Utah school profile
Southern Utah UniversityUSHE
Cedar City, Utah · USHE public
Compare with other schools (up to three)
What we see in the data
At Southern Utah University, net price is what families actually pay after grants and scholarships. For families in the $0–$30,000 income band, that was about $6K per year, lower than the median among USHE four-year colleges in Utah ($10K), and lower than the median among colleges nationwide ($15K).
Finish on time means completing within the normal time frame for the degree (for example, three years for a two-year associate's degree). About 61% of students finished on time, higher than the median among USHE four-year colleges in Utah (53%), and about the same as the median among colleges nationwide (58%). That is lower than the 76% of full-time freshmen who returned for year 2.
Typical pay six years after starting was about $41K, lower than the median among USHE four-year colleges in Utah ($46K), and higher than the median among colleges nationwide ($36K). Graduates who borrowed had a median of about $8K in federal loan debt at graduation, lower than the median among USHE four-year colleges in Utah ($9K), and lower than the median among colleges nationwide ($10K). Ten years after starting, typical pay was about $50K; median federal debt was about 15% of that pay (College Scorecard affordability signal — not ED's program score).
Pell students finished on time at a lower rate (55%) than the school-wide average (61%) — see Who attends below.
Utah payroll records show typical pay of about $70K one year after finishing, higher than the $41K school-wide figure measured six years after starting. About 49% of associate's degree graduates had a job in Utah one year after finishing.
Pathways & Outcomes compares each school to Utah and national pathway medians using federal and state data. Numbers are school-wide averages — not every major or program. Small graduating classes may be hidden for privacy. Apprenticeships and some trade programs are not included.
Compared to Utah & national medians
Full comparison to medians among Utah colleges and colleges nationwide that report each measure in College Scorecard (not enrollment-weighted).
| Measure | This school | Utah median | US median | vs medians |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net price ($0–$30k families) | $6K | $17K | $15K | Below Utah · Below US |
| Finish on time | 60.7% | 71.4% | 58.3% | Below Utah · Near US |
| Typical pay (6 yrs after starting) | $41K | $34K | $36K | Above Utah · Above US |
| Typical pay ÷ net price (6 yrs) | 6.8× | 1.7× | 2.5× | Above Utah · Above US |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $8K | $8K | $10K | Near Utah · Below US |
| Debt vs. 10-yr pay | 15% | 26% | 26% | Below Utah · Below US |
| Return for year 2 (full-time) | 75.5% | 69.4% | 75.7% | Above Utah · Near US |
Headline comparisons
Cost, completion, and pay — the three measures families ask about most — charted against the same medians.
Lower is better for families.
Costs & aid
Concurrent Enrollment — Southern Utah four-year CE; credits apply toward SUU degrees and general education requirements.
Systemwide CE attainment is documented in Part 1 (USHE R5), separate from Scorecard completion on this profile.
Net price by family income
What full-time undergraduates actually paid per year after grants and scholarships, by family income band (federal College Scorecard).
| Family income | Net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $6,070 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $7,235 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $9,297 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,487 |
| $110,001+ | $14,917 |
Published costs
Published sticker prices where reported. Net price bands above show what families typically paid after aid.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Published tuition & fees (in-state) | $6,962 |
| Published tuition & fees (out-of-state) | $21,192 |
| Total cost of attendance | $19,416 |
| Room & board | $8,824 |
| Books & supplies | $800 |
Affordability & loans
Federal loan outcomes from College Scorecard. Does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. Repayment rates describe historical cohorts, not a guarantee for future students.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median debt ÷ median pay (10 yrs after starting) | 15% |
| Share earning at least $25K (6 yrs after starting) | 58.3% |
| Share earning at least $25K (10 yrs after starting) | 67.8% |
| Borrowers repaying any principal (3 yrs) | 68.9% |
Who attends
Enrollment & context
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,289 |
| Enrolled full-time | 69.8% |
| Enrolled part-time | 30.2% |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 24.9% |
| First-generation college students | 32.1% |
| Median family income of students | $41K |
| Students who borrowed federal loans | 17.5% |
| First-year retention (full-time) | 75.5% |
| Acceptance rate | 81.8% |
| Student–faculty ratio | 22:1 |
Student body shares
Shares of undergraduate students by gender and race/ethnicity (federal College Scorecard). These describe who enrolls — not completion or pay by group.
Gender
| Group | Share of undergraduates |
|---|---|
| Women | 55.3% |
| Men | 44.7% |
Race & ethnicity
| Group | Share of undergraduates |
|---|---|
| International students | 6.6% |
Outcomes for Pell & first-generation students
Pell grant recipients are a proxy for lower family income; first-generation students are those whose parents did not complete a bachelor's degree. Compare each row to the school-wide figures above — not every student matches these groups.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Finish on time (Pell students) | 55.1% |
| Finish on time (all students) | 60.7% |
| Median federal debt (Pell students) | $10K |
| Median federal debt (first-generation students) | $8K |
| Median federal debt (all borrowers) | $8K |
| Borrowers repaying any principal (3 yrs, Pell) | 65.3% |
| Borrowers repaying any principal (3 yrs, non-Pell) | 79.8% |
| Borrowers repaying any principal (3 yrs, first-generation) | 64.5% |
| Borrowers repaying any principal (3 yrs, not first-generation) | 71.4% |
After graduation: jobs and pay
For Utah public colleges, the state tracks graduates who work in Utah using payroll records employers file with the Department of Workforce Services. The U.S. Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) study links college transcripts to jobs nationwide. Utah sections show in-state pay and employment; Census sections show national pay, how many graduates stay in Utah, and common industries. Groups with fewer than 10 graduates are hidden for privacy.
Working in Utah (state data)
Pay and employment for graduates found in Utah wage records. Wage figures include only graduates with reported earnings. USHE dashboard.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Typical annual pay (1 year after graduating, Utah only) | $70,314 |
| Lower end (25th percentile) | $50,736 |
| Higher end (75th percentile) | $90,880 |
| Program groups counted | 510 |
Share of graduates employed in Utah about one year after finishing (Utah payroll records; excludes federal employers and graduates who left the state).
| Credential type | Share employed in Utah |
|---|---|
| Certificate · about 1 year after graduating | 55.4% |
| Associate Degree · about 1 year after graduating | 49.1% |
| Bachelor's Degree · about 1 year after graduating | 59.6% |
| Master's Degree · about 1 year after graduating | 61.3% |
How pay changes after graduating (Utah)
Change in annual wages from one year before graduation to one or five years after, for graduates working in Utah. Shown by broad program area. Graduating class: 2023-24 Graduated.
| Program area | Pay change |
|---|---|
| Mathematics and Statistics | $68,324 (5 yr) |
| Engineering | $34,723 (1 yr) · $57,909 (5 yr) |
| Social Sciences | $19,320 (1 yr) · $56,918 (5 yr) |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $27,761 (1 yr) · $45,324 (5 yr) |
| Business, Management, and Marketing | $15,055 (1 yr) · $39,961 (5 yr) |
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science | $38,209 (1 yr) · $11,152 (5 yr) |
| Engineering/Technologies/Technicians | $37,738 (1 yr) · $28,458 (5 yr) |
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $36,219 (5 yr) |
Where graduates work in Utah
Industry sectors for Utah-employed graduates (payroll records). Counts combine all program areas at this college.
| Industry | Graduates employed |
|---|---|
| Educational Services | 77 (24.8%) |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 42 (13.5%) |
| Retail Trade | 34 (11.0%) |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 33 (10.6%) |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 32 (10.3%) |
| Public Administration | 25 (8.1%) |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 21 (6.8%) |
| Finance and Insurance | 19 (6.1%) |
Jobs and pay nationwide (U.S. Census)
Transcript-linked earnings and employment across the country. Census PSEO.
| Credential type | Typical pay & graduates with jobs |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | $38,918 after 1 yr · $58,186 after 5 yrs · 7,683 with jobs |
| Master's or professional practice | $66,536 after 1 yr · $78,043 after 5 yrs · 3,075 with jobs |
| Associate's | $26,388 after 1 yr · $48,144 after 5 yrs · 2,187 with jobs |
| Certificate (1–2 years) | $24,637 after 1 yr · N/A after 5 yrs · 323 with jobs |
| Certificate (<1 year) | $37,592 after 1 yr · N/A after 5 yrs · 83 with jobs |
| Credential type | Staying in Utah (1 year after finishing) |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 71.8% stayed in Utah · 7,374 with jobs nationwide (1 yr after finishing) |
| Master's or professional practice | 75.1% stayed in Utah · 3,235 with jobs nationwide (1 yr after finishing) |
| Associate's | 85.7% stayed in Utah · 2,023 with jobs nationwide (1 yr after finishing) |
| Certificate (1–2 years) | 60.4% stayed in Utah · 394 with jobs nationwide (1 yr after finishing) |
| Certificate (<1 year) | 29.6% stayed in Utah · 172 with jobs nationwide (1 yr after finishing) |
Most common industries where graduates work, about one year after finishing (all credential types combined).
| Industry | Graduates with jobs (share) |
|---|---|
| Educational services | 3,627 (27.5%) |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,544 (19.3%) |
| Professional and technical services | 1,196 (9.1%) |
| Retail trade | 1,018 (7.7%) |
| Public administration | 736 (5.6%) |
| Finance and insurance | 663 (5.0%) |
| Accommodation and food services | 653 (5.0%) |
| Manufacturing | 536 (4.1%) |
Program areas with the most graduates and reported first-year pay.
| Program area | Typical pay after 1 year |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $25,417 · 1,958 with jobs |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | $69,194 · 1,469 with jobs |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | $39,418 · 1,226 with jobs |
| Real Estate | $43,504 · 1,121 with jobs |
| Real Estate | $65,488 · 870 with jobs |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $56,639 · 774 with jobs |
| Psychology, General | $31,311 · 503 with jobs |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $35,672 · 433 with jobs |
Credential-type rows use federal award categories. Compare them within this school, not across different colleges.
Programs with reported earnings
Fields where Scorecard reports median pay with at least 30 students in the earnings cohort — sorted by typical pay, not by major popularity. Each row is one major and credential level at this school.
| Field of study | Credential | Typical pay (4 yrs) | Earnings cohort | Debt | Graduates | Debt vs. pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $97K | 30 | N/A | 347 | N/A |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's Degree | $93K | 70 | $15K | 198 | 16% |
| Education, General | Master's Degree | $83K | 115 | $15K | 125 | 18% |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $79K | 61 | $11K | 198 | 13% |
| Public Administration | Master's Degree | $77K | 64 | $17K | 46 | 22% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $75K | 72 | $12K | 117 | 16% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Bachelor's Degree | $60K | 43 | $18K | 59 | 29% |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $58K | 42 | $13K | 101 | 23% |
Top programs by completions
Credentials awarded in the 2023–24 school year (federal completions survey), with typical pay and federal loan debt when Scorecard reports them. Debt can be blank when federal data suppress a program cohort; we use additional Scorecard debt fields when available.
| Field of study | Credential | Typical pay (4 yrs) | Debt | Graduates | Debt vs. pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Bachelor's Degree | $54K | $16K | 2,448 | 30% |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Associate's Degree | $47K | $9K | 2,448 | 19% |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | $7K | 2,448 | N/A |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $97K | N/A | 347 | N/A |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | N/A | N/A | 347 | N/A |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | N/A | N/A | 347 | N/A |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's Degree | $93K | $15K | 198 | 16% |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $79K | $11K | 198 | 13% |
| Education, General | Master's Degree | $83K | $15K | 125 | 18% |
| Education, General | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $49K | $8K | 125 | 16% |
Completions by award level
9,822 Credentials awarded in the 2023–24 school year (federal completions survey).
| Award level | Completions |
|---|---|
| Associate | 3,560 |
| Bachelor's | 3,542 |
| Doctoral | 1,534 |
| Certificate (1–2 yr) | 1,136 |
| Other award | 50 |
| Graduate certificate | 0 |
Utah labor context for top fields
Statewide IPEDS completions vs. BLS employment by field — not job placement at this campus. Higher ratios mean more Utah graduates per related job opening.
| Field (top by graduates) | Grads here | Utah median wage (related jobs) | Utah supply ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal arts and sciences | 2,448 | $65K | 75 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
| Business | 347 | $68K | 57 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
| Education | 125 | $65K | 194 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
| Psychology | 119 | $73K | 19 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
| Health professions | 117 | $62K | 162 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
Institution finances
Endowment, state tax support (public colleges), and Parent PLUS loans. Endowment values come from IPEDS via College Scorecard. Many small schools do not report them.
Endowment
Endowment market value at the start and end of the most recent fiscal year reported to IPEDS. Endowment per student divides year-end value by undergraduate enrollment.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Endowment (year-end) | $41.8M |
| Endowment (year-start) | $36.5M |
| Change over fiscal year | +$5.3M (+14.6%) |
| Endowment per undergraduate | $4K |
State support (FY 2024)
State tax appropriations from Transparent Utah: what Utah lawmakers budgeted for this public college, not the full operating budget.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| State tax appropriation | $74.5M |
| Budget full-time students (FTE) | 10,931 |
| Appropriation per FTE | $7K |
| Appropriation per credential awarded | $8K |
Parent PLUS loans
Median Parent PLUS loan debt among graduates who borrowed. These are federal loans parents take out, separate from the student's own federal loan debt above.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Parent PLUS debt at graduation | $12K |
Institution facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Highest degree offered | Graduate |
| Predominant award | Predominantly associate |
| Accreditor | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
| Campus setting | Town, remote |
| Address | 351 West University Blvd, 84720 |
What this means for you
These questions turn Southern Utah University's public data into a next step — not a ranking or a guarantee.
- Compare this school to others on your list — averages above hide big differences between majors.
- Open the programs table for typical pay and debt in your field, not just school-wide numbers.
- Compare up to three schools side by side before you apply.
- Ask the financial aid office for net price at your family's income band — not sticker tuition.
- Ask whether students like yours typically finish on time and what they earn in your student's intended major.
- Pair typical pay with federal loan debt in the programs table — completion alone does not guarantee strong pay.
Related Utah research
- Part 3: Early-Career Earnings by Utah Pathway Type
- Part 4: Where Utah Students Start
- Part 5: Net Price Reality for Utah Families
- Part 7: Completion Rates Across Utah Institutions
- Part 8: Student Debt vs. Early Earnings
Data sources
- U.S. College Scorecard (school-wide outcomes)
- IPEDS directory (2023–24)
- IPEDS tuition and costs (2023–24)
- IPEDS completions (2023–24 award year)
- Transparent Utah appropriations (USHE)
- USHE Graduate Workforce Outcomes dashboard
- USHE graduate workforce outcomes, wage growth (Utah)
- USHE graduate workforce outcomes, industries (Utah)
- Census LEHD Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO)
- IPEDS finance survey endowment (via College Scorecard)
- College Scorecard Parent PLUS loan medians
Methodology · UNITID 230603
Pathways & Outcomes uses AI tools to help draft reports and data briefs from verified public data and analysis. A human editor reviews every publication for accuracy, data consistency, clarity, methodology alignment, and discrepancies before release. AI does not determine what we investigate, what we publish, or what conclusions we reach. Editorial policy · About our team