Wyoming Hathaway Scholarships

The Hathaway Scholarship was established to help Wyoming’s students prepare for and pursue their post-secondary education in the state.

The scholarship has its roots in Governor Stanley Hathaway’s 1974 decision to create the state of Wyoming Permanent Mineral Trust Fund. The fund’s income would support state government operations – including higher education in Wyoming.

In 2005, state lawmakers created a scholarship fund with a $400 million permanent endowment, whose income funds scholarships for qualified Wyoming high school graduates to attend the University of Wyoming or any of the state’s seven community colleges. They honored Hathaway’s many contributions to the state and accomplishments by naming the scholarship program for him.

The Hathaway Scholarship program has turned Governor Hathaway’s dream of building a better Wyoming into a reality by making attending college possible through merit- and need-based scholarships for qualified Wyoming high school graduates.

What does the Hathaway Scholarship do?

The Hathaway Scholarship helps students attend college by helping to pay for tuition. It can be used at the University of Wyoming or at any of the Wyoming’s Community Colleges.

Who is eligible for a Hathaway Scholarship?

Every Wyoming middle and high school student is automatically eligible for the Hathaway Scholarship, but they must maintain certain GPA scores and meet certain class requirements throughout high school in order to graduate with it. You can find the specifics here.

Why is the state paying for college?

It’s all about the economy. The scholarship is funded by the Wyoming Permanent Mineral Trust Fund. Wyoming has no state income tax, which means that your tax dollars are not actually going into the scholarship – unless you own an oil or gas company. This small investment at the beginning of a college student’s career will have major positive returns for Wyoming’s economic future.