Applications for the 2026-27 academic year have now closed
Applications for the 2027-28 academic year will open in late Fall 2026.
The S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Utah State University embodies the university’s land-grant mission through its commitment to education, research, and community engagement. The college provides outstanding educational opportunities across the Logan campus and statewide system. The Quinney College is diverse, spanning agriculture, natural resources, and applied sciences, yet every department shares a commitment to innovative experiential learning, hands-on research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Quinney College integrates applied research, teaching, and outreach to prepare students to address complex local and global challenges in a wide range of areas including sustainable agriculture, ecosystem management, water and land management, food security, technological innovation, and much more. Through immersive field experiences, internships, and research opportunities, students gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become leaders in their fields. By fostering innovation, service, and sustainability, the Quinney College advances Utah State University’s land-grant mission and shape the next generation of professionals who will improve lives, protect natural resources, and support resilient communities locally, nationally, and globally.
Scholarship Profile
Our namesake student scholarship embodies the mission of the college. The world’s most pressing challenges are interdisciplinary: managing land and ecosystems, protecting air and water quality, and enhancing human wellbeing in dynamic social-ecological systems. The S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney Scholarship seeks students who will engage across these boundaries—including environment and natural resources, agriculture and food systems, and design and technology—to develop and apply science-informed, practical, and equitable solutions to local-to-global problems.
Recipients will become ambassadors for the mission of the Quinney College: to cultivate knowledge, stewardship, innovation, and community in service of the planet and society.
First established in 1989, the Quinney Scholarship supports the next generation of leaders who will take on the critical challenges facing our land, air, water, and human wellbeing. The scholarship is highly selective, and recipients will become part of a cohort of 20-25 current Quinney Scholarship recipients in the Quinney College, joining a larger community of over 350 alumni Quinney Scholars.
The scholarship supports incoming undergraduates (freshman and transfer students) entering any bachelor’s degree program within the S. J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources at Utah State University. Recipients will receive $8,000 per year for up to four years, contingent on satisfactory academic progress, continued enrollment in a Quinney College bachelor’s program, and ongoing student engagement in service, student organizations, and learning opportunities outside the classroom.
Scholarship eligibility and application instructions
To qualify for the Quinney Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be an incoming first-year student (freshman or incoming transfer) beginning a bachelor’s degree program in the Quinney College at Utah State University.
- Plan to enroll full-time (12+ credits).
- Demonstrate strong academic performance (minimum high school/transfer GPA 3.50 or equivalent) and a preferred standardized test score (ACT 27 or SAT 1260), although applicants who have not taken the ACT or SAT may still apply.
- Through an application essay, express a clear interest in advancing science-based solutions to global challenges to the environment and human wellbeing.
- Demonstrate leadership potential, engagement in relevant activities, and long-term commitment to making a difference.
Required Materials:
Letter of Introduction and Essay (2 pages maximum, single-spaced)
- Your full name, current address, email, phone number, and current high school or college (if transfer).
- Your intended major in the Quinney College (explore our degrees here: https://qanr.usu.edu/degrees/#undergraduate).
- A statement of why you are applying to the Quinney College, including your personal background and experiences that have led to your current intended major.
- Your response to this essay prompt: “Choose one example of a challenge involving land, water, air, and/or human wellbeing, and explain how science and can contribute to addressing it. Then explain how you hope to contribute—through your educational path, leadership, and future career—to addressing that challenge.”
Resume or Curriculum Vitae (2 pages maximum)
- Highlight your scholarly achievements, academic interests, extracurricular involvement, leadership roles, service, internships, and community engagement.
Unofficial Transcript
- A current copy of your high school transcript or, if transferring, your college transcript.
Standardized Test Scores (if available)
- Copy of ACT or SAT scores (showing composite and individual category scores). Applicants who have not taken the exam may still apply.
References
- Names and contact information (email address and phone number) for two professional or academic references who can evaluate your scholarly ability, motivation, leadership, and likelihood of success in your undergraduate program.
Selection Process
- Applications will be reviewed by the Quinney Scholarship Committee. Consideration will include academic record, leadership and involvement, alignment of the applicant’s goals with the mission of the College, and potential for future impact.
- Finalists will participate in an interview (in-person or virtually).
Deadline & Notification
- The application opens in late Fall (typically November) and closes in mid-February of the incoming academic year.
- Awardees will be notified by late spring and will receive the scholarship for the upcoming fall semester once they are fully admitted and enrolled at Utah State University.
Continuing Eligibility
- Recipients must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher in each fall and spring semester, enroll full-time (12+ credits), and remain in good standing in a major in the Quinney College.
- The successful recipients will commit to maintaining full-time enrollment, annual review of their progress, and active participation in Quinney College events (service opportunities, student organizations, and learning opportunities outside the classroom).
- The scholarship may be renewed up to four years (or until the bachelor’s degree is completed) as long as the student remains eligible and maintains satisfactory progress.