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SALT LAKE CITY — A new report shows just how many people are expected to enroll in Utah's colleges and universities in the coming years, and the first bump comes as a large group of younger LDS missionaries returns.
The first huge wave of missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who left when the age was lowered in October 2012 will start coming back soon, and the projected numbers in the new report from the Utah System of Higher Education show some of Utah's colleges could see a spike as big as 5 percent.
The report maps out the next 10 years of enrollment to the 2023-24 academic year, and takes into account that missionaries will always be coming and going. It also factors in population growth and unemployment numbers, which also affect college enrollment.
New projections say Utah's college enrollment will grow by 223,000 students in 10 years, a 2.5 percent increase. The state says it needs at least a 2.5 percent increase each year to meet its 2020 attainment goal. UVU and Snow College both have higher projections and are each expected to grow around 5 percent each fall.
Utah Valley University and the University of Utah both expanded their deferred enrollment programs in the past year in anticipation of more students leaving for LDS missions.
The U.'s associate vice president for enrollment management, Mary Parker, told KSL in October they are keeping in touch with students on missions through email with their person of contact, most often a parent.
"We are letting them know that the U. wants you back,” Parker said. “We will make the transition easy, and we will look at the needs you have."
Officials at all of Utah's state colleges and universities said they are eager to help returning students secure financial aid and housing needs.
