Utah Announces Guaranteed Admissions Pathway for High School Students
Credit: George Frey / Stringer / Getty Images News / Getty Images- The Utah System of Higher Education recently announced a guaranteed admissions program designed to increase access to higher education for all students.
- All Utah high school students, regardless of their GPA, will be guaranteed admission to at least one of the state’s 16 public colleges or universities.
- The “Admit Utah” initiative also includes a website that will provide resources to undecided students and real-time admissions updates to seniors.
Utah high schoolers will receive guaranteed college admission through the state’s new “Admit Utah” initiative announced by the Utah System of Higher Education.
The initiative guarantees that every high school student in the state will be admitted to at least one of Utah’s 16 public colleges and universities, regardless of the student’s GPA.
Private institutions including Brigham Young University, Westminster University, and Ensign College are not included in the admissions guarantee.
“This initiative paves the way for students to pursue their academic goals without unnecessary obstacles,” Commissioner of Higher Education Geoffrey Landward said in a press release. “We firmly believe that every Utah student deserves the opportunity to succeed in college, and we are confident that ‘Admit Utah’ will be instrumental in making that a reality.”
Along with the admissions promise, the “Admit Utah” initiative will include a website with resources about the different higher education options in the state and financial aid guidance. High school seniors will be able to use the site to get real-time admissions updates and guidance in completing their applications in the fall.
“Admit Utah marks a significant milestone in our efforts to ensure that every Utah student has access to a quality college education,” Utah Board of Higher Education member Cydni Tetro said in the press release.
“This platform will provide students with even more clarity and simplicity in the college application process, empowering them to pursue their educational aspirations with confidence.”
Utah’s public university system includes two research universities, four regional universities, two community colleges, and eight technical colleges.
While all students are guaranteed admission to at least one institution through the new initiative, some campuses, including Utah State University and the University of Utah, will require a minimum GPA to be accepted.
Many of Utah’s higher education institutions accept a majority of students who apply. One of the largest universities in the state, Utah Valley University, offers open admissions and accepts all students who submit the required documents. Another popular institution, the University of Utah, has an 87% acceptance rate.
Several other states, including Florida and Texas, offer guaranteed admissions programs to qualifying in-state students.
Various university systems, including the University of California system, and individual institutions, such as Tulane University, also offer similar guarantees, usually with eligibility requirements such as minimum standardized test scores, GPAs, and/or class ranks.