Utah Valley University Recognized as a Top ‘Opportunity College’ by Carnegie Classifications for Higher Earnings and Student Success
Utah Valley University (UVU) was named an “Opportunity College and University – Higher Access, Higher Earnings” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education today in Washington, D.C.
The designation highlights UVU as a model for studying how campuses can create and support student success by providing more access to more people in their communities and fostering high earnings post-graduation.
The Carnegie Classification categorizes and describes United States higher education institutions. The UVU designation is part of a newly introduced Student Access and Earnings Classification, published this month by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. The new classification assesses how well institutions create opportunities for student success by measuring whether they enroll students who reflect the communities they serve and by comparing the graduates’ earnings to their peers in the same areas.
In 2025, only 479 institutions — about 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities— received the Opportunity College and University designation that are in the Student Access and Earnings Classification.
“As an open-access institution, UVU encourages students to ‘come as you are’ and provides a high-quality education with seamless pathways to a degree, whether through vocational/community college offeringsor four-year and master’s programs,” said UVU Acting President Jim Mortensen. “This innovative model has resulted in strong job placement and competitive wages for our graduates, who consistently earn above the national median. This Carnegie Classification affirms that our student programs truly make a difference in fostering career success.”
Utah’s Workforce Starts Here
UVU’s success is evident in its graduates’ career outcomes — 73.4% secure high-wage, high-demand jobs with 4- or 5-star ratings by the Utah Department of Workforce Services. These careers span diverse fields, including nursing and healthcare, biology, criminal justice, elementary education, engineering, computer science, finance, marketing, art and design, social work, and marriage and family therapy. University graduates also add to Utah’s thriving economy, with 74% of alumni still living in the state 10 years after graduation.
UVU’s Relevant Approach to Education
A key pillar of UVU’s student success model is engaged learning, where students gain hands-on experience alongside academics and local community leaders, reinforcing their understanding by applying concepts in real-world settings for deeper comprehension. For example, UVU’s Chelsea and Casey Baugh Entrepreneurship Institute works with local entrepreneurs and business leaders to help students launch their own businesses, with 80% of program graduates starting a business in Utah, strengthening the state economy.
A recent addition to the student success resources is UVU’s new Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute, which provides hands-on learning opportunities for students in emerging fields, drives AI research, and fosters collaboration with industry leaders.
Comprehensive Approach to Student Support Services
The university also offers a Student Success Center, which provides academic advising, tutoring, mentorship, financial aid guidance, and wellness programs. Additionally, UVU supports first-generation student success, with 41% of its student body now identifying as first-generation. The First-Generation Student Success Center provides essential guidance, while GEAR UP and TRIO student support services offer critical mentorship, advising, and academic assistance.
In addition, UVU supports new students through its First-Year Advising Center and First-Year Experience program, helping them navigate college life. The Early Alert program identifies at-risk students early, connecting them with campus resources to ensure timely intervention and academic success. UVU also offers flexible adult learning options; this year, 45.7% of graduates are adult learners who benefited from UVU’s high-quality online programs designed for balancing work, life, and education.
The methodology for the new Student Access and Earnings Classification uses multidimensional groupings of the 2025 Institutional Classification to evaluate student access and earnings between similar colleges and universities.
For more details on the 2025 Student Access and Earnings Classification, including UVU’s ranking among top universities for career earnings, visit https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/.
About The Carnegie Classification
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed the classification in 1973 to support its program of research and policy analysis, and it was updated in 1976, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2025 to reflect changes among colleges and universities. It will next be updated in 2028, with subsequent updates every three years.
About Utah Valley University
At Utah Valley University, we believe everyone deserves the transforming benefits of high-quality education — and it needs to be affordable, accessible, and flexible. With opportunities to earn everything from certificates to master’s degrees, our students succeed by gaining real-world experience and developing career-ready skills. We continue to invite people to come as they are — and leave ready and prepared to make a difference in the world.
