Getting in is rarely the hard part at SUU. The university admits roughly four out of five applicants. The real game is the money, and SUU plays it differently than almost any school we cover: the scholarship is set by one number, and out-of-state students can end up paying close to what Utah kids pay.
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Southern Utah University (Read This First)
Only your best number counts. SUU looks at unweighted GPA, ACT, or SAT and uses whichever one gets your student the biggest award. A 3.90 GPA with no test score earns the top Utah award. No superscores, and test-based awards still need at least a 2.3 high school GPA.
The one exception is the President’s Scholarship. It needs a 3.90 GPA and a 30 ACT or 1380 SAT, and your student must be admitted by December 1. For Fall 2027, SUU lists it for Utah residents only.
Out-of-state awards just got smaller. Students starting Fall 2026 got $7,400 a semester from Founders’ Non-Resident. Fall 2027 starters get $7,000. SUU locks in whatever amount it awards, so what you see now is what you keep.
SUU awards do not stack. Multi-year scholarships cannot be combined with other SUU scholarships, and total SUU aid can never go past full tuition. The WUE Merit Bonus is the one built-in add-on.
There is no warning semester. Renewal is checked once a year. Miss the GPA and SUU may “step down” the award to a smaller one if your student has at least a 2.5, or take it away entirely below that.
Main Campus, full-time, traditional age. Academic scholarships require 12+ credits a semester, are meant for students roughly 18 to 24, and disappear if your student switches to SUU Online.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Southern Utah University is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).
Do you need test scores for scholarships at Southern Utah University? Southern Utah needs only one number, GPA or ACT or SAT, for its automatic scholarships, but the resident President's Scholarship needs a test score.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.
Average net price? About $11,840/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
Yes. It participates in WUE.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Southern Utah University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Southern Utah University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$300 to $800 more than the in-state total below.$600 to $1,500 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$15,055
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$7,267
Housing & meals (typical)
$7,788
Total billed cost
$15,055
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$29,983
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$22,195
Housing & meals (typical)
$7,788
Total billed cost
$29,983
That is $14,928 more per year than Utah residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $11,840 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
SUU is part of WUE, but it works differently than at most schools. Instead of billing 150% of resident tuition, SUU gives students from WUE states a flat $12,000-a-year WUE scholarship off non-resident tuition, which left about $9,550 in tuition in 2026-27 (fees extra). WUE-state students with a 3.50+ GPA, 28+ ACT or 1300+ SAT add a $2,000-a-year Merit Bonus. Students from non-WUE (East) states get an automatic Centurium ($12,000/yr) or Founders' ($14,000/yr) award instead. Non-resident scholarships pay for fall and spring only.
What Tuition Actually Looks Like After Automatic Merit
This is the number most families never see laid out. Using SUU’s 2026-27 tuition and the Fall 2027 scholarship amounts (tuition only, before about $645 a year in fees):
Your student is…
Yearly tuition left
Utah resident, no scholarship
$6,622
Utah resident, Fellow’s (3.90 GPA)
$2,122
WUE state, WUE award (2.50 GPA)
$9,550
WUE state, WUE + Merit Bonus (3.50 GPA)
$7,550
East state, Centurium (2.50 GPA)
$9,550
East state, Founders’ (3.70 GPA)
$7,550
Kitchen-table version: a B+ student from Texas or Tennessee pays about $900 a year more in tuition than a Utah student with no scholarship. That is rare. SUU has not set 2027-28 tuition yet, so expect these to move a little.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Southern Utah University
Is SUU’s WUE rate the same as 150% of in-state tuition?
Not quite, and it works in your favor. Most WUE schools charge 150% of resident tuition. SUU instead takes a flat $12,000 a year off the non-resident price. On 2026-27 numbers that left $9,550 in tuition, a bit less than the $9,933 a true 150% rate would cost. SUU’s own WUE page still describes it as 150% and shows last year’s figures, so go by the scholarship index.
We’re not in a WUE state. Is SUU still realistic?
Very. Students from non-WUE states get an automatic Centurium award ($12,000 a year) with as little as a 2.50 GPA, or Founders’ ($14,000 a year) with a 3.70 GPA, a 31 ACT, or a 1390 SAT. Either way your student lands in the same price range as WUE students.
What does housing actually cost?
SUU’s 2026-27 dorm rates run from $3,290 a year (Cedar Hall, shared) to about $4,960 (a large single in Eccles), and Cedar Hall residents must also buy a meal plan. SUU’s own budget uses $7,788 a year for housing and food on campus, which is the figure in the table above.
If my student becomes a Utah resident later, do they switch to the cheaper in-state rate and keep their scholarship?
No, and this one surprises families. SUU’s rules say gaining Utah residency ends the non-resident scholarship, and the student will not be considered for a resident scholarship after using a non-resident one. WUE credits also do not count toward establishing residency. Run the numbers before chasing residency.
Do out-of-state scholarships cover summer classes?
No. SUU’s non-resident scholarships can only be used in fall and spring. Plan summer courses (and their full non-resident price) carefully, or take them at home and transfer them in.
What does “full tuition” leave us paying?
Everything except tuition. Even a President’s Scholarship leaves about $645 a year in mandatory fees, plus housing, food, books, and travel. SUU’s budget also adds about $800 for books, $2,300 for transportation, and $1,600 for personal costs.
Is the average net price really about $11,840?
That is the most recent federal average for first-year students who received grants or scholarships. It mixes Utah and out-of-state students, so use SUU’s Net Price Calculator for your own number.
October 1: FAFSA and the T-Bird Promise application open.
December 1: Be admitted for President’s Scholarship review (Utah residents). Also the Thor’s Pledge and T-Bird Promise priority date.
March 1: Admissions file complete for automatic merit (fall start). Also the mySUU general scholarship deadline.
May 1: Accept your scholarship online.
Parent rule of thumb: if there is any chance your student qualifies for President’s or Thor’s Pledge, treat December 1 as your real deadline.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Southern Utah University
These are awarded automatically once the admissions file is complete. No separate application. SUU uses your student’s single best number (unweighted GPA, ACT, or SAT), so a strong GPA alone is enough. Amounts below are for students starting Fall 2027.
Which ladder is your student on?
Awards available
Top automatic award
Utah resident
Centurium, Deans’, Founders’, Fellow’s
$4,500/yr (3.90 GPA)
WUE state (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, ND, OR, SD, WA, WY)
WUE, WUE Merit Bonus
$14,000/yr (3.50 GPA)
Any other state (“East”)
Centurium Non-Resident, Founders’ Non-Resident
$14,000/yr (3.70 GPA)
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Utah Promise Grant (State of Utah)
📅 Deadline: File the FAFSA each year (no separate application) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Last-dollar grant applied after all other grants, waivers and scholarships, which you must accept first.
💡
Strategic Detail
State need-based grant that can help with tuition and fees for Utah residents (or students who qualify for resident tuition) enrolled in at least 6 credits. Awarded one year at a time and funding-dependent. Ends at a bachelor's degree or 120 credits.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Utah residents with financial need who file the FAFSA and take every other grant offered.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
📅 Deadline: December 1 if you also want President's Scholarship review ✓ Renews (3.3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$4,500/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.9+ GPA✎ ~33 ACT✎ ~1450 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Multi-year awards cannot be combined with other SUU scholarships. If the student is selected for the President's Scholarship, that award replaces Fellow's.
💡
Strategic Detail
$2,250 per semester ($4,500 per year) for students starting Fall 2027, for up to eight semesters. Awarded on your single best number: 3.90+ unweighted GPA, 33+ ACT, or 1450+ SAT. No superscores and no writing sections. Renewal: 3.3 cumulative SUU GPA, 12+ credits each semester, 70% of attempted credits passed. Main Campus only.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Utah residents with a 3.90+ unweighted GPA, even with no test score at all. One qualifying number is enough.
📅 Deadline: December 1 if you also want President's Scholarship review ✓ Renews (3.3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$3,300/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.8+ GPA✎ ~30 ACT✎ ~1360 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Multi-year awards cannot be combined with other SUU scholarships. A higher tier replaces this one.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,650 per semester ($3,300 per year) for students starting Fall 2027, for up to eight semesters. Qualify with a 3.80 to 3.89 unweighted GPA, 30 to 32 ACT, or 1360 to 1440 SAT. Renewal: 3.3 cumulative SUU GPA, 12+ credits, 70% of attempted credits passed.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Utah residents with a 3.80 to 3.89 unweighted GPA, or a 30 to 32 ACT, whichever lands them higher.
📅 Deadline: March 1 (Fall start); November 1 (Spring start) ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.6+ GPA✎ ~27 ACT✎ ~1260 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Multi-year awards cannot be combined with other SUU scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,000 per semester ($2,000 per year) for students starting Fall 2027, for up to eight semesters. Qualify with a 3.60 to 3.79 unweighted GPA, 27 to 29 ACT, or 1260 to 1350 SAT. Renewal: 3.0 cumulative SUU GPA, 12+ credits, 70% of attempted credits passed.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Utah residents with solid grades (3.60 to 3.79) who may never have taken the ACT seriously.
📅 Deadline: March 1 (Fall start); November 1 (Spring start) ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.4+ GPA✎ ~23 ACT✎ ~1130 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Multi-year awards cannot be combined with other SUU scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
$500 per semester ($1,000 per year) for students starting Fall 2027, for up to eight semesters. Qualify with a 3.40 to 3.59 unweighted GPA, 23 to 26 ACT, or 1130 to 1250 SAT. Renewal: 3.0 cumulative SUU GPA, 12+ credits, 70% of attempted credits passed.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Utah residents at the entry tier: a 3.40 GPA or a 23 ACT gets you here.
📅 Deadline: March 1 (Fall start); November 1 (Spring start) ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$14,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.7+ GPA✎ ~31 ACT✎ ~1390 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Multi-year awards cannot be combined with other SUU scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
$7,000 per semester ($14,000 per year) for students starting Fall 2027, for up to eight semesters. Down from $7,400 per semester for Fall 2026 starters. For residents of non-WUE (East) states only. Qualify with a 3.70+ unweighted GPA, 31+ ACT, or 1390+ SAT. Leaves about $3,775 per semester in tuition at 2026-27 rates. Renewal: 3.0 cumulative SUU GPA. Fall and spring only.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students from outside the WUE region with a 3.70+ unweighted GPA. No test needed.
📅 Deadline: March 1 (Fall start); November 1 (Spring start) ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$12,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA✎ ~18 ACT✎ ~960 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Multi-year awards cannot be combined with other SUU scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
$6,000 per semester ($12,000 per year) for students starting Fall 2027, for up to eight semesters. For non-WUE (East) states. Qualify with a 2.50 to 3.69 unweighted GPA, 18 to 30 ACT, or 960 to 1380 SAT. Renewal: 3.0 cumulative SUU GPA (higher than the WUE renewal bar). Fall and spring only.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most out-of-state students from East states. The floor is a 2.50 GPA or an 18 ACT.
Automatic
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Eight-Semester Renewable Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 1 (Fall start); November 1 (Spring start) ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$12,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA✎ ~18 ACT✎ ~960 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Only the WUE Merit Bonus adds on top. Other multi-year awards cannot be combined.
💡
Strategic Detail
$6,000 per semester ($12,000 per year) off non-resident tuition, for up to eight semesters. At SUU this is a flat dollar award, not a true 150%-of-resident rate: it left about $9,550 in 2026-27 tuition, slightly less than 150% of resident tuition would. For residents of WUE states (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, ND, OR, SD, WA, WY, CNMI). Qualify with a 2.50+ GPA, 18+ ACT, or 960+ SAT. Renewal: 2.0 cumulative SUU GPA. Fall and spring only. SUU's WUE page still shows 2025-26 figures.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nearly every admitted student from a WUE state. Students from WUE states cannot receive Founders' Non-Resident; the Merit Bonus is their upgrade path.
Automatic
WUE Merit Bonus Eight-Semester Renewable Scholarship (West States)
📅 Deadline: March 1 (Fall start); November 1 (Spring start) ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~28 ACT✎ ~1300 SAT
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds on top of the $12,000 WUE award for $14,000 a year total.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,000 per semester ($2,000 per year) on top of WUE for students starting Fall 2027, leaving about $3,775 per semester in tuition at 2026-27 rates. Cutoffs are from SUU's printable West index; SUU's web table shows 31 ACT / 1390 SAT, and its web list shows 1300 SAT, so confirm with SUU if your student sits between 28 and 30 on the ACT.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
WUE-state students with a 3.50+ GPA, 28+ ACT, or 1300+ SAT. A lower bar than the 3.70 East students need for the same $14,000.
Data last verified Oct 7, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: GPA is unweighted on a 4.00 scale. ACT and SAT writing sections are ignored, and superscores are not accepted. Students receive one multi-year academic award; the WUE Merit Bonus is the only one that adds on top.
Automatic Merit: FAQs (Southern Utah University)
Does my student need an ACT or SAT score to get SUU merit money?
No. Every automatic award can be earned with GPA alone. A test only helps if it lands your student in a higher tier than their GPA does, and it is required only for the President’s Scholarship.
What is the WUE Merit Bonus?
It is an extra $2,000 a year on top of the $12,000 WUE award for students from WUE states with a 3.50 GPA, a 28 ACT, or a 1300 SAT. SUU’s web table lists a higher test bar (31 ACT / 1390 SAT) than its printable index, so if your student’s ACT is 28 to 30, confirm with Financial Aid.
Why can’t a California student get Founders’ Non-Resident?
Founders’ Non-Resident is only for students from non-WUE states. WUE-state students get WUE plus the Merit Bonus instead, which reaches the same $14,000 a year with a lower GPA requirement.
What GPA keeps the award?
Fellow’s and Founders’ (resident) need a 3.3 SUU GPA. Deans’, Centurium, Centurium Non-Resident, and Founders’ Non-Resident need a 3.0. WUE and the Merit Bonus need only a 2.0. All of them require 12+ credits a semester and passing 70% of attempted credits.
What if my student misses the renewal GPA?
SUU’s step-down program may move them to a lower award for their remaining semesters if they have at least a 2.5 SUU GPA and 70% completion. Below that, the scholarship ends. An appeal is possible for circumstances truly out of their control.
Will the award go up if SUU raises amounts later?
No. SUU says it may not increase awards for current students when amounts rise for new students. The amount on your student’s acceptance is the amount they keep.
SUU’s “big” awards fall into two buckets: the President’s Scholarship (full tuition for top Utah students) and two need-based awards (Thor’s Pledge and T-Bird Promise) that open on October 1 and reward families who move early. There is no essay-and-interview flagship program like you see at larger universities.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at SUU?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
SUU Parent Translation
Automatic merit
One only
Your student gets one multi-year award. WUE plus Merit Bonus is the only built-in combo.
President’s / GHA
Replaces
Full tuition replaces the automatic award rather than adding to it.
Thor’s Pledge
Fills the gap
Last-dollar: it pays whatever tuition and fees are left after Pell and other scholarships.
T-Bird Promise / Sterling Scholar
Usually yes
Can sit on top of a partial award, but not alongside full tuition.
Housing, ROTC, outside aid
Yes
These cover costs merit never touches, like rent, books, and stipends.
The ceiling
Hard cap
Total SUU scholarships can never go above full tuition.
If your student is a Utah resident from a family earning $65,000 or less, Thor’s Pledge may matter more than any merit tier. Paired with Pell, it can take tuition and student fees to zero, but only for families who finish the FAFSA, enrollment deposit, and SUU’s T-Bird Take-Off Questionnaire early.
📅 Deadline: December 1 is the only deadline; there is no later round ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Utah-resident freshmen with a 3.9+ GPA and a 30+ ACT (or 1380+ SAT) can compete for full tuition for four years.
🏫 3.9+ GPA✎ ~30 ACT✎ ~1380 SAT👥 ~Limited number of awards each year , selected via comprehensive review winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Replaces any lower resident academic award. Covers tuition only, not the roughly $645 in yearly fees or housing.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to SUU and be admitted by December 1. Students who meet both thresholds are notified about the application step by SUU; there is no public form. Watch email closely in December.
💡
Strategic Detail
Full resident tuition ($3,311 per semester at 2026-27 rates) for up to eight semesters. The only SUU merit award that needs BOTH a 3.90+ unweighted GPA AND a 30+ ACT or 1380+ SAT. Limited number of awards after a comprehensive review. For Fall 2027, SUU lists it for Utah residents only. Renewal: 3.5 cumulative SUU GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Utah residents with near-perfect grades who also have a strong test score, and who are admitted by December 1.
Full TuitionAutomatic
Thor's Pledge Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 (FAFSA, enrollment deposit, and T-Bird Take-Off Questionnaire all done) · 📢 Results: After January 1 for Fall semester ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition_and_fees
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Funding-limited , awards continue until each year's allocation is exhausted winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Works on top of Pell and other scholarships by filling whatever tuition and fees remain. Award adjusts if Pell or other aid changes.
💡
Strategic Detail
Last-dollar award that covers tuition and student fees after Pell and other scholarships (program and course fees not covered). For Utah residents who are Pell-eligible or report household income of $65,000 or less on the FAFSA. Full-time, Main Campus, first bachelor's degree. Renewable up to eight semesters with a 3.0 GPA and 70% completion. Cannot be deferred. SUU's page still describes the 2026-27 cycle; confirm the 2027-28 version.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Utah families at or under $65,000 in income who file the FAFSA early and finish the deposit and questionnaire by December 1.
App Required
T-Bird Promise Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: Awards begin March 1 and continue through spring and summer ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$800–$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Funding-limited each year , applications close when allocation is exhausted winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can sit on top of a partial academic award, but not alongside any full-tuition award.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to SUU, then submit the T-Bird Promise application in the SUU applicant portal (opens October 1) with a short essay about your need and background. File the FAFSA. Awards go out starting March 1.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
SUU lists awards of $400 to $1,000 per semester ($800 to $2,000 per year), renewable up to eight semesters with a 2.0 GPA, 70% completion and full-time enrollment. The same page also says it can award up to full tuition; the resident scholarship index says up to $1,000 more. Need-based, short essay required. Students who already have a full-tuition award are not eligible.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming students who apply in October or November with a clear, honest essay about their need. SUU says to apply even if you do not think you have need.
Data last verified Oct 7, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How do you apply for the President’s Scholarship?
There is no public form. Utah students who are admitted by December 1 with a 3.90 GPA and a 30 ACT or 1380 SAT are contacted by SUU about the review step. Watch your student’s email closely in December. There is no second round.
Is there still a President’s Scholarship for out-of-state students?
Not for Fall 2027 entrants, based on SUU’s current grid. SUU lists the December 1 President’s deadline as resident only, and no non-resident President’s award appears on the Fall 2027 scholarship indexes. Out-of-state students top out at $14,000 a year in automatic merit.
Who qualifies for Thor’s Pledge?
Incoming Utah residents who are Pell-eligible or report household income of $65,000 or less on the FAFSA, enroll full-time on Main Campus, and are working on a first bachelor’s degree. It renews with a 3.0 GPA and 70% completion. SUU’s page still describes the 2026-27 cycle, so confirm the details for your year.
How much is T-Bird Promise really worth?
SUU’s page says awards run $400 to $1,000 per semester, though it also says the scholarship “can award up to full tuition.” Plan on the smaller number. It needs a short essay about your need, and SUU tells students to apply even if they do not think they have need.
Is SUU a National Merit or Stamps school?
No. SUU does not run a National Merit package or a Stamps partnership, so the President’s Scholarship is the top merit prize.
What should students prepare?
For T-Bird Promise, an honest essay about their background and need. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize the story.
Automatic merit finds your student. Almost nothing else does. SUU’s extra money sits behind separate doors, each with its own form and date:
October to December: FAFSA, T-Bird Promise application, enrollment deposit, and T-Bird Take-Off Questionnaire.
November 1 to February 1: Scholarship Housing application.
By March 1: The general scholarship application in mySUU, plus Alumni Legacy or the Sterling Scholar certificate if they apply.
Screenshot every confirmation.
Parent translation: the merit award covers part of tuition. These forms are how families chip away at rent, fees, and the rest.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These are not automatic, and several are limited to Utah students or specific situations. A couple of them, like Scholarship Housing and the Governor’s Honors Academy, are the kind of thing families only hear about from someone who has been through it.
Full TuitionApp Requiredpipelinegeographic
Governor's Honors Academy (GHA) Eight-Semester Renewable Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Summer 2027 academy applications open January 1, 2027 (current high school juniors) ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Utah high school juniors who finish SUU's nine-day Governor's Honors Academy earn four years of full tuition at SUU.
🏫 3.8+ GPA👥 ~About 50 participants per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Multi-year award; cannot be combined with other SUU scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
As a junior, apply at suu.edu/gha when applications open January 1, include your transcript, and attend the full academy in June. Then apply to SUU.
Selection criteria: Holistic review of rigor of coursework, GPA, community and school involvement, writing ability, and creativity to select top applicants for the academy.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Full resident tuition ($3,311 per semester at 2026-27 rates) for up to eight semesters for students who complete the entire nine-day Governor's Honors Academy at SUU, plus 6 college credits. Open to Utah high school juniors who are U.S. citizens with a 3.75+ GPA in grades 9 to 11. SUU lists the academy cost as $1,300 on one page and $1,500 on another; sponsorship help is available. About 50 students are selected each year. Renewal: 3.5 SUU GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Utah juniors with strong grades, real involvement, and solid writing, who plan a summer around it.
App Required
Alumni Legacy Non-Resident Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 1 Non-Renewable
$13,816/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 2.8+ GPA✎ ~18 ACT✎ ~960 SAT👥 ~Limited number of awards each year , first-come, first-served winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Cannot be combined with any other SUU scholarship. Taking it means giving up a renewable WUE, Centurium or Founders' award.
📄
How to Apply
Be admitted and enrolled as a first-time non-resident student, then submit the Alumni Legacy application on SUU's financial aid site with proof of the parent's SUU degree.
💡
Strategic Detail
$6,908 per semester ($13,816) for the freshman year only. For non-resident first-time students with at least one parent who earned an associate degree or higher from SUU (including Southern Utah State College or College of Southern Utah). Needs a 2.8+ GPA, 18+ ACT, or 960+ SAT. Created by Utah HB 349 (2018). Cannot be combined with other SUU scholarships.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Children of SUU alumni who would not otherwise qualify for a renewable non-resident award. For almost everyone else, the four-year award is worth far more.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Scholarship Housing (Dixie & Anne Leavitt Foundation)
📅 Deadline: Apply early in November while units remain ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A housing award, so it sits alongside tuition scholarships rather than replacing them.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Dixie & Anne Leavitt Off-Campus Scholarship Housing Application online beginning November 1, including FAFSA completion and required information; awards are tied to specific Leavitt housing assignments.
Selection criteria: Awards are based on FAFSA-documented financial need, GPA threshold, and housing availability within Leavitt properties.
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers 50%, 60% or 75% of rent in off-campus apartments owned by Leavitt Land and Investments (SUU does not own or operate them). Full-time enrollment, a completed FAFSA, and a 3.0 GPA (high school or SUU) required. Singles share a room; no pets. Annual application, renewable up to eight semesters. As of October 2026 SUU still showed the closed 2026-27 cycle; the next one typically opens November 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.0+ GPA and FAFSA on file who apply as soon as the window opens and are fine with roommates and off-campus living.
App Requiredpipeline
Sterling Scholar Award (T-Bird Promise, $1,000/yr)
📅 Deadline: March 1 (admissions file complete); send your certificate as soon as possible ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Utah regional Sterling Scholar winners and runners-up get an extra $1,000 a year that stacks with SUU merit.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
SUU says this may stack with other academic scholarships, as long as total tuition aid does not exceed tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Complete SUU admission by March 1, then send Financial Aid a copy of your regional winner or runner-up certificate.
💡
Strategic Detail
$500 per semester ($1,000 per year) for up to eight semesters. Renews with a 2.0 SUU GPA. Funding-contingent.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Regional Sterling Scholar category winners and runners-up from Utah high schools.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ Upperclassmen Onlymajor specific
Grace A. Tanner Scholarship & Fellowship (Human Values Certificate)
📅 Deadline: Varies by program; scholarship portal listing specifies the application window and due date each year. Non-Renewable
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
⚠ One student a year earns a year of full in-state tuition through the Human Values Certificate; up to two more get half.
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~One Scholar (full tuition) and up to two Fellows (half tuition) per year winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-year award; total SUU scholarships still cannot exceed full tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Complete or be in the process of completing the Human Values Certificate through the Tanner Center, then apply through the SUU scholarship portal for the Grace A. Tanner Scholarship with required materials by the posted deadline.
Selection criteria: Applications are reviewed on engagement with the Human Values Certificate, academic performance, and commitment to ethics, leadership, and civic engagement as reflected in application materials.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
The Tanner Scholarship pays full in-state tuition for one year (two semesters) to one student enrolled in or finished with the Human Values Certificate. Up to two Tanner Fellows receive half in-state tuition for a year and work up to five hours a week in the Tanner Center.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Upper-division students engaged with the Tanner Center who have completed or are completing the Human Values Certificate and submit strong applications highlighting ethics, leadership, and civic engagement.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Aviation Program Scholarships (mySUU portal)
📅 Deadline: Varies by award; many follow the March 1 portal deadline Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Departmental awards follow their own rules; total SUU aid still cannot exceed tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through SUU’s aviation department or scholarship portal for program-specific awards supporting flight labs, ground school, or pilot training; some awards require a completed FAFSA and departmental review.
Selection criteria: Departmental review often considers academic performance in aviation coursework, progression toward ratings, and financial need where applicable.
💡
Strategic Detail
SUU's scholarship portal lists a run of aviation awards marked Varied Dollars, mostly for students already deep in flight training: completing the private pilot lab, CFI labs, rotor-wing students, military-connected students. One award pays up to $7,000 a year of interest on a private flight-training loan near program completion. Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Aviation majors with a 3.0+ GPA who are progressing through flight labs and apply every year.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
General, Endowment & Departmental Scholarships (mySUU portal)
📅 Deadline: March 1 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies by department and funding. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Department rules vary; total SUU aid cannot exceed full tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Log into mySUU, complete the Current Student & Departmental Scholarship Application by March 1, and answer every optional question so you get matched.
Selection criteria: Departments typically evaluate GPA, involvement, leadership, and fit with program priorities; criteria vary by specific award.
💡
Strategic Detail
Hundreds of donor and department awards across business, nursing, education, aviation, the arts and more, all applied for through one mySUU application due March 1. Most list Varied Dollars; a few specify amounts (some $500 to $1,500). Many target juniors and seniors, but several are open to incoming freshmen or students from specific Utah and Nevada counties and high schools.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who fill out the general application every year and match the oddly specific ones: hometown county, major, first-generation, non-traditional.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Army ROTC & National Guard Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Follows Army ROTC national and campus timelines ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Military benefits coordinate with SUU aid; confirm how your award letter applies them.
📄
How to Apply
Complete SUU admission, then contact SUU's Army ROTC program for current scholarship availability.
Selection criteria: Selection is based on academic performance, physical fitness, leadership potential, and commitment to military service.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
SUU lists: a State Tuition Waiver and up to $5,000 a year in State Tuition Assistance for National Guard members; an ROTC Active Duty scholarship with $10,000 a year toward room and board, $420 a month and $1,200 a year for books (over $11,000 a year); and an ROTC GRFD scholarship that adds a 100% tuition waiver to the same package (over $18,000 a year).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students willing to take on a service commitment, especially Guard-bound students eligible for the GRFD package.
Data last verified Oct 7, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Should my out-of-state student take the Alumni Legacy Scholarship?
Usually not. It pays $13,816, but for freshman year only, and it cannot be combined with other SUU scholarships. Compared with a renewable $12,000 WUE or Centurium award, your student gains about $1,800 in year one and gives up roughly $36,000 over the next three years. It mainly helps an alumni child who would not qualify for a renewable award.
What is Scholarship Housing?
A rent discount of 50%, 60%, or 75% in off-campus apartments owned by Leavitt Land and Investments. SUU does not own or operate them. Your student needs a 3.0 GPA, the FAFSA, and full-time enrollment, must be willing to share a room, and cannot have pets. Applications have opened November 1 and closed February 1.
How does the Governor’s Honors Academy turn into full tuition?
Utah high school juniors with a 3.75+ GPA apply (applications open January 1). About 50 students are chosen for a nine-day summer academy at SUU, and those who attend the whole thing earn 6 college credits and a four-year full-tuition SUU scholarship. The academy itself costs about $1,300 to $1,500 (SUU’s pages list both), and sponsors can help.
My student was a Sterling Scholar. Does that matter at SUU?
Yes. Regional category winners and runners-up get $1,000 a year for up to eight semesters, and SUU says it may stack with academic scholarships. Finish admission by March 1 and send Financial Aid the certificate.
What is the Utah Promise Program Grant?
A state need-based grant for Utah residents that helps cover tuition and fees after other aid. There is no separate form: file the FAFSA and accept every other grant offered. It is awarded one year at a time and depends on state funding. Utah’s Talent Development Award works similarly for students heading into high-demand fields.
Does ROTC really help with housing at SUU?
SUU lists an Army ROTC package with $10,000 a year toward room and board, $420 a month, and $1,200 a year for books. The GRFD version adds a 100% tuition waiver. National Guard members can also get a state tuition waiver and up to $5,000 a year in tuition assistance.
Is there help with aviation costs?
Yes, but mostly after your student is in the program. Aviation scholarships in mySUU reward milestones like finishing the private pilot lab, and one pays up to $7,000 a year of interest on a private flight-training loan near graduation. Ask the aviation department about total flight-lab costs before committing.
SUU has an Honors Program (not a separate Honors College) that has been around since 1999 and draws students from more than 50 majors. The application is open all year, and SUU does not post a GPA or test cutoff for incoming students. It looks for curiosity, strong achievement, and a willingness to contribute.
How to apply: Online application plus a $25 fee. High school students do not need to meet with the director, though they can.
Staying in: Keep a 3.5 cumulative GPA, average about 3 honors credits a semester, and attend one honors event a month.
Graduating with University Honors: 21 honors credits (including HONR 1040, 2040, and 3040) and a capstone project.
Perks: Priority registration, the Honors Commons in the library, free printing there, and optional Honors Hall in the Eccles Living Learning Center.
Honors Scholarships & Funding
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Honors Undergraduate Research & Travel Grants
📅 Deadline: Rolling , varies by grant cycle during the academic year Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA👥 ~Limited pool each year , number of funded projects depends on Honors program resources winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Project funding that sits on top of tuition scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a proposal through the SUU Honors Program describing your research project or conference travel, with a budget and faculty support. Honors Program staff route proposals through the relevant funding cycles.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
SUU lists access to Honors Undergraduate Research and Travel Grants as an Honors Program benefit. SUU does not publish award amounts. Honors students must keep a 3.5 cumulative GPA to stay fully engaged.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Active SUU Honors students with well-designed research questions, creative projects, or conference presentations and a faculty mentor backing the proposal. Strong, specific budgets get funded faster than vague asks.
Data last verified Oct 7, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Honest note: Joining Honors at SUU does not come with a scholarship by itself. The tuition money is in the automatic tiers and the President’s Scholarship. For Utah students, the “honors-style” route to full tuition is actually the Governor’s Honors Academy as a junior.
Other Research & Travel Money at SUU
Honors Undergraduate Research & Travel Grants: For active honors students; amounts are not published.
CONNECT Travel Grants: Competitive awards up to $1,000 for travel tied to a student project.
Department awards: Many majors fund conference travel and research through the mySUU scholarship application.
Honors Program: FAQs (Southern Utah University)
Is there a minimum GPA or test score to get in?
SUU does not publish one for incoming freshmen. Once in, students need a 3.5 cumulative GPA to remain fully engaged.
Does my student have to live in Honors Hall?
No. Honors Hall is optional, for students who want to live with other honors students.
Are honors classes harder?
SUU says students rarely describe them as harder, but they involve more discussion, reading, and writing. Honors credit can come from honors sections of gen-ed classes or “contracts” added to regular courses, so it does not have to add semesters.
Can current or transfer students join?
Yes. They apply and meet with the director to make sure the requirements can still be finished.
SUU calls itself the “University of the Parks,” and that is not just marketing. Cedar City sits within easy driving distance of Zion, Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, and the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. The school leans into that with hands-on programs that use the landscape as a classroom, and it pairs it with something no other campus its size has: a Tony Award-winning professional theater festival on campus.
Nationally Known Program: Theatre and the Utah Shakespeare Festival: The festival runs as part of SUU, so theatre, dance, and arts administration students learn alongside working professionals. It is a big reason Cedar City is nicknamed “Festival City.”
Aviation: One of the few public universities training both airplane and helicopter pilots. It is also one of the most expensive majors anywhere because of flight-lab costs, so plan the money early.
Nursing: One of SUU’s most in-demand programs, with competitive entry and a long list of nursing-specific scholarships in the portal.
Outdoor Recreation in Parks & Tourism: A program built around the surrounding national parks and public lands.
Business: The Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business, with strong accounting and finance tracks and a deep pool of donor scholarships.
Education: The Beverley Taylor Sorenson College of Education & Human Development turns out a large share of the region’s teachers.
🔗 Official Southern Utah University Links
Use SUU’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship terms, and costs. When anything here and SUU’s site disagree, SUU’s site wins.
Here’s SUU in one sentence: it is one of the few public universities where the out-of-state price and the in-state price are close enough to argue about. A solid B+ student from almost anywhere can get tuition into the $7,500 to $9,500 range without writing a single essay, because SUU only needs one good number.
The catch is in the fine print. The awards do not stack, the amounts are locked the day they are given, and there is no grace semester if grades slip. Utah families should circle December 1 for President’s and Thor’s Pledge. Everyone should get the file done well before March 1, then go back for the extras most families miss: Scholarship Housing, the general scholarship application in mySUU, and Sterling Scholar or ROTC money if they apply. If your student loves the outdoors, the stage, or the idea of flying, Cedar City is a genuinely affordable place to do it.
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Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site to give other families the plain-English version, with no paywall and no lead forms.
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