In this season of setting—and accomplishing—New Year’s resolutions, now is the perfect time to start or finish a college degree to not only better your own life but also to contribute to the vitality of our local community and the entire state as well.

Utah Tech University’s polytechnic approach to education is perfect for those looking to upskill for new career opportunities. In fact, gaining hands-on learning experiences that prepare you to enter the workforce career-ready is the hallmark of a Utah Tech education.

With the lowest university tuition in the state and among the most affordable in the country, UT prepares students to graduate debt-free. Additionally, a college degree offers countless lifetime benefits, such as improved quality of life, higher income, increased job opportunities, better physical and mental health, greater job satisfaction, and stronger personal relationships.

A UT graduate with a bachelor's degree can expect to earn an average of $20,273 more annually than those with only a high school diploma, according to UT Associate Professor of Marketing Kristy Grayson’s Utah Tech University Economic Impact analysis. The analysis goes on to predict this to translate to $810,920 more in income over the graduate’s lifetime. Furthermore, UT’s 2023 class of graduates is expected to collectively generate an additional $1.2 billion in lifetime earnings.

Preparing for impactful careers not only benefits students but also is a boon to the local workforce. Grayson’s analysis indicates that 73 percent of UT’s 2023 graduates are employed in UT’s service region, contributing to long-term local economic stability.

Looking statewide, Utah also benefits from having an educated citizenry. As individuals receive more education, they rely less on public assistance and report higher volunteer rates and voter participation. It is also estimated that every one dollar the state invests in public higher education returns three dollars in tax revenues from increased wages. Additionally, an estimated 71 percent of graduates from Utah’s public colleges and universities received high-yield degrees in 2022, filling critical workforce needs in the state.

With so much to gain, don’t delay in taking the next steps toward earning a college degree. Utah Tech University’s Spring 2025 semester begins January 6, 2025, and registration is open until then. Take the next steps toward accomplishing your educational goals today by learning more about becoming a Utah Tech Trailblazer at explore.utahtech.edu.

If the traditional, in-person experience doesn’t work for you, don’t let that get in the way of accomplishing your goals. UT has exponentially increased its online offerings recently to include a wide variety of online certificate, associate, degree-completion, bachelor’s, and master’s programs. Learn more at online.utahtech.edu.