Utah women are starting college in impressive numbers. In fact, we rank 22nd in the nation for the percentage of women with a postsecondary degree. But there’s another ranking that tells a tougher story: Utah is the second highest in the nation for women who begin college but never finish their degrees.
This isn’t just about dropout rates — it’s about opportunity lost. Every unfinished degree represents a woman who invested time, money and hope into her education only to walk away without the life-changing benefits that come from completing it.
Finishing the degree matters. A college degree is linked to lower rates of domestic violence against women, greater access to health care, stronger financial stability and healthier lifestyles. These aren’t abstract outcomes — they affect families, marriages, workplaces and entire communities.
Here’s the catch: The greatest benefits don’t come from just attending college — they come from completing it. When women leave school early, they face the costs of college — time, debt and lost income — while missing out on many of the protections and opportunities a degree provides.
In Utah, we pride ourselves on perseverance, diligence and finishing what we start, yet too many women are stopped short by challenges we can and should address: the tug of family responsibilities; financial pressures; and the impossible juggle of school, work and caregiving. These pressures can make the finish line feel out of reach.
The good news is this story isn’t finished. We can write a better ending by helping women return to school and creating more opportunities for them to finish the first time. That means building flexibility into higher education: class schedules that fit real lives, more online and hybrid options, targeted scholarships, strong mentoring networks, and advising that keeps students on track. It means child care support, evening or accelerated courses, and safety nets that turn “almost finished” into “degree in hand.”
It also means shifting how we talk about college. Enrolling is a milestone, yes, but the real victory comes from walking across the stage with a diploma in hand. Encouraging Utah women to finish isn’t about narrowing their choices — it’s about expanding them, making sure every woman who invests in college can reap the full rewards.
When Utah women succeed, Utah succeeds. A degree is more than a piece of paper; it’s protection against life’s hardest challenges and a foundation for thriving families and communities. Let’s help more Utah women reach the finish line — because when they do, we all win.