In the past five years, Southern Utah University has seen a 150.7% increase in applications with student headcount growing by 34% since 2015. SUU’s tremendous success has been recognized nationally by the USA Today placing the institution fourth in the nation for rising applications and enrollment. SUU is one of three schools in Utah included in the ranking. Utah State University ranked #12 and the University of Utah came in at #92.
“This ranking is a clear indication that SUU’s reputation is on the rise,” said SUU President Scott L Wyatt. “Our growth will continue to be steady and sustainable, preparing students for lives of meaning and productivity. It is an exceptional time to be a T-Bird.”
24/7 Wall Street reviewed five-year changes in the number of applications submitted to nearly 600 four-year post-secondary institutions to identify the 100 colleges where applications climbed the most. The work of the campus and community are what helped SUU rank fourth in the nation.
At the end of the Fall 2017 semester, SUU crossed the 10,000 threshold, topping out at 10,245 students. The number marked three years of enrollment growth for the institution. The number of degrees awarded in 2016-2017 soared to an all time high of 2,175. Over ten years, SUU grew the number of graduates by 61%, which is higher than any other four year public institution in Utah.
“SUU’s growth reflect what myself, my team and the SUU community already know; SUU is the best university experience in the country,” said Brandon Wright, assistant vice president for enrollment management. “We’re proud of the caliber of students that are present in our student body and are thrilled with SUU’s continued reputational rise.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 32% of adults have a bachelor’s degree. Currently, more than 19 million Americans are enrolled in an undergraduate college program. Southern Utah University adds to those numbers, all thanks to an increase in applications.
Regarding the ranking, USA Today used data from the National Center for Education Statistics to identify the top 100 colleges and universities with the largest five-year percentage increase in applications from 2011-2012 school year to the 2016-2017 year. The final list was narrowed down from a pool of 600 schools. Only schools with at least 4,000 applicants in 2011 were considered.
Story and Photography Courtesy of: SUU Marketing Communication
