H I G H E R
E D U C A T I O N
Photo by Steve Greenwood
Affordable, Accessible Education
by S AVA N N A H K I N G
Utah is one of the top states in the nation for higher education, and for good reason
40
BUSINE SS IN U TA H
U
tah is the No. 2 state in the nation for higher education and consistently ranks among the top states in the country for high school completion. A 2018 report by WalletHub named Utah the 11th-most educated state in America. After graduating high school, eight out of 10 students enroll in one of the state’s eight public colleges and universities. In the 201920 academic year, enrollment at Utah’s public colleges and universities increased to 184,000. The Utah Promise Scholarship is the state’s first
needs-based scholarship program. It aims to open opportunities for students who face economic barriers and covers tuition and fees for the first two years of college for qualifying students when federal grants fall short. The scholarship is the newest of four major scholarships offered by the state. “We are pleased to now offer a range of scholarship opportunities that will ensure Utahns have greater access to higher education,” said Harris H. Simmons, chair of the Board of Regents. “These programs support the board’s mission of helping more Utahns access
