Dive Brief:
- Utah colleges are bracing for a 25% rise in enrollment over the next decade.
- The Salt Lake Tribune reports the state’s colleges can expect to serve about 226,000 students by 2024, according to the latest estimates.
- The state’s Board of Regents announced the projections at its last meeting, warning of the need for more student support personnel, class space, and other resources, according to the article.
Dive Insight:
While no definitive reason for the projection is provided, the president of at least one of the state's institutions, Weber State University, says he expects an enrollment boost at his school to be largely driven by Latino recruitment efforts.
Utah has most recently seen a slight dip in enrollment at its colleges, in part due to similar drops identified nationwide among the returning student population. The Salt Lake Tribune notes that drop can also be attributed to the 2012 announcement of a younger minimum age allowed for Mormon missionaries. New Data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows particular drops in the for-profit sector nationwide. Keeping an eye on projections is a smart way for Utah to stay ahead of enrollment cycles, preparing years in advance for the continuously rising and falling student populations.