Financial Aid Regulations
Federal Financial Aid Regulations
Federal financial aid administration ensures recipients maintain academic progress toward a degree or program while receiving aid. Per Satisfactory Academic Progress federal regulations, students who fail to meet the required credit completion or grade point average will be placed on federal aid warning for one semester. The federal aid team evaluates eligibility each semester. Students who do not meet the standards during the warning period will have their aid suspended but may appeal to restore eligibility.
Recipients must also meet all other federal requirements, avoid owing grant repayments, and not be in default on federal student loans. Federal Aid Counselors are available to assist students facing special or unusual circumstances.
Student Financial Support compiles federal Consumer Information for Utah State University, offering comprehensive details on eligibility, regulations, and related topics.
1 - Undergraduate Federal Aid
Undergraduate federal aid recipients must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, successfully complete at least 67% of attempted courses, and finish their program within the maximum allowable timeframe. Full-time enrollment for undergraduates is defined as 12 or more credits.
Pell Grants are only awarded to students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree, meaning 2B students and graduate students do not qualify, only for Direct Student Loans.
After FAFSA Simplification’s new regulations, the Federal Pell Grant is prorated based on a 12-credit scale to reflect enrollment. For example, a student enrolled in 7 credits will receive 58.3% of their semester Pell Grant award, rounded to the nearest $5.
Federal loan recipients must enroll in a minimum of 6 credits per semester to remain eligible for loans.
Parents of dependent students may apply for Parent PLUS loans at studentaid.gov. Students have the option to seek private educational loans from financial institutions. USU also offers Emergency Loans for qualifying students, with details available through Student Financial Support.
2 - Graduate Federal Aid
Graduate federal aid recipients must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, pass at least 50% of their attempted courses, and complete their degree within the program’s maximum allowable timeframe. At USU, full-time enrollment for graduate students is defined as 9 credits.
Federal loan eligibility requires a minimum enrollment of 5 credits per semester. However, students enrolled in 3 credits may qualify for loans with approval from their graduate program coordinator under specific conditions, such as completing all coursework except thesis or dissertation credits, being in their final defense semester, or finishing a non-thesis program.
Graduate students can apply for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans via FAFSA and Federal Graduate PLUS loans at studentaid.gov. USU also offers Emergency Loans for qualifying graduate students, and private education loans are available through financial institutions. Additional details are provided by Student Financial Support.
3 – Federal Work-Study
Federal Work-Study is available to both undergraduate and graduate students. To determine eligibility, students must complete the FAFSA annually and resolve any outstanding verification tasks. Student Financial Support administers Federal Work-Study funds and works with the Career Design Center to facilitate student recruitment and hiring. The Federal Work-Study team also provides guidance to supervisors and students on program-related questions.
Students can request Federal Work-Study funds through the Student Financial Support website. They can search and apply for Federal Work-Study-eligible on-campus jobs in various departments using Aggie Handshake.
Supervisors in participating departments receive training on job procedures and federal policies. These departments collaborate with Student Financial Support to ensure proper allocation and monitoring of Federal Work-Study funds for each student. Students and departments can consult our website or email workstudy@usu.edu for any questions related to Federal Work-Study.
Institutional and Other Financial Aid Regulations
Undergraduate Students
Utah State University provides hundreds of scholarship opportunities to incoming and continuing students.
USU Students attending any USU location have access to:
Institutional (USU) scholarships
College, Departmental, Major and/or Campus specific scholarships
State of Utah Aid Programs
To access additional information and applications, please visit this link.
1 - Undergraduate Academic Awards
First year and transfer students are considered for USU Academic Awards based on qualifying criteria which may include:
To retain Academic Awards students must maintain the minimum USU GPA and earned credit hours as outlined in the initial scholarship terms and conditions.
2 – Undergraduate Need-Based Awards
First year and transfer students are considered for USU Need Based Awards. To be considered, students must submit the FAFSA. Eligible students will automatically be considered for the Utah State Promise.
3 – Undergraduate Additional Scholarship Opportunities
All students are encouraged to submit the USU General Scholarship Application via ScholarshipUniverse. This application uses student information to match students to institutional and private scholarship opportunities.
The state of Utah offers several programs for students to receive financial support to attend Utah State University.
Department of Workforce Services
The Utah Department of Workforce Services helps pay for a college education for eligible students who are within 2 years of completing their degree or certificate.
Native American Students
Native American students who meet eligibility requirements may be awarded the USU Native American Student Scholarship
Native American students may also be eligible to apply for additional scholarships from their tribal agency.
Graduate Students
Applications for assistantships, fellowships, and other financial support should be made through departmental offices. Utah State University is party to a resolution of the Council of Graduate Schools that establishes April 15 as the deadline for acceptance of offers of financial assistance. If a student accepts an offer before April 15 and then wishes to withdraw, a resignation of the appointment may be submitted in writing at any time prior to April 15. However, after April 15, a student is not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made.
Students who are awarded waivers, fellowships, and/or scholarships must be full-time students enrolled in approved graduate-level coursework and meet the requirements for the duration of the given semester.
1 - Graduate Tuition Awards
Graduate students may be eligible to receive graduate tuition awards for the resident and/or nonresident portion of tuition. Most of these awards are coordinated through the admitting college, department, and program. Domestic students are required to obtain Utah residency before the start of their third semester to minimize the cost of nonresident tuition. Additional information regarding Utah residency requirements can be found here.
Information and applications for the following funding resources can be found at here.
The Alumni Legacy Waiver
Research Nonresident Tuition Waiver
Nonresident Tuition Waiver for Excellence
Supplemental Language Tuition Waiver
Western Regional Graduate Programs (WRGP)
2 - Graduate Assistantships
Teaching, research, and graduate instructor assistantships are offered in many departments, typically limited to 20 hours per week (.5 FTE) to support timely degree completion. Work beyond 20 hours per week requires approval from the student’s advisor, department head, and the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies. Additional details are available on the “Work 20+ Hours” page.
Graduate assistants must be full-time, matriculated students during fall and spring semesters. Full-time enrollment depends on the assistantship’s FTE:
0.125 to 0.374 FTE: At least 9 graduate-level credits.
0.375 to 0.50 FTE: At least 6 graduate-level credits.
Students admitted in summer may work if accepted by their department. For more details, students may talk to their supervisors.
Graduate assistants on a .5 FTE are considered university employees and must have health insurance. Utah State University provides subsidized health insurance through Student Health Services, covering 80% of the premium, with the remainder paid by the student’s department. Students with comparable external coverage may opt out. Eligible students must enroll or waive coverage for both fall and spring semesters. More information is available through Student Health Services or at ship@usu.edu.
To maintain eligibility, graduate assistants must hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher. After a Program of Study is approved, GPA may be calculated based only on courses listed in the program. The School of Graduate Studies monitors GPAs each semester. For new graduate assistants, eligibility is based on the GPA from the last 60 semester credits (or 90 quarter credits).
Graduate assistants may register for up to 12 credits per semester. Taking additional credits requires approval from the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.
Teaching Assistantships/Graduate Instructors
Graduate students may serve as teaching assistants or graduate instructors, with workloads up to a maximum of 20 hours per week. Salaries vary depending on the department and teaching load.
Students awarded a teaching assistantship or graduate instructorship must complete the USU Assistantship training (USU 7920) or an approved department equivalent. International students must also complete IELI 7920. These workshops cover USU policies, FERPA, sexual harassment prevention training, and instructional techniques to help students become effective university instructors.
International students may qualify for teaching assistantships if they demonstrate sufficient English proficiency, as determined by USU’s Intensive English Language Institute, and complete the required training workshops (USU 7920 and IELI 7920), which help them navigate university culture and improve communication skills.
Research Assistantships
Research assistantships are typically funded by research grants and awarded by faculty. To qualify for a Research Non-Resident Tuition waiver, the student must:
Be enrolled in an MS Plan A or Ph.D. program.
Hold a 0.5 FTE assistantship.
Begin the assistantship on the first day of classes and continue through the last day of finals.
Both teaching and research assistantships provide valuable opportunities for graduate students to contribute to academic and research initiatives while gaining professional experience.
3. Fellowships and Scholarships
Fellowship and scholarship awardees are typically matriculated, full-time students enrolled in approved graduate-level coursework. Some fellowships and scholarships may make students eligible for subsidized health insurance. Applications for fellowships and scholarships are submitted to and awarded by the individual departments.
4. Federal Work-Study for Graduate Assistantships
Departments may utilize Federal Work-Study funds to support graduate students in assistantship roles. To qualify, graduate students must complete the FAFSA annually. For additional information or help with the application process, students and departments can contact workstudy@usu.edu.
5. Probationary Status, Eligibility for Assistantship
A student appointed as a university teaching or research assistantship or fellowship and changed to probationary status, will be terminated from their position. The department may submit a petition to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies appealing the student’s status and request to continue the assistantship or fellowship.
6. Other Financial Assistance
Utah State University offers undergraduate students valuable financial assistance through employment opportunities, including the Federal Work-Study program as described above. This need-based aid allows eligible students to earn money for educational expenses by working part-time on campus while enrolled in classes.
Graduate Students not employed as assistantships or fellowships may receive financial assistance by working for departments or other campus units as described above.
These roles not only support students financially but also offer professional development, leadership training, and skill-building experiences. Students can contact the Career & Design Center for specific informatic information and assistance with seeking employment on USU campuses.
Veteran Students Financial Assistance
Some students may be eligible for GI Bill®* Benefits and should contact the Veterans Resource Office for all military-related financial assistance.
*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
