Utah
Student Access & Success
Utah’s four-year institutions receive a low grade in this area, with especially low scores in completion and retention rates. The state’s two-year institutions, however, receive an above average grade, scoring in the top 10 states in both credentials per 100 full-time equivalent undergraduates and completion rate.
Efficiency & Cost-Effectiveness
Utah receives good grades in this area, with both four- and two-year costs per completion ($55,404 and $43,709, respectively) ranking in the top 10 of all states, and state and local funding per completion for two-years ($26,659) falling below the national median of $35,476.
Meeting Labor Market Demand
The median wage of a Utah bachelor’s degree holder is approximately $17,600 (or 54%) more than the median wage of a high school graduate; the unemployment rate for a bachelor’s degree holder is almost 4 points lower. The median wage of an associate’s degree holder is approximately $8,100 (or 25%) more than the median wage of a high school graduate; the unemployment rate is almost 3 points lower.
Transparency & Accountability
Utah receives an average score for its consumer information and public accountability resources. The state does not track student labor market outcomes, nor does it measure student learning, contributing to its overall very low marks.
Policy Environment
Utah gets a low mark for its policy environment. The state higher education plan does not include goals for system efficiency or student outcomes except to increase graduation rates. The state’s articulation policy clearly declares that “All USHE receiving institutions shall accept at full value all General Education coursework approved by the sending institution.” Utah does not have an outcomes- based funding system.
Innovation
Utah used to fund the Utah eLearning Connection, which provided access to information about online learning offerings at state institutions, but the initiative lost funding in 2009. State institutions provide degree programs at both four- and two-year institutions, but there is little coordination across institutions. Regarding new providers, Utah is among the most open states in the country, with a straightforward and inexpensive approval process, though the process is more complicated for proprietary schools.
Report Card
Compare with
Four-Year Institutions
UT Nat'l| Student Access & Success | D |
|---|
| Percentage of Pell Grant Recipients | 35.2 | 30.8 |
|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate | 73.0 | 77.9 |
| Completion Rate | 47.4 | 54.5 |
| Completions per 100 FTE Students | 19.0 | 19.7 |
| Risk-Adjusted Completion Points (5-point Scale) | 1 | |
| Complete College America | * |
| Efficiency & Cost-Effectiveness | B |
|---|
| Cost Per Completion | $55,404 | $68,140 |
|---|---|---|
| State and Local Funding Per Completion | $39,199 | $41,198 |
| State, Local, and Tuition Funding Per Completion | $63,891 | $76,932 |
| Cost Per Completion and Public Funding Combined Measure (5-point scale) | 4 |
| Meeting Labor Market Demand | D |
|---|
| BA vs. HS Wage Gap (Overall) | $17,591 | $17,881 |
|---|---|---|
| BA vs. HS Wage Ratio (Overall) | 154.3 | 156.0 |
| BA vs. HS Wage Gap (25–34) | $10,977 | $12,703 |
| BA vs. HS Wage Ratio (25–34) | 138.6 | 149.9 |
| BA vs. HS Unemployment Gap (Overall) | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| BA vs. HS Unemployment Ratio (Overall) | 2.2 | 2.1 |
| BA vs. HS Unemployment Gap (25–34) | 4.2 | 7.1 |
| BA vs. HS Unemployment Ratio (25–34) | 2.2 | 2.9 |
| Transparency & Accountability | F |
|---|
| Transparency—Public Accountability (5-point Scale) | 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency—Consumer Information (3-point Scale) | 1 | |
| Does the State Report Labor Market Outcomes? | false | |
| Labor Market Outcomes (4-point Scale) | 0 | |
| Does the State Report Student Learning Outcomes? | false | |
| Student Learning Outcomes (3-point Scale) | 0 |
Two-Year Institutions
UT Nat'l| Student Access & Success | B |
|---|
| Percentage of Pell Grant Recipients | 32.2 | 46.9 |
|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate | 57.0 | 58.6 |
| Completion Rate | 36.2 | 20.5 |
| Completions Per 100 FTE Undergraduates | 21.6 | 16.8 |
| Risk-Adjusted Completion Points (5-point Scale) | 4 |
| Efficiency & Cost-Effectiveness | B |
|---|
| Cost Per Completion | $43,709 | $57,210 |
|---|---|---|
| State and Local Funding Per Completion | $26,659 | $35,476 |
| State, Local, and Tuition Funding Per Completion | $41,673 | $52,512 |
| Cost Per Completion and Public Funding Combined MeasureCombined Measure (5-point Scale) | 4 |
| Meeting Labor Market Demand | C |
|---|
| AA vs. HS Wage Gap (Overall) | $8,102 | $8,545 |
|---|---|---|
| AA vs. HS Wage Ratio (Overall) | 125.0 | 126.1 |
| AA vs. HS Wage Gap (25–34) | $3,950 | $6,595 |
| AA vs. HS Wage Ratio (25–34) | 113.9 | 125.0 |
| AA vs. HS Unemployment Gap (Overall) | 2.9 | 2.7 |
| AA vs. HS Unemployment Ratio (Overall) | 1.7 | 1.5 |
| AA vs. HS Unemployment Gap (25–34) | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| AA vs. HS Unemployment Ratio (25–34) | 2.49 | 1.84 |
| Transparency & Accountability | F |
|---|
| Transparency—Public Accountability (5-point Scale) | 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency—Consumer Information (3-point Scale) | 0 | |
| Does the State Report Labor Market Outcomes? | false | |
| Labor Market Outcomes (4-point Scale) | 0 | |
| Does the State Report Student Learning Outcomes? | false | |
| Student Learning Outcomes (3-point Scale) | 0 |
State
UT Nat'l| Policy Environment | D |
|---|
| State Goals (6-point Scale) | 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Does the State Have Outcomes-Based Funding? | false | |
| Four-Year Outcomes-Based Funding (3-point Scale) | 0 | |
| Two-Years Outcomes-Based Funding (3-point Scale) | 0 | |
| Does the State Have a Credit Transfer Policy? | true | |
| Credit Transfer Policy (5-point Scale) | 4 |
| Innovation: Openness to Providers | A |
|---|
| Numerical Openness to New Providers Grade | 93% | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Jurisdiction | 100% | |
| Financial Burden | 80% | |
| Approval Process Burden | 100% |
| Innovation: Online Learning | D |
|---|
| Numerical Online Learning Grade | 28.6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Online Learning Score (7-point Scale) | 2 |
State Facts at a Glance
- Number of Public Four-Year Institutions 5
- Number of Public Two-Year Institutions 10
- Number of Students Served by Public Four-Year Institutions 74977
- Number of Students Served by Public Two-Year Institutions 40635