Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University maintains open access admission standards with an 80.5% acceptance rate, ranking at the 14th percentile nationally for accessibility. This admission rate reflects the institution's commitment to broad educational access, accepting four out of five applicants and providing opportunities for students across diverse academic backgrounds.

The open access designation indicates admission rates above 75%, positioning Southern Utah University as highly accessible compared to the peer median admission rate of 84.7%. Despite this accessibility, the institution attracts students with strong academic preparation, as evidenced by ACT scores that rank at the 91st percentile nationally.

This combination of accessible admission standards and competitive test scores suggests Southern Utah University successfully balances broad access with academic quality. The 4.2 percentage point difference in admission rates compared to peers indicates slightly more selective admission than typical open access institutions while maintaining substantial accessibility for prospective students seeking higher education opportunities.

Southern Utah University provides exceptional affordability through low tuition rates and controlled net costs across all income levels. In-state tuition stands at $6,770 while out-of-state students pay $20,586, creating accessible baseline costs for higher education.

The average net price of $11,432 falls $1,473 below the peer median of $12,905, indicating stronger affordability than similar institutions. Net costs range from $7,156 for the lowest-income families to $15,580 for the highest-income families, representing an $8,424 spread that reflects progressive financial aid targeting.

This pricing structure demonstrates Southern Utah University's commitment to affordability across diverse economic backgrounds while maintaining particularly strong support for lower-income students. The significant gap between sticker prices and actual net costs, especially for lower-income students, indicates substantial institutional and federal financial aid that reduces the true cost of attendance well below published rates.

Southern Utah University graduates demonstrate steady earnings progression over the post-graduation period. Median earnings advance from $41,147 six years after enrollment to $46,085 at eight years and $50,296 at ten years, representing 22.2% growth from the six-year mark.

These outcomes are based on substantial cohorts of 1,693 graduates at six years, 1,999 at eight years, and 2,334 at ten years, providing strong confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn around the national average, with earnings at the 50th percentile nationally and $2,424 above the peer median of $47,872.

Low-income graduates earn $46,200, ranking Southern Utah University in the top 50 nationally for this outcome. Earnings span from $26,717 at the 25th percentile to $74,170 at the 75th percentile, demonstrating a 2.8:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles.

The earnings trajectory shows consistent upward progression, with the largest gains occurring between the six-year and eight-year marks as graduates advance in their careers and gain professional experience.

Southern Utah University provides diverse academic pathways with varying economic outcomes based on field of study. Business programs demonstrate excellent loan affordability, with graduates earning $41,565 two years post-graduation and $61,481 four years after completion, placing loan payments under 8% of discretionary income in the excellent affordability tier.

Health Professions programs show strong early career earnings at $53,108 two years post-graduation and $62,156 four years after completion, also achieving excellent affordability ratings. Education programs provide solid career preparation with graduates earning $37,272 two years post-graduation and advancing to $46,941 four years after completion.

Communication and Journalism programs offer good affordability outcomes with four-year earnings of $43,818. The university serves students across multiple program categories, with loan trajectories showing that most fields achieve good to excellent affordability outcomes given the institution's low median debt of $12,500.