Education Overview | K-12 | Higher Education | Applied Technology Education

Utah ranks among the leading states in the educational attainment of its population. In the year 2000, 90.7 percent of Utahns aged 25 and over completed high school and 26.9 percent earned a bachelor's degree or higher.  The state's system of public, private, and parochial schools provides a high-quality educational experience for the nearly one-half million students in elementary and secondary programs. In 2002, 30,337 high school students graduated.

Highlights
  • Utah high school seniors rank 3rd in the nation by the College Board in earning college credits through AP exams.
  • Utah ranks 4th in the nation for the percent of persons 25 years and over who have completed high school - 90.7%      
  • Utah ranked #2 in the nation for higher education spending (Sourcebook 2003)
  • Utah ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage of households with computers
    (Sourcebook 2003)
  • Utah schools have 93% Internet access in one or more classrooms; the national average is 84.2%
    (US Department of Commerce, Utah Education Network)
  • In 2001-2002, Custom Fit Training provided training to 20,612 individuals, from 795 companies

The implementation of Utah's Core Curriculum in the mid-1980's improved the state's education system and raised students' A.C.T. scores.  Utah high school seniors take the A.C.T. on a voluntary basis; typically 70% take the test.   The performance of Utah students taking the A.C.T. in 2000-2001 was higher or equal to that of the national comparison group in English, reading, science reasoning, and mathematics.

In Utah, the institutions of higher learning do not require the S.A.T. exclusively, however the number of participants continues to increase.

ACT Standard Score Average - 2002
66% Graduates Utah National
Tested 2002 2002
English 20.7 20.2
Mathematics 20.8 20.6
Reading 22.0 21.1
Science
Reasoning 21.4 20.8
Composite 21.4 20.8

Advanced Placement Comparison
2000 2001
No of students 11,572 11,558
Exams taken 18,544 18,849
Passed 69.4% 66.3%
Nation % passed 62.1% 60.0%
 

2002 SAT Test Scores
Utah % Part Nation % Part
Verbal 563 6% 504 46%
Math 559 6% 516 46%

Sources:  Utah State Office of Education, 2002 Economic Report to Governor, and The 2001 Digest of Education Statistics  

Utah's higher education institutions provide training in a multitude of subject areas.  Utah's ten, public, degree-granting universities and colleges, and three private higher learning institutions, had a combined enrollment of 171,377 students in the fall enrollment count for 2002-2003.  Utah's three research based institutions are the University of Utah, Utah State University, and Brigham Young University.

Utah's ten Applied Technology Colleges operate throughout the state.  Custom fit training and continuing education programs are offered through these institutions.

High School and College Attainment
Persons 25 Years and Over, Western States, 2000
State
Completed
High School (%)
Completed at least Four-year College Degree
Utah
90.7
26.9
Arizona
85.1
24.6
California
81.2
27.5
Colorado
89.7
34.6
Idaho
86.2
20.0
Montana
89.6
23.8
Nevada
82.8
19.3
New Mexico
82.2
23.6
Oregon
88.1
27.2
Washington
91.8
28.6
Wyoming
90.0
20.6
Source:  National Center for Education Statistics