UVU also graduates the most Utahns, producing work-ready talent for Utah’s thriving economy
Utah Valley University (UVU) continues to educate the most Utahns, with a record number of 46,809 total students for the 2024 fall semester – an impressive increase of 4.83% compared to fall 2023. The university also welcomed 4,705 first-time students, an increase of 7% over last year — resulting in the largest freshman class in its history.
“Students continue to choose UVU and have found that it is a place for them to thrive,” said President Astrid S. Tuminez. “Our enrollment has now grown by 17.25% since I first started in 2018. With 77% of our alumni still in Utah 10 years after graduation, investing in UVU students is an investment in Utah’s future.”
UVU Student Demographics: Largest Number of First-Gen and Concurrent Enrollment Students This Fall
Full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment rose to 30,598, marking a 5.5% increase, while concurrent enrollment students grew 8% to 16,696. Notably, the university experienced its largest-ever increase in first-generation students, which surged by 18.54% and now makes up 41% of the student body. The university’s adult learning population (students 25 or older) also grew by an impressive 4.87%.
UVU saw enrollment increases in the following student demographic categories:
- First-generation: 19,329 students, up 18.54%
- Adult learners 25 or older: 8,601 students, up 4.87%
- Hispanic/Latino: 6,028, up 7.89%
- Native American/Alaskan: 182 students, up 13.75%
- Asian: 620 students, up 5.62%
- Black/African American: 415 students, up 6.41%
Enrollment Grows in High-Demand Fields that Fuel Utah’s Economy
UVU continues to grow its enrollment in majors that align with Utah’s workforce needs and, in particular, with government-identified four- and five-star jobs. Most notable are the double-digit gains in STEM-related majors, including:
- Nursing enrollment increased 15.87%
- Finance and economics increased 15.62%
- Construction technologies increased 14.29%
- Mechanical engineering enrollment increased 12.79%
Carmen Guevara Hernandez, a first-generation new freshman, expressed how happy she is choosing UVU. “The first-generation community helped me tremendously to adapt during my freshman year. I chose UVU because its personal financial planning program is one of the best. All the professors are great and patient; they are always willing to help. I really appreciate the welcoming environment at UVU.”
UVU Graduates the Most Utahns; Alumni Contributing to Utah Communities
In addition, UVU celebrated a milestone victory as it achieved its Vision 2030 graduation goal ahead of schedule. The original goal was to increase the school’s eight-year completion rate from 37% to 45% by 2025. It achieved 46% in May 2024, when 10,197 graduates received 12,499 degrees and certificates.
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.
For more information, visit UVU’s Newsroom website for fact sheets, maps, leadership bios, history, photos, b-roll, filming policies, and a list of interview-ready faculty experts at https://www.uvu.edu/newsroom/#.
