Utah’s public colleges and universities are seeing another increase in student enrollment this fall semester.

The first “snapshot” of student enrollments for the 2018-19 school year (fall semester, third week) shows the number of students at the state’s public colleges and universities increased by 3,915 students, for a net increase of 2.17 percent over Fall 2017. Current projections indicate that an additional 57,000 students will enroll in Utah’s public colleges and universities over the next decade.

“It’s great to see so many students choosing to attend college, as it will make a significant difference in their future earnings, career opportunities, and quality of life,” said Dave Buhler, Utah Commissioner of Higher Education. “With the anticipated influx of students over the next decade, it will be increasingly important to continue to receive legislative funding to keep higher education accessible and affordable for all Utahns.”

Eight out of ten Utah high school graduates who enroll in college attend one of Utah’s public colleges and universities – the primary talent pipeline for Utah’s fast-growing workforce. With over 180,000 students, together the state institutions would rank as the state’s second largest city.

Differences in enrollment growth between USHE institutions reflect the distinct mission of each institution and how external factors, such as changes in the economy and changes in individual academic programs, impact each institution.

Total Headcount, Fall Third-Week 2018, by USHE Institution and % Change Over Fall Third-Week 2017

Total Full-Time Equivalent*, Fall Third-Week 2018, by USHE Institution and % Change Over Fall Third-Week 2017

*Total FTE approximates the number of students enrolled full-time each semester (15 semester hours for undergraduate students; 10 semester hours for graduate students).

For more historical enrollment information, see our enrollment dashboards.