Waivers
Department Waivers
Research Nonresident Tuition Waiver
Who: Nonresident graduate students with a 0.5 FTE assistantship
Funding Amount: Nonresident portion of tuition
Duration: Up to 2 semesters for U.S. students
Apply Through: Department/College
- Students who are in an M.S. Plan A program or a Ph.D. program and hold a 0.5 FTE graduate assistantship (Teaching or Research) for the entire semester (from the first day of classes through the last day of finals) are eligible for the Research Waiver of non-resident tuition for that semester.
- Eligibility for this waiver is verified using information supplied by the department to the School of Graduate Studies.
- There is an expectation that students will gain residency after one year.
- Students who cannot gain residency (e.g. international students) may receive the waiver beyond one year if they continue to meet eligibility requirements.
- Research Nonresident Tuition Waiver
Assistantships are awarded by colleges/departments. Students should contact their department or graduate program coordinator for more information.
Nonresident Tuition Waiver for Excellence
Who: Incoming nonresident graduate students with a record of excellence
Funding Amount: Nonresident portion of tuition
Duration: One year
Apply Through: Department/College
- USU may waive the nonresident portion of tuition for the first year of any incoming graduate student who has an admission GPA above their college average and meets the criteria of excellence as defined by their college and/or department.
- Meeting GPA requirements is not a guarantee of receiving the waiver as a limited number of students may receive the waiver.
- This waiver is available to students in any graduate degree program.
- NOTE: Not allowed for students in programs that are strictly online and not on campus.
- The non-resident portion of tuition will be waived for two semesters for any incoming graduate student who has an admission GPA above the college average and meets the definition of excellence outlined by each college.
- College averages for admission GPA will be computed each October, based on students who are enrolled for the fall semester; those averages will determine waiver eligibility the following academic year.
- Colleges will nominate students for this award.
- The Colleges must submit the request for the Excellence Waiver in ServiceNow.
- Nonresident Tuition Waiver for Excellence
Students should contact their department or graduate program coordinator for more information.
Utah State University Waivers
Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) Waiver
Who: Incoming nonresident graduate students in approved WICHE programs
Funding Amount: Nonresident portion of tuition
Duration: Unlimited
Apply Through: The School of Graduate Studies
- Students who meet the School of Graduate Studies admission criteria and are a resident of participating states may enroll in graduate programs approved as Western Regional Graduate Programs (WRGP) by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) without paying nonresident tuition.
- Please visit Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education for more information.
- NOTE: The WRGP Waiver is added to the student’s account when the waiver is approved.
- It can take 5-7 business days from the time of submission date.
- The student’s account will still say Non-Resident, but they will be charged the resident tuition rate, which they can check by reviewing the most up-to-date Tuition and Fees Table.
- Students will be sent an email to the email address associated with their A# notifying them that the waiver has been approved.
- NOTE: Online programs are ineligible for the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) Waiver.
Alumni Legacy Nonresident Waiver
Who: Incoming nonresident students with at least one parent who earned an associate’s degree or higher from USU and is enrolled as a first-time graduate student at Utah State University.
Funding Amount: Nonresident portion of tuition
Duration: One year
Apply Through: The School of Graduate Studies
- The Alumni Legacy Nonresident waiver is available to nonresident students whose parent earned a degree from Utah State University. Qualifying students will have the nonresident portion of tuition waived for their first year while they gain Utah residency.
- Qualifying students will have the nonresident portion of tuition waived for their first year while they gain Utah residency.
To qualify, a student must:
- Be admitted into a graduate program.
- Be enrolled as a first-semester graduate student at USU.
- Have at least one parent (biological, step, or legal guardian) who earned an associate degree or higher from USU.
- Remain in good standing.
- The Legacy Waiver is applied when it goes to SGS Business Manager’s queue, and they apply it, which is usually done within 5-7 business days from when the request is submitted in ServiceNow.
- NOTE: Online programs are ineligible for the Alumni Legacy Nonresident Waiver.
Utah Immigrant Nonresident Tuition Exception (HB144)
Who: For undocumented students who graduated from a Utah high school
Funding Amount: Nonresident portion of tuition
Duration: Unlimited
Apply Through: Utah State University Scholarships
HB 144 is a House Bill that was passed in 2002 in the state of Utah that allows qualifying undocumented students to pay in-state tuition if they attend a Utah college or university. To qualify for this waiver, students must meet the following criteria:
- Attended a Utah high school for at least 3 years.
- Graduated from a Utah high school with a diploma or G.E.D.
- Must not be registered as an entering student at a Utah college or university before the fall semester 2002.
- Filed an application to legalize immigration status or will file an application as soon as eligible to do so.
This exemption of nonresident tuition will not be considered until you are an admitted student to Utah State University. If you do not attend Utah State University as an undergraduate student, you must provide high school transcripts showing your graduation date.
Policies about graduate tuition waivers can be reviewed in the SGS Catalog Section B.