Did you serve in the military? Dedicate time to a religious mission? Take a break from school for community service or humanitarian work?

If so, the University of Utah will now give you academic credit for that experience—helping you save money and graduate faster.

Students can receive up to 12 hours of credit (the equivalent of one semester) for what they have already learned and put into practice across the globe, recognizing the value of prior learning experiences as an invaluable benefit to our campus community—and rewarding you for it.

“I am very excited that we are now able to recognize the sacrifice people have made serving their country and communities,” said U President Taylor Randall. “This program allows a student to graduate faster and save money by giving them academic credit for the skills and knowledge they gained while having an impact on people.”

Now, both current and incoming students can receive credit for time formally dedicated to service and community betterment—even if that experience occurred before this announcement.

“There is no doubt that military service provides individuals with a wealth of practical skills, leadership experience and technical expertise,” said Cory Pearson, deputy director, Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs. “Recognizing and translating these experiences into university credit not only accelerates academic progress but also validates the dedication and contributions of our veterans. Utah strongly supports initiatives that empower veterans to integrate their service into their educational ambitions and careers.”

Similarly, religious missionary work fosters cultural understanding, global engagement and service-oriented leadership—core educational values that make it a worthy candidate for college credit.

“Missionary service uniquely prepares young people to acquire new knowledge, synthesize information and forge new relationships—all essential skills to have in college,” said Elder Clark G. Gilbert, commissioner of church education of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Our young adults who serve missions come home more mature and capable and are ready to continue investing and contributing to their communities.”

Credit will be awarded based on the type and duration of your experience and will be determined on a case-by-case basis, up to the equivalent of one semester of credit. For example, students will pay a $50 fee for each petition of portfolio-based prior learning credit assessment and can receive a maximum of 16 credit hours in foreign languages at the cost of $40 per credit. Students who served at least 181 cumulative days of U.S. active-duty military services and were honorably discharged or are currently on active duty are eligible to receive four lower-division credit hours for basic training.

Students may test out, be given credit for military training or demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the course material gained through experience via portfolio-based assessment.

Qualifying experiences include:

• Military service
• Religious missions
• Humanitarian work
• Community service
• Peace Corps service
• AmeriCorps Service

“Students who come to the University of Utah with prior community engagement experience often bring a strong sense of purpose as well as advanced leadership and critical thinking skills,” said BobbiJo Kanter, director of the Lowell Bennion Community Engagement Center. “Their time working to make a meaningful impact in the community—whether in the military, AmeriCorps, religious missions or through volunteerism—gives them unique perspectives that enrich classroom discussions and help them engage more deeply in campus life.”

Awarding credit for service is not a new practice. The Utah System of Higher Education has supported many Utah colleges and universities in offering prior learning credit. At the U, nearly 5,000 students a year participate in community-engaged learning courses that support one of the three pillars of the university’s mission—serving all of Utah and beyond.

“At the U, we believe student learning can be found both in and outside the traditional classroom,” said T. Chase Hagood, vice provost for student success. “Providing credit for prior learning affirms the wide-ranging experiences and knowledge our students bring to the U and empowers them to accelerate their time to degree.”

This initiative also supports broader service-based efforts throughout the state. Last year, the Utah Legislature established the One Utah Service Fellowship, a program where young adults serve their communities while receiving a stipend and scholarship.

“Utah continues to rank first in the nation for volunteerism,” said Loggins Merrill, executive director of UServeUtah. “Through service, we are solving issues such as food insecurity, housing access, mental health, education and mentoring, including literacy gains and other real-life concerns that communities face.”

Announced at Gov. Spencer Cox’s 2024 Why We Serve Symposium, the One Utah Service Fellowship addresses pressing needs while easing the financial burden of college. The U’s new program complements this effort by formally recognizing student growth through service and counting it toward their degree.

Learn more about how you can access this opportunity here.