LOGAN — Utah State University had one of the highest rates of federal student aid participation among public colleges in the state during the 2022-23 academic year, according to a new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
More than a quarter of USU undergraduates—25.7%—received Pell Grants, a federally funded program aimed at helping students from low-income households. That rate places USU ahead of most other public institutions in Utah, including the University of Utah, Weber State and Southern Utah University.
The average Pell Grant award for a USU student was $5,537.
Meanwhile, 24.2% of USU undergraduates took out federal student loans, with the average loan amount totaling $7,550—again among the highest for Utah’s public universities.
Across the state, Utah students received a total of $1.6 billion in federal financial aid during the 2022-23 school year, including $1.1 billion in loans and $527 million in Pell Grants. According to the report, more than 300,000 Utahns currently hold student loan debt, totaling $10.9 billion.
The report notes that while Utah residents carry some of the lowest student loan debt per capita in the nation, federal financial aid remains a key factor in helping students complete degrees and enter the workforce more quickly.
The data, compiled by the U.S. Department of Education and analyzed by the Kem C. Gardner Institute, underscores the role that USU continues to play in providing access to higher education for thousands of Utahns—especially those from families with limited financial means.