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Student Retention in Utah

📑 10 slides 👁 29 views 📅 1/26/2026
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Student Retention in Utah

Understanding who stays, who leaves, and why it matters.

Student Retention in Utah
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Quick Poll: Why Students Leave

  • What’s the #1 reason students leave college?
  • Options: Finances, Belonging, Academics, Life events, Unclear goals.
  • Speaker note: Encourage audience participation.
Quick Poll: Why Students Leave
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Why Retention Matters

  • Retention predicts completion (IPEDS & NSC).
  • Utah’s workforce pipeline depends on student retention.
  • Losing a student is costly — for them and institutions.
Why Retention Matters
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Utah’s Higher Ed Landscape

  • 16 public institutions in Utah.
  • Includes 2 Research Universities, 4 Regional Universities, 1 Community College, 8 Technical Colleges.
  • Diverse options for students across the state.
Utah’s Higher Ed Landscape
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Utah Retention Snapshot

  • National full-time retention: 77.5%.
  • Utah 4-year institutions: low to mid 70% range.
  • Utah 2-year institutions: similar to national (~61%).
Utah Retention Snapshot
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Research Universities

  • University of Utah: Success coaching boosted retention (+18% Pell, +7% first gen).
  • Utah State University: Completion rate (150% time) at 58.1%.
  • Statewide impact on retention.
Research Universities
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Regional Universities

  • Includes Weber State, Southern Utah, Utah Tech, Utah Valley.
  • Large first-gen and working student populations.
  • Retention varies by program mix.
Regional Universities
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Community College

  • Salt Lake Community College: High transfer-out rates.
  • Retention linked to momentum and transfer pathways.
  • Key role in student progression.
Community College
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Technical Colleges

  • Eight institutions focused on job-aligned programs.
  • Retention measured by program completion.
  • Strong alignment with workforce needs.
Technical Colleges
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Final Takeaways

  • Retention is about people, not just numbers.
  • Utah’s landscape is unique — rural, urban, technical, university.
  • Evidence-based strategies work when intentional.
Final Takeaways
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