Soaring High: A Guide to Scholarships at Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University (SUU) is dedicated to making education accessible and affordable. With a commitment to helping students "soar without breaking the bank," SUU offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans. Eighty-four percent of students are eligible for some form of financial aid, demonstrating SUU's dedication to supporting its students' educational pursuits.

Navigating Financial Aid at SUU

The Financial Aid Office plays a crucial role in guiding students through the financial aid process. They provide information on available loans, grants, and scholarships, including the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarships for students from Western states. SUU also provides helpful video resources and tutorials to assist students and their families in navigating the complexities of financial aid.

The office maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward financial aid fraud, working with the Department of Education and federal law enforcement to prosecute those attempting to exploit university resources. SUU is committed to maintaining the integrity of federal and private student aid programs. As part of this commitment, students may be selected to verify their identity, requiring them to present a physical Driver’s License or State ID.

Understanding the Cost of Attendance

While the sticker price at Southern Utah University is approximately $20,294 for in-state students and $34,110 for out-of-state students, the actual cost can vary based on individual financial situations. It is important to remember that college costs can look different for every student based on their financial situation. The university provides a tuition estimator to help students get an idea of potential expenses per semester. However, it's crucial to remember that final costs may vary.

Scholarship Opportunities for New Students

SUU offers several scholarship opportunities for incoming students:

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New Student Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded to new freshmen based on their cumulative unweighted GPA or ACT/SAT scores. Students are automatically considered when they complete their admission application before the deadline. These scholarships are exclusively for students attending the SUU Main Campus.

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

Non-resident students with a parent or parents who graduated from SUU may be eligible for the Alumni Legacy Scholarship. This scholarship awards $6,908 per semester for two semesters and is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Transfer Student Scholarships

Transfer students can also qualify for scholarships based on their post-high school cumulative GPA from all schools attended. A GPA between 3.9 and 4.0 is required for consideration.

Scholarship Housing

Through the Dixie & Anne Leavitt Foundation, SUU offers Scholarship Housing, a partial housing award that can cover up to 50%, 60%, or 75% of rent. Students are responsible for the remaining balance. Applications are accepted online from November 1st to February 1st. The amount of the rent and scholarship will not be known until you have been assigned an apartment by Leavitt Land.

Centurium Non-Resident Eight Semester Renewable Scholarship

This scholarship is specifically for incoming freshman students who are non-residents.

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T-Bird Promise Scholarship

This scholarship supports diverse students, defined as those who qualify for free or reduced lunch, are first-generation students, are experiencing homelessness, or belong to underrepresented racial or ethnic groups (Black or African American, Latino or Latinx, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Native American).

Southern Utah University Native American Scholarship

Available to students who are census-numbered members of various Native American tribes.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

SUU also offers a variety of other scholarships, including:

Departmental Scholarships

Academic departments award scholarships to deserving students within their respective fields.

The Utah Education Disadvantaged Fund Scholarship

This semesterly scholarship provides financial assistance to financially disadvantaged Utah residents who are current SUU students (excluding Speedway & BGS students) maintaining a 2.5 GPA or higher.

The Daniel's Fund Boundless Opportunity Scholarship

An annual scholarship for full-time non-traditional students or military veterans who served active duty. Applicants must be Utah residents and U.S. citizens/permanent residents, pursuing degrees or certificates in specific fields such as computer science, nursing, engineering, business, education, and aviation. Eligibility requires a Pell Grant and good academic standing (2.8 GPA).

The Labrum Family Entrepreneurship Award for Non-Traditional Students

Two awards of $475 are given each semester to non-traditional students demonstrating a commitment to entrepreneurial success and maintaining a 3.0 GPA.

Endowed Scholarships

SUU also manages numerous endowed scholarships, each with specific criteria:

The Elizabeth “Bessie” Shurtz Memorial Endowment: Established and funded by Dr. Alex and Bessie Oblad in memory of Mrs.
**The Roy W. and Elizabeth E.
The Scott M., Ruth C., and Lois Urie Scholarship Endowment: Awarded to working students, covering half tuition and fees.
The Florine H. Major Family Scholarship Endowment: Awarded to an outstanding junior or senior student from the Department of Education.
The Jason Ted Jensen Scholarship: Awarded to a student in the College of Education who is obtaining a teaching certificate and who has displayed a sincere desire to learn, and who would possibly not otherwise have the opportunity.
The Jane Tripp Doran History and Literature Scholarship Endowment: Awarded to a junior or senior student majoring in History or Literature.
**The Hal K. and Joan D.
The Jane Tripp Doran Theatre Scholarship Endowment: Awarded to a junior or senior student majoring in Theatre.
The Dennis Stowell Memorial Scholarship: A $1000 annual award for a non-traditional junior or senior majoring in Integrated Engineering with financial need who is not receiving a full PELL Grant or other funding.
**Rulon A.

Grants and Other Aid Programs

In addition to scholarships, SUU students can explore other financial aid options:

Federal Pell Grants

The federal government awards Pell Grants to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need through the FAFSA. These grants do not need to be repaid.

Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS)

This grant subsidizes the cost of child care, potentially covering up to 90% of the expenses.

The Kathy W. Wyatt Tiny T-Bird Scholarship

This scholarship supports student-parents who are using child care services. Eligibility requires applying for CCAMPIS first.

Important Considerations

Scholarship Appeals: SUU provides a scholarship appeal process for students who have missed deadlines or failed to meet GPA requirements due to extenuating circumstances.
Outside Scholarships: Students can use outside scholarships from private and non-profit organizations to supplement their financial aid package.
FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a crucial step in determining eligibility for many financial aid programs. The FAFSA uses financial information from the prior, prior year.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE): SUU participates in the WUE program, offering discounted tuition to residents of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): Undocumented students with DACA status attending institutions of higher education in Utah are required to pay out-of-state tuition.
Some organizations offer educational funding which must be filtered through our office if you are receiving federal aid.

Beyond Financial Aid: Investing in Your Future

While financial aid is essential, it's also important to consider the long-term value of your education. The median income of SUU graduates 10 years after starting is $50,296. Major and career path significantly influence graduate earnings. Graduates of Southern Utah take out a median of $12,500 in federal student loans.

SUU's graduation rate is also noteworthy. 59% of students who start at Southern Utah University finish their degree within six years of enrolling.

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