Utah Tech University

Utah Tech University — Higher Education in St. George, Utah

Utah Tech University (UTU) is Southern Utah's only four-year university, located on a 320-acre campus in the heart of St. George and serving a student body of approximately 12,000 undergraduates and graduate students from across Utah, the western United States, and internationally. Originally established as Dixie Junior College, the institution has undergone continuous evolution — from two-year community college to four-year Dixie State University to its current identity as Utah Tech University — reflecting the ambitions of a growing community that has demanded educational infrastructure commensurate with its economic and demographic expansion. UTU's distinctive philosophy of "active learning" blends the experiential, hands-on educational approach of a technical university with the breadth of a liberal arts institution, producing graduates who are both theoretically grounded and practically capable across their fields of study.

Academic Programs and Degrees

Utah Tech University offers more than 200 programs of study spanning bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, certificates, and a growing portfolio of graduate programs. The College of Engineering, Technology, and Informatics produces graduates in computer science, software engineering, cybersecurity, mechanical engineering, and applied technology who are recruited by Utah's technology sector and beyond. The Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business provides bachelor's and master's-level business education with concentrations in accounting, finance, marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. Healthcare programs in nursing, dental hygiene, respiratory therapy, and health sciences prepare students for Southern Utah's growing medical sector workforce. The College of Arts and Sciences serves students in education, natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities, while the College of Fine Arts develops talent in music, theatre, visual arts, and digital media.

Campus Life and Student Experience

Utah Tech's campus combines the energy of a traditional residential university with the unique setting advantages of St. George's outdoor recreation opportunities and year-round mild climate. Student housing accommodates thousands of students on or near campus, while the broader St. George community offers employment, entertainment, and the outdoor recreation — Zion National Park, Snow Canyon State Park, Sand Hollow Reservoir, and hundreds of miles of trail — that make UTU's student experience distinctive among Utah's universities. NCAA Division I athletics competition in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) provides school spirit focus points, particularly basketball and the growing esports program that reflects the university's technology emphasis. The student union, recreation center, and extensive student organization ecosystem support engagement beyond academics. For information about living in St. George, see the moving to St. George guide.

Continuing Education and Professional Development

Utah Tech University's Division of Continuing Education extends the university's educational reach to working professionals, career changers, and lifelong learners who seek structured learning without full-time enrollment. Professional certificates in business, technology, healthcare, and education are designed for working adults who need credentials that employers recognize without the time and cost of a full degree program. Non-credit courses, workshops, and short programs cover topics from technology skills to creative arts, serving the broader St. George community's appetite for learning. The university's online program portfolio enables students throughout Southern Utah and beyond to access UTU coursework remotely, expanding access to the institution's educational offerings well beyond the physical campus boundaries.

Research and Community Partnership

Utah Tech University's research enterprise, while younger than those of Utah's flagship universities, is growing rapidly with faculty-led projects in water resources, desert ecology, technology innovation, and health sciences that address challenges directly relevant to Southern Utah's environment and economy. Community partnership programs connect university resources — student talent, faculty expertise, laboratory facilities, and organizational infrastructure — to local businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies that benefit from research, project support, and professional services. The university's economic impact on Washington County extends well beyond direct employment and student spending, encompassing the innovation ecosystem, workforce pipeline, and cultural programming that a major university anchors in any community it serves.