SUU Earns Colleges of Distinction's Inaugural Affordable Institution Recognition
Published: February 09, 2023 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 2 minutes
Southern Utah University prioritizes the financial well-being of students by providing one of the most affordable tuition prices in the state. The university is receiving special recognition for its affordability by being inducted as a Colleges of Distinction Affordable Institution.
Founded in 1897, SUU has grown exponentially over the past fifty years, accumulating approximately 14,000 students as of 2022. Boasting an 89% acceptance rate and ranking 64th in Regional Universities West, SUU has been rising to become one of the most student-focused universities in Utah. The University also has an average yearly tuition rate of $13,578 after financial aid and hasn’t raised tuition since 2019. SUU’s inauguration as a Colleges of Distinction Affordable Institution is proof that the university is living up to its promise of putting students first.
The criteria that must be met in order for a Colleges of Distinction institution to be recognized as an Affordable Institution is based on a five-point system.
- Net Pricing: Finding the average of a university’s net price for each of the five brackets of household income in accordance with data put out by the United States Department of Education (DOE).
- Low Median Debt: Taking debt and salary information from the DOE’s Scorecard and comparing it to three family income brackets as well as information regarding student income after their college years.
- Incorporating Weighted Variables: After the schools have been ranked according to net price and Scorecard median debt by the DOE, weighted scores are assigned based on categories.
- Overall Affordability Profile: Taking into account that only schools listed as Colleges of Distinction can receive this recognition, the universities that qualify are then compared based on the numbers mentioned above. The top 50 schools will receive the award.
- Categorizing Affordability: Schools were added to the list that were awarded in the top 20% of their peer group in at least one of the following categories; state, size, undergraduate profile, private/public status, and percentage of students who received the Pell grant. Whenever a question about overall affordability arose, strong earnings data was used as a way to push a university over the bar.
Colleges of Distinction is an organization that has been working since 2000 to recognize higher education institutions that exceed expectations in different aspects of undergraduate education. Member schools with Colleges of Distinction are continuing to raise the bar for excellence in higher education and dedication to their students.
SUU is a caring campus community where students come to explore their interests and prepare for meaningful careers and life experiences. Offering more than 150 undergraduate programs, 32 graduate and certificate programs, as well as a professional doctorate degree across seven academic colleges, SUU proudly offers world-class, project-based learning opportunities where students gain professional experience before entering the job market. Learn more about SUU.