Record enrollment at Weber State leads to all-time high in completions
OGDEN, Utah — Student-focused innovations and multiple years of record enrollment are fueling an all-time high in the number of people earning certificates and degrees at Weber State University.
WSU degrees lead to high-yield careers
From associate’s degrees to bachelor’s degree and professional certificates, WSU students are crossing the finish line in record numbers. Weber State awarded 7,553 credentials during the 2024–25 academic year:
- 969 certificates (undergraduate and graduate)
- 3,507 associate’s
- 2,614 bachelor’s
- 426 master’s
- 37 doctorate
WSU President Brad Mortensen said that total is an all-time high.
“We’re extremely proud of those numbers because they’re more than figures,” Mortensen said. “Those are the students who persevered. We’ve done hard work across the university to ensure we’re removing barriers, innovating wherever possible, continually checking in with students to ensure they reach their goals — one being their degree, but ultimately uplifting their life and career.”
Mortensen also noted that, according to the Utah System of Higher Education’s performance funding program, 80% of the certificates and degrees earned by Weber State students qualify as high-yield awards — credentials that lead to high-wage, high-demand careers.
Serving students in all phases of life
Unlike most institutions across the nation, WSU’s dual-mission approach allows students to pursue two-year, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees all within one university. Two-thirds of students who earned an associate’s degree at WSU in the 2023–24 academic year returned for additional credentials within a year.
Graduation rates for those earning bachelor’s degrees have soared over the years, from 31% in 2018 to 47% last year. That jump includes increases in first-generation college students and students 25 and older.
“Being a dual-mission institution means we’re serving students in various phases of life,” Mortensen said. “And we’re making it easier for them to transition from one phase to the next by offering ways to ‘stack’ their credentials and move seamlessly into the next degree program.”
Last year, in an effort to make the first two years of college more affordable, Mortensen announced a freeze on tuition and fees for all students with fewer than 60 credit hours, which benefits half of WSU’s matriculated degree-seeking students.
Weber State also saw a record-high number of concurrent enrollment students — high school students who are beginning their college journey through WSU courses taught in their schools.
Underrepresented races or ethnicities make up roughly a quarter of Weber State’s student body, with Hispanic and Latino enrollment increasing by more than 500 students, or 13%. WSU’s Ogden campus sits within Utah’s only majority-Hispanic school district.
What is Weber State’s enrollment?
Weber State is serving more students than ever with a headcount of 33,293 this fall.
“Other universities across the country are seeing declines in enrollment, but Weber State is seeing an uptick,” said Jessica Oyler, vice president of Student Access & Success. “That really shows the value of regional public universities like Weber. We’re serving folks right here in our community, and our community directly benefits from it.”
As of last week, the university saw a 6.4% increase in first-generation student enrollment, and a notable spike in students taking online classes.
Oyler, whose division oversees admissions, said the university thinks outside the box to reach students who may not otherwise pursue college, including a recent Direct Admissions initiative that automatically admits high school seniors in nearby counties.
This year, WSU also became Utah’s first public university to offer accelerated bachelor’s degrees that can be completed in three years and save students $6,500 in tuition and fees alone. Mortensen said the degrees, which require roughly 90 credits versus 120, help meet changing needs of both students and employers.
What programs does Weber State offer?
WSU offers more than 250 certificate and degree programs, with the bulk of students enrolled in healthcare and STEM programs.
The university’s largest colleges are the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions with 5,227 students this fall, and the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology, which welcomed 3,107 students. WSU is home to four other academic colleges and more than 600 full-time faculty who are focused primarily on teaching but also contribute to cutting-edge research.
“Our faculty are Weber State’s top strength,” said WSU Provost Leslie Durham. “Not only the time they invest in each student, but the talents and expertise they bring to fields that have positive impacts in Utah and our region. They continually find ways to engage our students and prepare them to make powerful contributions to their workplaces and communities.”
Partnering with employers, community
Weber State continues to focus on workforce and community needs, refining course offerings to better serve Utahns.
Earlier this month, the university hosted more than 40 employers at its inaugural Northern Utah Employer Exchange, a collaborative forum to strengthen partnerships with industry leaders and seek feedback on workforce training, hiring, retention, and more.
The university also reinforced its crucial role in healthcare. A 21% increase in health sciences enrollment came partly because of a new partnership with Intermountain PEAK. The partnership aims to grow the next generation of healthcare professionals through expanded access to educational pathways, offering tuition assistance to eligible Intermountain Health employees. This fall, over 500 employees registered for classes at Weber State.
Bryan Magaña, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu- Contact:
Rachel Badali, Interim Public Relations Director
801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu