The cost of college tuition in Utah is going up

SALT LAKE CITY — You’ll be shelling out more money for college this fall. The Utah Board of Higher Education approved an average 3.3% percent college tuition increase, that will go into effect for the 2024/2025 school year. 

This college tuition raise applies to state supported, public colleges and universities, but not technical colleges. 

The board does this every year, after the legislative session. Last year, however, Governor Spencer Cox issued a tuition freeze, for which colleges had to cover increased inflation costs internally. 

Amanda Covington, the Utah Board of Higher Education chair, said Utah colleges are trying to keep up with inflation and provide services that are being requested through student surveys, like mental health support and childcare. 

“I would say that none of the institutions raised tuition to make up for that tuition freeze last year, I think we were very clear to the institutions that that was not something we’d be looking at. This was based on the needs we saw this year,” said Covington.

She said this freeze didn’t affect how much of a raise they approved. 

Covington said she understands these are precious extra dollars that students will be spending.

“We heard from our institutions this week that they are raising scholarship dollars to help continue to offset [the cost].” 

The specific numbers

According to the Board’s website, here’s how tuition costs will ultimately pan out. 

• University of Utah tuition is going up 3.29%, increasing by $338.
• Utah State University’s tuition is 3.06%, increasing by $254.
• Weber State University’s tuition is going up 2.61%, increasing by $167.
• Southern Utah University’s tuition is going up 2.85%, increasing by $193.
• Utah Tech University’s tuition is going up 3.82%, increasing by $232.
• Utah Valley University’s tuition is going up 3.8%, increasing by $238.
• Salt Lake Community College’s tuition is going up 3.98%, increasing by $170.
• Snow College’s Tuition is going up 3.76%, increasing by $157. 

Related reading: How to take a big bite out of tuition costs in Utah