Noriega: Free college isn’t just for star athletes
May 7, 2025, 6:00 PM
(Canva)
(Canva)
Editor’s note: This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.
SALT LAKE CITY — “Free college” might be overstating it a little bit, but in Utah, you could walk away with a college degree with little to no debt, and you don’t have to be a five-star athlete with a fat multi-million NIL deal.
Debbie Dujanovic and I tried to find the path to the most affordable degree in Utah for the rest of us.
This conversation stems from rising tuition costs and the staggering amount of student loan debt that we carry in this country—$1.77 trillion. That is more than auto loan debt ($1.66 trillion) and credit card debt ($1.21 trillion).
Read more: Utah Tech University looking at possible degree program cuts
On Monday, May 5, 2025, the Trump administration restarted student loan collections after a long pause that dates back to the early days of COVID-19. It’s estimated that 5 million Americans are in student loan default—9 months without making payments—and 4 million are delinquent in their payments—90 days without making payments.
Utah has good news to report on tuition and student loans:
- Utah student loan debt is the lowest in the nation.
- Utah ranks 4th for the lowest tuition in the nation.
“Culturally, we are adverse to debt,” said Geoff Landward, commissioner for the Utah System of Higher Education. “… (Students) work and pay as you go, taking jobs while they go to school part-time or full-time. They look to exhaust other opportunities … without taking on debt. I have to commend them for that, and they’re very wise in their choices.”
The four steps to “free college” are:
- Concurrent enrollment
- Community colleges
- Prior learning credits
- Pell Grants
Step 1: Concurrent enrollment in high school
“Concurrent enrollment is probably the greatest bargain in the country when it comes to earning college credit,” Landward said.
Concurrent enrollment classes can cost as little as $5 per credit hour.
For comparison, a single credit hour at Salt Lake Community College costs $386.25, while a full course load of 12 credit hours costs $2,271.25.
Students in Utah can also earn an associate degree by taking concurrent enrollment classes at their high school or on a college campus. At Utah County Academy of Sciences, 83% of their high school graduates in 2024 earned an associate degree from Utah Valley University at high school graduation.
Early College programs include Advanced Placement (AP), concurrent enrollment (CE), International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Prime Program.
Step 2: Community colleges
On average, community colleges are half the cost of universities when it comes to earning a two-year associate degree.
Getting your associate degree at a community college and finishing off your four-year degree at a university can save you thousands.
Step 3: Prior learning credits
This is a new program where universities can offer up to 12 hours of college credit—roughly one semester’s worth of college—for prior service. This would be time spent in the military, serving a religious mission, community service or humanitarian work.
“We look at your life experiences and determine if it’s given you competency that could qualify for course credit rather than taking the courses themselves,” Landward said.
The University of Utah has adopted this program, and other state universities are expected to follow.
Step 4: Pell Grants
“Pell Grants cover the full cost of tuition for many colleges in the state,” said Jessica Oyler, vice president for student access and success at Weber State University.
The caveat is that you must qualify for Federal Pell Grants. You can get $7,395 per school year, and that money never has to be repaid.
It’s complicated to figure out whether you qualify, but every university has a financial aid office that can help you navigate your options.
If you are 24 years old, you are automatically considered an independent student, and your parents’ income is no longer factored into the equation.
Marriage can also increase federal student aid eligibility.
In conclusion, with an early start and a flexible approach, a college degree can be obtained in Utah for pennies on the dollar.
