SUU #1 Public University in Utah for Lowest Student Debt
Published: September 04, 2019 | Author: Savannah Byers | Read Time: 2 minutes
With an average student loan debt half of the national average, Southern Utah University has been recognized for its efforts in providing an affordable higher education for its students. LendEDU’s recently published statistics for average student loan debt reveals that Southern Utah University has one of the lowest average student loan debt per borrower figures not only in Utah, but in the United States.
In Utah, SUU ranks #1 for the lowest student debt among public universities, and #2 out of all universities in the state just behind Brigham Young University. SUU also ranks #22 for the lowest student loan debt out of all the public universities in the U.S., and #42 out of all the public and private universities in the U.S.
SUU’s average debt per borrower is currently in the 25th percentile at $18,185. The state of Utah has the lowest debt per borrower amount in the country. The average student loan debt nationwide is $37,000 per borrower.
SUU steadily works to make quality higher education financially accessible to everyone. This past year, SUU was the only school in the Utah System for Higher Education that didn’t raise tuition and student fees for the 2019-2020 school year. And in August of 2019, the Utah State Board of Regents agreed to lower tuition for online-only undergraduate programs at SUU. Beginning in January 2020, tuition will be cut by 23% for online undergraduate students and 12% for online graduate students.
“We worked diligently on the budget and reviewed all of our operating expenses,” said SUU President Scott L Wyatt. “Our goal is to keep school affordable, help students get into college and complete their degree.”
SUU continually invests in creating additional resources for students to develop the skills, knowledge, and habits to effectively manage their finances. In the past year, hundreds of students have taken advantage of SUU’s one-on-one financial counseling with Ashleigh Zimmerman, financial literacy coordinator for current students.
“As our financial system becomes increasingly complex, it is more important than ever that we support students in understanding the importance of saving, evaluating the investment they make in their education, and the consequences of financial products they are offered,” Zimmerman said. “By offering this education right as students are making their first independent financial decisions, we can help students avoid the sometimes life-long effects of bad financial planning.”
Learn more about scholarships and tuition at SUU.Tags: Student Financial Aid