CTE in Utah
Career technical education (CTE) programs at the best community colleges in Utah help you train for in-demand careers while also providing a solid basis of academic study that can carry you forward into more advanced education, if that's your ultimate goal. CTE programs in Utah are already making a difference in high school achievement, with the state reporting a 2019 graduation rate of 96 percent among students who focused on CTE subjects.
CTE in Utah can open up a wide range of opportunities for prospective career changers, as well. More than half of the "good jobs" in Utah — positions that pay no less than $3,500 each year and have a median salary of $55,000 for adults under 45 — are held by workers who don't have a bachelor's degree.
If you're interested in learning more about CTE opportunities in Utah, take a look at these state-based resources:
- The Utah State Board of Education's career and technical education page can provide a primer on the approaches and foundations of CTE.
- The Utah Education Network (UEN) provides details on CTE courses for young learners that tie into career programs at the college level.
- The Career and Technical Education Department at Utah Valley University offers a wealth of information about college-level CTE programs, outreach and funding.
CTE programs in Utah are offered primarily by two-year schools in the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) and member institutions of the Utah System of Technical Colleges. Career and technical education catalogs tend to vary from one school to the next, so visit your chosen school's website or speak with an advisor to learn about the specific options available.
Transferring Credits in Utah
If you work with the right people throughout your community college journey, transferring to one of the top four-year schools in Utah after graduation can be relatively simple.
The most important step is to ensure that the community college you attend is accredited, preferably by a regional accrediting organization like the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NCCU). Without accreditation, the chances that your credits transfer at all can be pretty slim.
Once you've got the accreditation question answered, contact your target university to find out if there are any transfer agreements between it and your community college. These agreements are more likely to be available at in-state schools, but some four-year institutions in other states may also have arrangements with Utah community colleges. Some transfer agreements can accept your entire associate degree for transfer, while others assess your credits on a course-by-course basis.
You can always check the USHE's TransferUtah website or reach out to an advisor at your community college to learn more about your options.
Check our list of the best universities in Utah for more info on potential transfer destinations. For additional guidance about transfer agreements and other ways to help the process go smoothly, see our college transfer guide.
Resources for Community College Students in Utah
- The Utah System of Higher Education, which oversees eight public colleges and universities in Utah, is a one-stop shop for data on its member schools and info about education initiatives in the state.
- The Utah System of Technical Colleges governs the public two-year schools in Utah that offer primarily career and technical programs and can connect you to some additional options for CTE training.
- Information on college scholarships and other Utah student aid programs can be found through the Utah STEM Action Center and the state aid programs page of the USHE site.
Methodology
Using the National Center for Education Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), we generated a list of colleges and universities that met the following criteria:
- Level of institution is either "At least 2 but less than 4 years" or " Less than 2 years (below associate)"
- Data is reported for all 14 ranking variables listed in the Methodology section
We ranked the resulting community colleges member schools on multiple factors related to educational opportunity, student performance and student services. Each school was scored on a 10-point scale, using the following data points:
- The published in-district tuition and fees, National Center for Education Statistics, 2018
- The published in-state tuition and fees, National Center for Education Statistics, 2018
- The in-district per credit hour charge for part-time undergraduates, National Center for Education Statistics, 2018
- The in-state per credit hour charge for part-time undergraduates, National Center for Education Statistics, 2018
- Percentage of students receiving financial aid, National Center for Education Statistics, 2016
- Percent of students that transferred to a 4-year institution and completed within 8 years, College Scorecard, 2017
- The graduation rate in 150% time, National Center for Education Statistics, 2017
- Full-time student retention rate, National Center for Education Statistics, Fall 2017
- Student-to-faculty ratio, National Center for Education Statistics, Fall 2017
- Percentage of students enrolled in distance education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2017
- Flexibility, based on the following data points from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2018
- Whether the school offers credit for life experiences
- Whether the school offers programs of study that can be completed entirely in the evenings and on weekends
- Whether the school offers on-campus day care for students’ children
- Whether the school offers any kind of alternative tuition plan. These may include, but aren’t limited to, payment plans or guaranteed rates.
