ST. GEORGE — The state of Utah leads the country in enrollment growth, according to a study by Michael Dinich, a personal finance journalist and CEO/founder of Wealth of Geeks.
Supporting this fact is recent data from the Utah System of Higher Education, which indicates a 2.05% average increase in enrollment across its technical colleges, adding 4,451 students to the total enrollment. Additionally, the state has experienced a 13.65% rise in full-time equivalent enrollment, equating to 324 more students opting for full-time technical education.
Utah Tech University, meanwhile has grown over 40% since becoming a university. Enrollment for the fall 2024 semester was 12,567, per the National Center for Education Statistics.
Click here to access a summary of Dinich’s report.
Darlene Dilley, associate provost for enrollment management at Utah Tech, told St. George News the school’s growth last fall and spring was their highest in history.
“We continue to evolve as a university because of our innovation and our polytechnic experience,” Dilley said. “We really focused on that active learning, active life, authentic applied learning model.”
She points to recent developments in internship opportunities, such as their partnership with Black Desert Resort as one differentiating factor for their success.
“Our students get that hands-on real-world experience prior to graduation,” she said. “They’re making those connections.”
Adult education in Utah has also seen growth, with an 8.61% increase in total headcount and a notable rise in full-time equivalent enrollment.
Dixie Technical College and Uintah Basin Technical College have both reported significant increases in enrollment, particularly in adult education sectors.
Strategic planning and investment in the higher education sector in Utah, including local initiatives like Dixie 2020 and Trailblazing Distinction, have contributed to significant growth, university officials said. These efforts have led to a 42% increase in enrollment since last year.
The Utah Legislature allocated $35 million for higher education performance funding for fiscal year 2024.
Southern Utah University exceeded a population of 15,000 after a 4.9% enrollment increase, according to the Utah System of Higher Education.
Undergraduate enrollment at SUU grew by 8% while its graduate programs saw an 18% increase in enrollment.
International student enrollment at SUU increased by 11.2%, with students coming from 85 different countries and territories.
Brandon Wright, SUU’s assistant vice president for enrollment management, credits personalized campus visits and “lightning fast” transcript processing as part of the school’s success.
“We want every student to feel welcomed and excited to join T-Bird Nation,” Wright said.
A 26% increase in enrollment for online programs contributed to this growth, with 35.5% of students exclusively taking online courses.
“These gains have been made at particularly critical junctures for the university,” said Steve Meredith, associate vice president for SUU’s graduate and online enrollment management. “This has been consistently true over the last five years with headcount growth from 200 to more than 3000 students, an increase of more than 1400%.”
This strategic and legislative framework positions Utah distinctively, especially when comparing its enrollment growth to national trends.
According to National Student Clearinghouse data, Utah leads in undergraduate enrollment rates with a 6.83% rate among its population, translating to 230,980 individuals engaged in higher education — a 4.3% increase from the previous year.
While Utah leads, other states like Idaho, North Dakota, Arizona and California also show enrollment growth. In contrast, states such as Nebraska, Iowa and Vermont have seen declines in student enrollment.
The increase in full-time equivalent enrollment in Utah indicates heightened student engagement in technical education, alongside strategic growth through planning and community involvement, the study noted.
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