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SALT LAKE CITY — College students in Utah are now hearing about a new push to get them to step it up a bit and get out of school faster, and with less debt.
Most college students right now are taking between 12 and 14 credits a semester. Utah Higher Education officials say to take just one more class. They have created a new campaign called "15 to Finish."
"We know students, the majority of students, can accomplish this," said Pamela Silberman with the Utah Board of Regents.
The campaign is going to campuses this week as students start to register for next semester. It will hit high school seniors as they begin to register for college.
"During summer orientation for incoming freshmen, we are going to push that message hard and say, freshmen, take 15 credits from day one and you will finish in two years for an associate's and four years for a bachelor's," Silberman said.
During summer orientation for incoming freshmen, we are going to push that message hard and say, freshmen, take 15 credits from day one and you will finish in two years for an associate's and four years for a bachelor's.
–Pamela Silberman, Utah Board of Regents
She says the goal is to make 15 credits the new normal. Studies done by UHEAA shows students who go full-time are more likely to graduate on time and with less debt than students who go part-time.
"Many of our institutions have already embraced this," Silberman said. "It's a message we are going to get out to high schools as well, where students will go to college with the expectation of taking 15 credits per semester rather than 12."
At most colleges, it costs the same to take 12 credits as 15 credits. The 15 to Finish program emphasizes that taking 15 credits "not only saves money, but puts you on track to start your career sooner." For more information, visit the [http://15tofinishutah.com/](<15 to Finish Utah website>).
