Utah State Celebrates Strong Enrollment Growth for Fall 2024

Utah State University’s fall 2024 enrollment has shown robust growth, particularly at Statewide Campuses in first-time and transfer students. The student headcount for the USU system increased by almost 3% from fall 2023, and first-time/transfer students were up by 6% across the state.

At the Logan campus, first-time and transfer students grew by nearly 4%; by 25% at USU Eastern in Price; and by 27% across the 30 education locations in USU’s statewide system. Additionally, first-year, first-generation students across the USU system grew significantly, at nearly 9%.

“We are thrilled students are choosing a college education and setting themselves up for a lifetime of success,” USU President Elizabeth R. Cantwell said. “As a top R1 research and public service university, Utah State offers students a strong return on investment and an enriching student life experience wherever they choose to attend USU. We’re seeing growth across the state, and that is because we meet students where they live.”

Growth Despite Issues With FAFSA Rollout

Utah State has experienced this enrollment growth despite challenges with the U.S. Department of Education’s rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2024-2025 academic year. USU proactively addressed these challenges by providing extensive support to students, leading to a 15% increase in FAFSA completion among first-year students. Additionally, USU's Utah State Promise scholarship ensures that Pell Grant-eligible students have their full tuition and fees covered, further supporting student enrollment.

Utah State University has been selected as a partner by the Department of Education to help improve the FAFSA application process. As the department continues to make adjustments, USU applicants will play a vital role in testing the 2025-2026 FAFSA.

Increased Scholarship Support

“We are pleased to announce that total aid to newly enrolled students, including institutional and donor-funded scholarships, increased by 25% this fall,” said President Cantwell. “Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, 57 new donor-funded scholarships were established this year, with 40 of them coming from first-time donors. Aggies are continually giving back to the university and opening doors for future generations through scholarships and charitable support.'"

Just last week, the university celebrated numerous endowed scholarships and program support provided by Mehdi Heravi, an alumnus and philanthropist. The Mehdi Heravi Global Teaching and Learning Center was formally opened on Friday, Oct. 11.

Benefits to Students and Utah

Strong enrollment is not only good news for students, but for the entire state. Research released this year from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shows that, while college graduates can expect significantly higher earnings and lower unemployment rates, they also contribute more in tax revenue to the state and need less public assistance.