Southern Utah University

What Southern Utah University does

Southern Utah University is a public regional university founded in 1897 and headquartered on a 130-acre campus in Cedar City, Utah. The university enrolls more than 16,000 students through seven academic colleges and schools — Business, Education & Human Development, Health Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, Performing and Visual Arts, Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics (CSTEM), and Aviation — offering more than 150 undergraduate programs, 32 master's and certificate programs, and one professional doctorate (PsyD). SUU is led by President Mindy Benson and serves a diversified student base spanning first-year residential, transfer, online, international (90+ countries), graduate, aviation, and continuing-education segments.

The core operating model is a tuition-funded public university with multiple delivery modes. On-campus students access degree programs through an 18:1 faculty ratio with an average class size of 19.8; online learners are served through SUU Online (including the Speedway Bachelor of General Studies) on Canvas LMS with virtual labs, multiple start dates, and 7-week course formats. Supporting technology infrastructure includes Banner ERP for registration and finance, MySUU as the student portal, Handshake for career services, VerifyMyFAFSA for financial aid processing, Zoom Pro for virtual instruction, and a self-serve application portal at apply.suu.edu supporting ten distinct application pathways.

Revenue is generated through five primary streams: tuition and fees (differentiated by Utah Resident, WUE, Non-Resident East, and International rates with automatic merit-based scholarships and a $100 non-refundable enrollment deposit), university housing and dining (operated through a third-party dining services partner), philanthropic donations and planned giving (administered by University Advancement), grants and sponsored programs (administered through the SPARC office), and event-based revenue from 15 NCAA Division I athletic teams in the Western Athletic Conference plus cultural events at the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA). Distribution combines direct-to-consumer online enrollment, inside-sales recruitment by state- and country-specific admissions representatives, channel partnerships (e.g., Best Friends Animal Society microcredentials, Louisville Thunder online course delivery, American Samoa high school recruitment), and experience-based recruitment via campus visits and the "University of the Parks®" outdoor brand tied to proximity of 20+ national parks.

Name

Southern Utah University

Legal name

Southern Utah University

Website

https://suu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Southern Utah University is a public regional university founded in 1897 in Cedar City, Utah, enrolling 16,000+ students across 150+ undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs delivered on-campus, online, and internationally through seven academic colleges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Land-Grant Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate degrees
• Online learning
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary recurring revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition differentiated by residency status (Utah Resident, Non-Resident WUE, Non-Resident East, International). Includes required $100 non-refundable enrollment deposit and various course/semester fees.
2. Philanthropic Donations and Gifts: Charitable giving through University Advancement covering 100+ areas of support, planned giving, employer matching, payroll deduction, license plate scholarship fund, and corporate/foundation relations including the Miller Mental Health Match and Giving Wings programs.
3. Grants and Sponsored Programs: External grant funding for research, capital projects, and academic programs (e.g., $46,000 USTA grant for tennis court resurfacing, U.S. Department of Energy hydropower research funding). Administered through SPARC (Sponsored Programs, Agreements, Research, & Contracts).
4. Alumni and Athletic Event Revenue: Event-based revenue including SUU Day at Lagoon, Homecoming, Alumni Days at Utah Shakespeare Festival, Founder's Week, and Thor's Thunder Classic golf tournament, plus athletic ticket sales for 15 NCAA Division I teams in the Western Athletic Conference.
5. University Housing and Dining: On-campus residence halls, apartment-style living, and dining plans operated through a third-party dining services partner (dineoncampus.com), generating recurring per-semester housing and meal plan revenue.
6. Professional Development and Workforce Training: Community and Workforce Development (CWD) revenue from non-degree professional development, leadership institute, community education, industry-recognized certificates, and microcredentials for adult learners and corporate clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion6 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Southern Utah University is a public university offering over 150 undergraduate programs, 32 master's degree and certificate programs, and one professional doctorate (PsyD), delivered both on-campus in Cedar City, Utah and online via SUU Online. The institution provides residential undergraduate education, flexible fully-online degrees and certificates (including the Speedway Bachelor of General Studies), professional aviation training, continuing education and workforce credentials through Community and Workforce Development (CWD), and ancillary cultural offerings such as the Utah Shakespeare Festival and the Southern Utah Museum of Art.

Product overview

Southern Utah University operates a single unified academic institution (not a software product) that delivers education through a campus-plus-modules architecture: a core on-campus residential experience in Cedar City, UT, supplemented by an online degree platform (SUU Online, including the Speedway BGS), seven academic colleges/schools (Education & Human Development, Health Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, Performing & Visual Arts, STEM, Aviation, Business), the Community and Workforce Development (CWD) continuing-education division, and affiliated cultural sub-brands including the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts, and the Thunderbirds NCAA Division I athletics program. Together these named offerings form a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate majors, graduate degrees, doctoral programs (PsyD), certificates, online degrees, professional development, and cultural programming supported by Canvas-based learning technology and mySUU digital portals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Utah Shakespeare Festival: The Tony Award-winning professional theatre organization operated by SUU; celebrating its 65th season in 2026.
• Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA)
• University of the Parks®
• SUU Online
• SUU Community and Workforce Development (CWD)

Products and services

• SUU Online SUU's online learning division offering affordable, accredited online Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees and Graduate Certificates with multiple start dates per year, leveraging Canvas, virtual labs, and real-time workshops for flexible remote learning.
• Speedway Bachelor of General Studies A 100% online Bachelor of General Studies program with 6 start dates per year, 7-week course length, lower tuition, and 40+ available courses open to all students domestic and international.
• Community and Workforce Development (CWD) SUU's continuing education and professional development division offering workforce training, leadership development, community education, industry-recognized certificates, microcredentials, and skills-based learning opportunities for adult learners and corporate clients.
• School of Aviation SUU's aviation school offering Airplane, Helicopter, Aviation Administration and Leadership, and Aircraft Technician programs across AAS, Bachelor's, and Graduate Certificate levels, with separate online and on-campus tracks.
• Principles of Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Ethics Graduate Certificate

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% job placement within 6 months of graduation
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• BZI (steel and construction company)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Multi-year sponsorship partnership celebrated at the 40th Annual Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games opening ceremonies on June 5, 2026 in Cedar City. BZI serves as title partner for a Southern Utah University event associated with the Special Olympics Utah Summer Games and provides volunteer support during the multi-week sporting festival. Sponsorship aligns with BZI's stated mission to create high-value opportunities and thriving communities.
• Reykjavik UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026New agreement announced June 25, 2026 builds on existing collaboration and creates opportunities for students, faculty, and industry partners in Iceland and the United States, focused on energy education and research.
• Best Friends Animal SocietyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Multi-year partnership expanding professional education in animal services. Over 1,500 learners participating nationwide with more than 770 professional certificates awarded. Collaboration provides stackable microcredentials in shelter operations, leadership and lifesaving strategies that can be applied toward bachelor's or graduate degrees.
• Utah Shakespeare FestivalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival is SUU's professional theatre organization, housed at the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the SUU campus. Now in its 65th season (2026), students can attend and participate in productions on stage and behind-the-scenes. Festival operates in partnership with the Southern Utah Museum of Art and the Beverley Center for the Arts.
• Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-campus museum featuring artwork of regional artists, faculty and student artists, and emerging and distinguished artists from around the country. Building designed by Brooks + Scarpa, named best-designed museum in Utah by Architectural Digest. Celebrating 10-year anniversary in 2026 alongside the Beverley Center for the Arts.
• Louisville Thunder / National Junior College Prep Football LeagueminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSUU provides online classes to the Louisville Thunder, the first junior college football program in Kentucky. The program is part of the National Junior College Prep Football League, expanding to 18 teams by 2026. SUU's online courses enable student-athletes to complete academic coursework while participating in athletics.
• American Samoa High Schools (Outstanding Students Program)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecruitment pathway where outstanding high school graduates from American Samoa are admitted to SUU to further their studies. Announced August 18, 2025 — four remarkable graduates committed to SUU.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Weber State University: Public regional university in Ogden, Utah, similar in scale (~30,000 students) and mission. Both compete for the same Utah resident pool, WUE students, and online learners within the Utah System of Higher Education.
• Utah Valley University: Large public university in Orem, Utah with 40,000+ students, strong online and workforce development programs. Directly competes with SUU for Utah residents, transfer students, and affordable online market positioning.
• Utah Tech University (formerly Dixie State): Public regional university in St. George, Utah - southern Utah's other public university. Most direct geographic and demographic peer competing for similar resident, transfer, and outdoor-oriented student populations.
• Snow College: Public two-year college in Ephraim, Utah with strong transfer pathway programs. Functions as a feeder school for SUU's four-year programs and competes in the same Utah System of Higher Education for affordability-minded students.
• Northern Arizona University: Public regional university in Flagstaff, Arizona with comparable scale (~30,000 students), outdoor/location-driven brand, WICHE region presence, and online program portfolio. Directly comparable in mission and demographic.
• Dixie State / Utah Tech University (re-listed to flag distinction): Same as above - explicitly noted as a duplicate for relevance emphasis given the close geographic proximity and overlapping student markets.

Emerging players

• Western Governors University: Nonprofit online-only university focused on affordable, competency-based degrees for working adults. Competes directly with SUU Online in the affordable online undergraduate and graduate market with a larger, more mature platform.
• Southern New Hampshire University: Large nonprofit online university with aggressive growth in affordable online degrees. Direct competitor to SUU Online in the adult learner and online undergraduate/graduate market at similar price points.

Regional players

• University of Wyoming: Public flagship in Wyoming with rural/mountain-region identity and WICHE reciprocity. Comparable as a public regional research university serving a similar geographic and demographic footprint in the Mountain West.
• Idaho State University: Public regional university in Pocatello, Idaho with comparable size, online program portfolio, and WICHE-region peer profile. Competes for WUE students and online learners in the broader Mountain West market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/suutbirds
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@suuonline388
• Facebookfacebook.com/53259538422
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-utah-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/suualumni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Utah University