Utah's Higher Education: Building a Stronger Future

Utah's higher education system is making big moves to prepare students for the future. The Utah Board of Higher Education has been working hard to make college more affordable and accessible. They are also focusing on programs that will help students get good jobs after graduation. One of the biggest changes in 2025 was the implementation of House Bill 265. This bill required Utah's eight public colleges and universities to reallocate millions of dollars to programs that are most valuable. Each institution had to create a plan for how to use these funds to support student success and meet workforce needs. The board is also preparing for an AI-driven future. They are working to support faculty learning and build stronger partnerships with employers who are already using AI. This will help students gain the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing job market. In 2025, the board launched several new initiatives. Admit Utah guarantees that every high school graduate in the state is admitted to at least one of the state's public colleges and universities, regardless of GPA. The First Credential Program aligns K-12 education with higher education and Utah industry. And Talent Ready Utah connects higher education, K-12, and industry to design college-to-career pathways. The board also hired two new university presidents in 2025. Shane Smeed became the president of Utah Tech University, and Brad Mortensen became the president of Utah State University. Additionally, Utah became the first public higher education system in the country to offer three-year bachelor's degrees. This will help students complete their degrees faster and save money. In 2025, Utah's higher education institutions awarded 61, 265 graduates with 71, 262 certificates and degrees. This shows that the system is making progress in preparing students for the future.