SUU ranked fourth nationally for rising applications, enrollment
By Nikki Koontz
In the past five years, Southern Utah University has seen a 150.7 percent increase in applications with student headcount growing by 34 percent since 2015. SUU’s tremendous success has been recognized nationally by USA Today, which placed the institution at 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 No. 12, and the University of Utah came in at No. 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 2016–17 soared to an all-time high of 2,175. Over 10 years, SUU grew the number of graduates by 61 percent, 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 percent of adults have a bachelor degrees. Currently, more than 19 million Americans are enrolled in undergraduate college programs. SUU 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 2011–12 school year to the 2016–17 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.
Articles related to “SUU ranked fourth nationally for rising applications, enrollment”
Southern Utah University’s “SUU Everywhere” campaign destroying spacetime
Dixie State University disappoints record number of freshmen
