University of Wyoming students will have access to more financial aid starting in the fall of 2020. At their July meeting, the UW Board of Trustees voted to expand both merit and need-based scholarship opportunities using institutional funds.

Kyle Moore, associate vice provost for enrollment management, said a university review revealed that financial need stood in the way of degree completion for many undergraduate students.

"We are going to help students who have that demonstrated need financially, and that financial need is currently a barrier between where they are and their bachelor's degree," said Moore.

Even with access to the state-funded Hathaway Scholarship students still, face financial barriers.

"The University of Wyoming is committed to narrowing that gap," said Moore.

So in addition to an increase in merit scholarships for Wyoming high school graduates and for Wyoming community college transfer students with associates degrees, the trustees also allocated $1 million for need-based aid targeted at Wyoming residents.

"There were still students finding themselves in situations that could be supported by the university, so the university is putting some of its resources behind serving that population," said Moore.

Moore said the $1 million in need-based aid will be awarded based solely on financial need, for Wyoming students who are regularly admitted to the university.

Moore added that a commitment to keep UW financially accessible is a part of the university's mission as a land grant university.