- Weber State enrollment from Weber, Davis and Morgan counties rose 3% after implementing an automatic admission initiative.
- The initiative, launched last year, grants automatic admission to 10,000 high school seniors each and admission letters went out recently to the current class of seniors.
- New this year, the admission letters contain more detailed scholarship and financial aid information.
OGDEN — The student headcount from three counties targeted by a new program meant to make it easier to enroll in Weber State University is up a year after the initiative started.
Enrollment by students from Weber, Davis and Morgan counties has increased by 3% compared to a year ago, and the school's goal "is to see that number continues to grow," said Rachel Badali, spokeswoman for the Ogden-based university.
Weber State and two tech schools, Davis Technical College in Kaysville and Ogden-Weber Technical College in Ogden, jointly launched a direct admissions initiative last year. Under the program, the 10,000 or so seniors graduating each year from high schools in Weber, Davis and Morgan counties are granted automatic admission to the institutions, easing the process of pursuing postsecondary education. Last Friday, Weber State announced that admission letters were sent out to the new 2025-2026 class of seniors, the second year of the program, complete with information about scholarship funding.
"Removing hurdles can clear the way for people who may've thought college was just out of reach," said Jessica Oyler, Weber State's vice president of student access and success. "It sends a powerful message to students who may not have pictured themselves in college that they belong here, and that Weber State is excited to help them take the next step."
The scholarship offers included in the letters sent this year specify the share of costs that such funding will cover, giving students a clearer idea of the financial commitments involved in pursuing education after high school. "Having scholarship and aid information right out of the gate means students can see that getting started is possible," Oyler said.
Weber State and the two tech colleges are open-enrollment schools, meaning all students with a high school diploma are guaranteed admission. Still, the college application process can be daunting, Badali noted. The year-old program "makes things clearer and easier," she said.
