Utah State University is offering the Aggie Advantage Grant to provide up to $1,000 for qualifying new undergraduate students during the 2026-2027 academic year. The initiative targets first-time and transfer students attending USU for the first time in summer or fall 2026.
All eligible new students will receive a $500 grant. Students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 8,000 or less are eligible for an additional $500, bringing the total potential award to $1,000.
To qualify for the grant, students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and must complete the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1, 2026. Additionally, applicants must register for fall 2026 courses by May 1, 20 6, and be enrolled in at least 12 credits by the add/drop deadline of the semester.
The funds are intended to cover various educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books, housing, food, or transportation. For those receiving the full $1,000 award, the first $500 is distributed during the first week of the fall 2026 semester, while the remaining $500 is posted during the first week of the spring 2027 semester, provided the student maintains a 2.0 GPA by January 11, 2027.
The university stated that this grant was established because Utah ranks 48th out of 50 states for FAFSA completion rates. By incentivizing the application process, the university hopes to help students access all available federal and state aid.
While the grant is considered a resource that may reduce certain types of federal aid like loans or work-study, it will not reduce Pell Grants, institutional academic awards, or the USU Promise. Students can confirm their enrollment to auto-accept the grant.
