The Hathaway Scholarship

Governor Freudenthal signed legislation March 10, 2006, creating the Hathaway Scholarship Program, which provides state tuition assistance for most Wyoming high school graduates. The Hathaway Scholarship Program, named after former Governor Stan Hathaway, took effect with the 2006 high school graduating class. The scholarships, which can be used at the University of Wyoming and the state’s seven community colleges, will be paid by interest from a state fund, the principal of which will eventually grow to $400 million. The level of state aid per student depends on high school grades, scores on college entrance exams, financial need, and beginning in the fall of 2007, high school curriculum. A student must meet the academic requirements before being eligible for additional money based on financial need.

A graduate with a GPA of 2.5 and an ACT score of at least 17 or a WorkKeys score of 12 or higher is eligible for $800 per semester. A student with a GPA of 3.0 or better and a minimum ACT score of 21 can earn $1,200 per semester. A high school graduate with a GPA of at least 3.5 and ACT score of 25 or higher is eligible for $1,600 per semester. Students who have successfully completed a home-based education program are also eligible, providing they meet minimum ACT scores.

On March 4, 2007, Governor Freudenthal signed legislation mandating the “success” or “core” curriculum that students must take in high school to be eligible for a Hathaway scholarship.

Beginning with the Class of 2011, minimal Hathaway requirements for the Career Scholarship (worth $800 per semester at community colleges) will include four years of language arts, three years of math, three years of science, three years of social studies and demonstrated proficiency in foreign languages/cultures. The math must include Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry. The social studies must include History, American Government, and Economics.

For the Opportunity Scholarship ($800 per semester at UW or the community colleges), a student will need four years of math, four years of language arts, four years of unspecified science and three years of social studies, including World History, Geography, American History, American Government, and Economics, and demonstrated proficiency in foreign language/cultures.

For the Performance Scholarship ($1,200 per semester at UW or community colleges) and the Honor Scholarship ($1,600 per semester at UW or community colleges), the requirement for 2011 seniors will be four years of math (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and student choice), four years of language arts, four years of science (three years must come from Physics I, Physics II, Chemistry I, Chemistry II, Biology I, Biology II, Geology I or Computer Science I, and one year student choice), three years of social studies in World History, Geography, American History, American Government, and Economics) and two years of foreign language with at least one year taken in grades 9-12. The native language of the Northern Arapaho or Eastern Shoshone may fulfill the foreign language requirement.

The Hathaway Success Curriculum will not apply to the Class of 2007 and will be phased in for students seeking the Performance or Honor scholarships who graduate from high school in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

In addition to the GPA and ACT requirements, students graduating in 2008 seeking the top two levels of scholarships will need to take Algebra I and one of the following science courses: Physics I, Physics II, Chemistry I, Chemistry II, Biology I, Biology II, Geology I or Computer Science I.

Graduates in 2009 will need to take American History; Algebra I and either Algebra II or Geometry; plus two courses from the following science courses: Physics I, Physics II, Chemistry I, Chemistry II, Biology I, Biology II, Geology I or Computer Science I.

The Class of 2010 will be required to take World History and American History; one year of foreign language; Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry; and three of the following science courses: Physics I, Physics II, Chemistry I, Chemistry II, Biology I, Biology II, Geology I or Computer Science I.

Learn more about the Hathaway Scholarship