 25 or older

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, updated Sept. 14, 2022.
URL: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
• 27% Students Receiving Federal Loans
• $18,750 Median total debt after graduation
• Overall Graduation Rate 70%. Pell Grant Recipients Only 65%

OBIA DATA
• % Undergrads awarded Pell 22% (2021)
• % Undergrads awarded Need Based Aid 70% (2021)

NOTES

Matilyn Mortensen, "For Utah Scholarship Delivers on U's Promise," @TheU (March 1, 2023).
URL: https://attheu.utah.edu/students/for-utah-scholarship-delivers-on-us-promise/
Since its inception in 2020, For Utah has made college accessible to more than 1,600 new college students at the U. For Utah is a “last dollar” program, which covers Utah students’ tuition and fees not already covered by federal Pell grants or other scholarships.

University of Utah 2023 Truth in Tuition hearing set (@TheU, Feb 22, 2023)
URL: https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/university-of-utah-2023-truth-in-tuition-hearing-set/
Despite rising costs in nearly every aspect of daily life, the University of "Utah will not be raising tuition or student fees for the 2023-2024 school year, nor will it cut student services".

Utah’s Economically Disadvantaged Students and Higher Education. Kem C. Gardiner Policy Institute (2022)
URL:https://gardner.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/DisadStudents-PB-Jun2022.pdf?x71849
Figure 11: share of Students who are Economically disadvantaged by Degree-Granting Institution, 2019-2020.

Utah System of Higher Education Memorandum March 19, 2020.
URL: https://ushe.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdf/agendas/20200326/TAB_B.pdf
“Affordability is the ability of a traditional full-time Utah student from a family of four to cover the cost of attendance at a USHE institution while living at home with financial aid, reasonable family savings, and the student contributing ten hours of weekly work earnings.”

LAWS & RULES
Several Utah laws support college affordability at all USHE institutions:

HB60 (1977) & SB45 (2021)
URL: https://continue.utah.edu/hb60
Veterans and Utah residents 62 or older may audit many regular University classes numbered 1000-4999 for $25 per semester.

HB144 (2002)
URL: https://le.utah.gov/~2002/bills/static/HB0144.html
Undocumented students attending institutions of higher education in the state of Utah are required to pay out-of-state tuition. However, House Bill 144 allows qualifying students to attend Utah universities and colleges by paying in-state tuition despite not having Utah residency status.

Utah Administrative Code, Rule R277-701: Early College Programs
URL: https://rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r277/r277-713.htm
Early college programs include AP courses, concurrent enrollment and International Baccalaureate programs. The Utah System of Higher Education maintains a list of approved Concurrent Enrollment courses. (URL: https://ushe.edu/concurrent-enrollment-master-list/)

USHE R470: General Education, Common Course Numbering, Lower-Division Pre-Major Requirements, Transfer of Credits, and Credit by Examination.
URL: https://ushe.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/R470-04_16.pdf
Purpose: To assure reciprocity and consistency in the structure and Core Requirements and Breadth Areas requisite for General Education (GE) programs in the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).