Opportunities for Utah Residents
In addition to tuition assistance, which is available to all families with demonstrated financial need, there are several options available to Utah families to help make an independent school education more affordable.
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The Carson Smith Scholarship (CSS) provides Utah residents with tuition assistance funds to eligible special needs students who are enrolled in eligible private schools. Wasatch Academy is an eligible school. Those students who would qualify for some education and related services if they were to attend a public school may be eligible to get funding from this scholarship.
Students’ demonstrated need might be supported by recommendations in an IEP or educational testing. Once conditions have been met and a student qualified for this funding, the funds are used to assist the family with the tuition payments. Receipt of these scholarship funds does not require the recipient to repay the assistance received.
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The nonprofit Children First Education Fund (CFEF) provides Utah residents with tuition assistance funds to eligible special needs students who are enrolled in eligible private schools. Wasatch Academy is an eligible school. Those students who would qualify for learning and/or mental health support may be eligible to get funding from this scholarship.
A multidisciplinary team that might include Wasatch Academy’s Director of Learning Services and Mental Health Counselors provide documentation supporting this request to CFEF.
The household income and number of children is a factor considered to evaluate eligibility for this support.
Once conditions have been met and a student qualified for this funding, the funds are used to assist the family with the tuition payments. Siblings that do not need learning and/or mental health support may be eligible for some financial support if they attend the same school.
Receipt of these scholarship funds does not require the recipient to repay the assistance received.
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A scholarship that provides funding to support families in their opportunity to give their child an education that fits their unique needs. The scholarship is $8,000 per K-12 student who resides in Utah.
Students receiving the Carson Smith Scholarship or CFEF funding are not eligible.
All Utah residents regardless of income are eligible for the UEFA Scholarship. Priority is given to families with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level ($60,000 for a family of four).
All families, regardless of HHI, are encouraged to complete an application. This will help UEFA demonstrate the need for a larger budget from the State of Utah. The goal is to have this scholarship available to all students.
2025-26 Utah Fits All Application Timeline:January 21, 2025: Application renewal opens for all returning scholarship students.
March 3, 2025: Application opens for new applicants.
April 30, 2025: Application window closes for all applicants (renewal and new).
Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply here.
