Enrollment at Utah’s public colleges & universities increases by over 4,000
Utah’s public colleges and universities are seeing another increase in student enrollment this fall semester. The first “snapshot” of college enrollments for the 2016-17 school year (fall semester, third week) shows the number of students at the state’s public universities and colleges increased by 4,739 students, for a net increase of 2.78% over last fall. […]
New national data shows 1 in 5 USHE students transfer institutions
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is a system of interrelated surveys conducted annually by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the United States Department of Education. It is considered one of the primary sources for postsecondary data. For example, the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) uses IPEDS data to measure […]
Gift aid a significant factor in assisting students towards degree completion
Scholarships and grants play a significant role in how students pay for college. 54% of USHE students who enrolled in both fall and spring semesters in 2014-15 received some form of gift aid, averaging $4,070.23 per student—roughly 75% of the average tuition and fees at institutions in the Utah System of Higher Education. “Gift aid” is funds […]
Chronicle of Higher Education releases 2016 Data Almanac
The Chronicle of Higher Education recently published its 2016 Almanac of higher education data. The almanac includes national and state level data in areas including student enrollment, student debt, salaries and research. Here is a sampling of data from the almanac pertaining to Utah institutions. Utah State University ranks third for growth between 2004-2014 among […]
New report takes aim at data-driven approaches to help college students succeed
Higher education leaders across the country have long-wrestled with improving student retention and degree completion. A new national report highlights the disparity between the intentions of college students and their often short-term impulses, especially during their first year of college. The report, from non-profit research organization ideas42, focuses on behavioral science—applying insights from psychology and […]
Students increasingly rely on scholarships & grants to cover the cost of college
A new study, How America Pays for College 2016, surveyed nearly 1,600 undergraduate students ages 18-24 and parents of undergraduate students ages 18-24. This survey looked at their attitudes toward college, how much they spent, and the sources they used to pay for it. 97% of American families believe college is an investment in their children’s future, and […]
New report is the latest in recent attention on accrediting bodies
The U.S. Department of Education has released newly-compiled data dashboards on the performance of accrediting agencies, using measures such as graduation and student loan repayment rates at colleges the agencies oversee. The role of accrediting bodies in higher education has received renewed attention in recent years as tuition rates have increased, the proliferation of for-private providers […]
Concurrent enrollment not only saves students tuition, but improves college performance
Concurrent enrollment provides an opportunity for Utah high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit at a USHE institution while still in high school. Originated in 1985 in Utah by what is now Utah Valley University, the concurrent enrollment program was formally established by the Utah State Legislature in 1988. Concurrent enrollment is a valuable […]
10 takeaways from the NCES report: The Condition of Education 2016
The National Center for Education Statistics recently published its annual report, The Condition of Education 2016, which showcases national trends in education. Below are 10 higher education highlights from the report: 1. Employment outcomes vary by ethnicity/sex. 86% of all young adults ages 25-34 with a bachelor’s or higher degree were employed in 2014, yet employment outcomes differ by […]
USHE expects to add over 52,000 students by 2025, bucking national trend of declining enrollments
Nationally, college enrollments are declining. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center recently reported that college student enrollments across the country declined 1.3% over last year. This would mark the fourth straight year of declining enrollments nationwide after a peak in 2011. Nationally, the largest dip came from a decline in students enrolling in for-profit colleges (down 9%) […]
