Snow College Awarded $3 Million Federal Grant to Lead Rural Utah’s AI Future

Five-year investment will expand AI access, education, and workforce preparation across rural Utah

September 30, 2026 — EPHRAIM, Utah — Snow College has been awarded a $3 million federal grant, one of the most significant investments in the college’s recent history, to build a comprehensive artificial intelligence initiative serving Snow College students and rural communities throughout Utah.

The five-year initiative, “AI for Every Utahn: Building Utah’s Rural AI Workforce Pipeline,” will establish the new Snow College Center for Rural AI Adoption and Integration and dramatically expand the college’s capacity to prepare students, educators, and employers for an AI-enabled workforce.

“This is a transformational opportunity for Snow College and rural Utah,” said Snow College’s Provost, Dr, Michael Austin. “AI is changing how we learn, work, and live, and higher education has an important responsibility to help students understand how to use these tools thoughtfully, responsibly, and effectively. This investment gives Snow the resources to do that while making sure rural communities are part of the conversation and prepared for what comes next.”

Through the grant, Snow College will provide enterprise-level AI access to students, faculty and staff, help faculty and students explore the responsible and effective use of AI, integrate AI literacy throughout the Snow College experience, develop new AI credentials, expand AI education through its statewide rural concurrent enrollment network, train K–12 educators, and create new internships, apprenticeships, and partnerships with Utah employers.

The impact will reach well beyond Snow’s campuses. The initiative will bring AI education to hundreds of rural high school students and educators each year, while expanding AI skills, credentials, and work-based learning opportunities for Snow students.

The grant builds on work already underway at Snow, where AI literacy and skills-based workforce preparation have been identified as institutional priorities. It also leverages Snow’s unique reach throughout rural Utah, including its role as the state’s designated provider of interactive concurrent enrollment for rural school districts.

“For nearly 140 years, Snow College has created opportunities for students and strengthened rural communities,” Austin said. “This grant gives us an extraordinary opportunity to continue that work in a new way. Students from small towns deserve big opportunities, and Snow College is ready to help lead what comes next.”

About Snow College

Snow College, founded in 1888 by Utah pioneers, is a two-year college with campuses located in Ephraim and Richfield, Utah, and a learning center in Nephi, Utah. Serving more than 5,000 students, the college is committed to helping students graduate debt-free, gain resume-worthy experience, and develop a plan for the future. The affordable price and personalized environment full of opportunities allow students who find Snow College to find themselves. Learn more about all Snow College has to offer online at snow.edu.