Intense interest in the Utah Education Fits all scholarship leads to more availability

SALT LAKE CITY — The amount of Utahns interested in an $8,000 education voucher has surpassed the number of available scholarships.

The voucher, made possible by the Utah Education Fits All Scholarship, gives eligible families up to $8,000 to pay for approved education services.

The enrollment period began on Feb. 28, 2024. At that time there were 5,000 available scholarships. 

The Deseret News reported that the number of initial applications was more than double the amount lawmakers had set aside.

Interest in Utah Education Fits All wasn’t a surprise

Utah Education Fits All Executive Director Robyn Bagley said they tried to prepare parents for this scenario.

“We were likely to have far more parents interested than there would be number of scholarships,” she said.

“But this is a long-term situation.”

Because of the intense interest in the program, Bagley said they’ve doubled the number of available scholarships. She said it’s important for parents to keep applying.

“It’s not first-come-first-served,” she said. “If I applied on the day the portal opens vs. the day the portal closes on April 15, that doesn’t increase my chances.”

The program’s webpage indicates that students with a family income of 200% to 555% of the federal poverty level will be the first families considered for the scholarships. 

However, any family in Utah in need of financial help for education, and that has students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, can apply. 

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