University of Utah to close Sandy campus

The University of Utah’s satellite campus in Sandy will close at the end of 2026, according to a statement from the university. Students learned of the closure on Friday, just three days before the start of fall semester classes Monday. 

For the 660 students enrolled, classes at the Sandy Center will continue this fall as scheduled, the university said. Most of the Sandy students also take classes online or at the main campus in Salt Lake City, a 25-minute drive to the north. The university said it would work with those students to help them figure out how to continue their education in the spring. 

The closure was approved as part of a state bill that required the university to reallocate almost $20 million toward “areas of student and workforce demand,” the release said. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that closing the Sandy campus was not part of the original cost-saving measures; the university was recruiting students to that location as recently as mid-July. The university said it’s also in the process of re-evaluating its educational offerings across Salt Lake County. 

“Students’ continued academic progress is our priority,” Paul Kohn, senior vice provost for strategic enrollment and student success, said in the statement. “We are committed to helping students navigate their options and make plans that keep them moving toward their degrees.”