More people are enrolling in college this year than last year

SALT LAKE CITY — A new report by the Utah System of Higher Education show that enrollment numbers in Utah’s public universities have increased.

Concurrent enrollment statewide rose 6.93%, undergraduate numbers rose 2.98%, and graduate school enrollment numbers increased 7.48%. 

Overall, there are 207,005 students enrolled in college this year, compared to 198,432 in 2023. That’s an increase of “several high schools worth of students,” according to Commissioner of Higher Education Geoffrey Landward. 

He says this increase is great news to their organization. 

“Our mission is to make sure that as many Utahns as possible get a degree or certificate,” he said. 

They saw the biggest undergraduate enrollment increase at Salt Lake Community College. About 9.3% more than last year, Landward said. 

“We’ve seen some decreases in enrollment before with Salt Lake Community College, and we’re really thrilled that the students in the region are starting to see an opportunity with [it].” 

Causally, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why there was such a large increase. However, Landward says outreach programs have helped high school students realize college can be affordable and accessible. 

“All of our institutions within the system have been working hard to increase our outreach to students in our high schools and to let them know about not only  the schools, [but that] they can enroll in financial aid opportunity.”

However, Landward says these numbers don’t encapsulate how many people graduate college.

“While we’re really thrilled to see growth in the number of people going to college… It’s also important to know how critical it is that . . . they stay and they finish,” he said. “The biggest value students get for their investment in their education is getting that credential.” 

That follow-through is what Landward calls the Utah System of Higher Education’s “highest priority.” 

Related: BookFest livestream returns for Fall 2024