Utah’s public colleges and universities saw a 2.24% year-over-year increase this year with a total of 211,954 students enrolled, the Utah System of Higher Education said Monday.
“We have had a challenging year and I am pleased that enrollments have increased overall,” said Dave R. Woolstenhulme, Commissioner for Higher Education, in a statement.
“It is imperative that we continue to work with students across the country to gain access to and complete higher education, to provide a skilled workforce and also to continue to achieve individual and nationwide success,” said Woolstenhulme.
The University of Utah celebrated its highest total enrollment as well as its largest freshman class, up 19.6% from last year.
“This is an incredible and exciting milestone for the University of Utah,” President Taylor Randall said in a statement. “It speaks to the value and quality we offer and reflects our solid reputation as one of the leading public research universities in the country.”
Among the gains, the US has also enrolled “historically high numbers of native colored students, international students, and both domestic and overseas students,” school officials said.
A breakdown of the enrollment numbers for each institution:
- Dixie State University: 12,266, 1.85% increase
- Southern Utah University: 13,611, 8.18% increase
- University of Utah: 34,462, up 4.18%
- Utah State University: 27,426, 0.96% decrease
- Utah Valley University: 41,262, 0.81% increase
- State University Weber: 29,744, 0.5% increase
- Bridgerland Technical College: 2,964, 8.29% increase
- Davis Technical College: 3,916, 5.16% decrease
- Dixie Technical College: 1,138, 14.49% increase
- Mountainland Technical College: 3,758, 11.22% increase
- Ogden Weber University of Applied Sciences: 4,035, 11.68% increase
- Salt Lake Community College: 27,225, 0.25% decrease
- Snow College: 6,106, 5.28% increase
- University of Applied Sciences Southwest: 1,297, 20.65% increase
- Tooele Technical College: 810, 13.45% increase
- Uintah Basin Technical College: 1,934, 17.71% increase
Despite the housing shortage leading up to the fall semester, Southern Utah University also had a record number of enrollments – and this year celebrated the growth of other universities.
“These growth numbers represent the hard work of a dedicated team at SUU. Faculty, staff, administrators and students all have a stake in our strategic growth plan,” SUU interim president Mindy Benson said in a statement.
On April 7th, people enter the Southern Utah University campus in Cedar City. The number of enrollments at SUU has increased by 8.18%, outperforming other universities in growth this year. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
“The past year has been particularly challenging due to the ongoing impact of COVID and the housing shortage in Cedar City and across the state. Achieving this growth is really testament to our university community, ”added Benson.
University leaders found that most of the growth came from a 42% increase in the university’s online degree program, and online students now make up nearly 6% of the total student body.
Utah Valley University found its staff count has remained constant this year, up slightly from 2020. Earlier this year, members of the school’s largest graduating class graduated.
“The UVU is still a place where students from all walks of life can achieve their academic goals and make a positive contribution to our country,” said UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez. “We believe that everyone has unlimited potential and deserves the transformative benefits of quality education.”
The university’s fall enrollment included “the highest number of black and African American students in its history,” officials said.
Dixie State University officials noted that the school saw enrollment spike for the sixth year in a row. Enrollment in the third week of fall marked a 44.25% increase since fall 2015, demonstrating “the longevity and sustainability of the university’s growth,” officials said.
“We are pleased that more students than ever before are realizing the value of an education at Dixie State University,” said DSU President Richard “Biff” Williams in a prepared statement. “Dixie State has worked hard to develop a high quality, comprehensive polytechnic educational experience that prepares our students for careers.”
The DSU executives also found that 58% of the student body are women and 21% of the students are from diverse population groups.
Weber State University also promoted more diversity this year. Concurrent enrollment courses rose 6.4%, with the number of students who describe themselves as Black, Asian, Native American, or Pacific Islanders increasing 9.8%, according to university officials.
“Despite the pressures of an ongoing pandemic, students are still looking for higher education to gain the long-term benefits,” WSU provost Ravi Krovi said in a statement. “What we’re particularly happy about is that not only are students continuing to enroll, but our retention rates are also increasing. It’s great to be helping Wildcats through to graduation.”
Graduate and full-time graduate enrollment staffing levels will be measured in the third week of the fall semester, while technical college enrollment and staffing levels will be measured at the end of the financial quarter, officials said.
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