The Utah House Education Committee has supported legislation which would cover the costs of tuition and other fees of students who cant afford to attend colleges and universities within the state.
Last week, the HB260 bill, introduced by Rep. Derrin Owens, passed by a vote of 69-3-3 in Utah’s House of Representatives. The bill proposes establishing the “Access Utah Promise Scholarship program.”
A recent report by The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS) ranked the state of Utah No. 1 in the country for the lowest level of debt among students. The report, which was released on September 19, revealed that Utah student graduates have an average debt of $18,838 – much less than the national average of $28,650.
The “Access Utah Promise Scholarship program,” replicated after preexisting initiatives at Weber State University and Salt Lake Community College, would cover the tuition costs and other fees of low-income students whose federal financial aid falls short of these expenses.
Students who opt to study in-state colleges, universities and technical colleges will be eligible under the program. HB260 will now advance to the Utah State Senate for further consideration.
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