Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT, USA

Reviews

Southern Utah University

Lauren from Heber City, UT

a current student here
25 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The class sizes are fairly small therefore you get to really know your teachers. In the Upper Division classes you get to be acquainted with those of your major which can be helpful when you organize study groups.
Am enjoying being here
There is always something to do in Cedar City. Local various religious groups do activities throughout the semester, and students get free admission to school plays, performances, and sport games. The Shakespearean festival is right on campus and hold performances during the fall and is delightful to attend. There are also many hiking and biking trails, city celebrations and places to go camping in the nearby mountains. Night games and inter murals are are also held on campus on a weekly basis.
Tips for prospective students

Get your financial information done early, and if you want a job plan on being in Cedar City two weeks before school starts. To be guaranteed a fun semester, be a outgoing person willing to got out of your comfort zone and get involved in clubs.
Great for these types of students
Cedar City is great for those who want a college small enough to meet people more than once but big enough to meet new people everyday. The local community is great and the area is beautiful. I would recommend it to those who are willing to go out and discover life and enjoy it, instead of waiting for life to find them.

Karen Criselda from Las Vegas, NV

a current student here
14 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
In Southern Utah University, the class sizes are usually like 20 students or less. Sometimes it's even more. But even though the class is huge or small, the learning process never ends. The professors make it so easy for students to understand so that you wouldn't be able to struggle. They make learning like a part of life instead of just school work. When you ask for help, they can help you. I learned how to be open in my first semester of school in SUU. Their slogan is Learning Lives Forever and it is true. You will learn things that will last you the rest of your life.
Am enjoying being here
Being in SUU was like a second home for me. I love the environment and just the vibe of the whole place that I always said, I want to go back home and I'm already back with my parents. When I say that, I was talking about my own dorm with my roommates and friends. When you attend here, people are so nice that you immediately create new friends from different places, enjoy their company, and you're able to be yourself. SUU has made a huge part of me. I was able to express who I truly am and they respected that as long as I respected them as well. Enjoyment here is non-stop. Southern Utah may not be an extravagant university, but it's the university where you can always figure a way to have fun.
Bang for the buck
Bang for the buck? Money? Well, SUU creates a ONE-on-ONE attention with your professors. Remember when I said that a class could be more than 20 people? Well, I had one of those classes and I was really shocked when my professor called out my name. I didn't expect him to know my name from a large group like the one I had. The tuition isn't that pretty but it is totally worth the money you pay. The professors don't teach here for the money and let the students do what they want. They teach the students because they want to see them succeed. When you have a problem, any staff member could help. Man! I thought I wouldn't get my money's worth of education, but I got more than that. And so could you.
Tips for prospective students
1.) Make sure you have financial aid. It will always help to apply for scholarships and FAFSA!! That is a huge help for me.
2.) Make sure you know your professors' hours when they are available and when they're not. It's less hassle when you and your professors are not busy at the same time.
3.) Just be yourself and no one else. Express yourself in a cool respectful way.
OH!!! and...
4.) Make sure you have a CAR! Sometimes it's fun to walk to stores but then again, it sucks not having a car if you need to go to WalMart and shop.

That's about it for now.
Great for these types of students
Any student is great for SUU. Diversity is everywhere. Have the experience of a lifetime and LIVE THE TRADITION of the Thunderbirds!!!

Brianna from Helper, UT

a current student here
6 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I love the professor's here on campus! I know that I, Brianna, am their number one priority. They try to help me in any way they possibly can and they truly care about me and my goals.
Am enjoying being here
Cedar City has become my second home; I can't imagine living anywhere else but here!
Bang for the buck
Private Attention at Public Value. It's so true! I am hardly in a class that I feel like I am just a face or number. I am paying a public institution's tuition rate and feel like I am getting amazing one-on-one attention from my professors.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure you use your professor's office hours. They are just sitting there at that allotted time just waiting for students to come in and talk with them. If you establish a relationship with their professor, they can help you out so much more, not only with the class itself, but also with your resume, internship and job placements, and anything else you may need help with.
Great for these types of students
If you aren't the one to want to sit in a class of 300 other students and you want to live somewhere that's really involved, SUU is the place where you belong!

Crystal from Nibley, UT

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Everyday little nuances I never noticed before are opened up to me. My favorite class this semester is UNIV 1000, a seminar dedicated to first semester students. The title of the textbook is Your Expanding Intelligence. It is different, but the learning tools presented are effective and worth knowing how to use. Students are encouraged to think out of the box. We are given principles, then expected to run with them and return with something creative. Professors are open minded. True, they believe they are correct, but if challenged most will listen to their students if the latter presents enough evidence to support their proposition. Everything is about learning, experimenting, thinking, and I love it!

Southern Utah University (SUU) is also beginning a system called Experiential Learning. What this means is students will be offered (Freshman of fall 2011 will be required) the chance to employ what they have learned in their major in multiple different categories: Creative, outdoors, global, etc. So an engineering major could design a water system for children in Africa- engineering, but a global/service focus. Students really are expected to apply what they learn.
Am enjoying being here
Within two weeks of being here, I made more friends than I can count. Because the campus is small, you come to know just about everyone. People are friendly and very open. There are so many opportunities for service including trips to Mexico for only $450-$480. Every first Monday of the month we have Bread and Soup Night (all you can eat for $1 and a can of food). My professors honestly care about me and my learning; the campus is safe; there is no winter inversion; thunderstorms are regular and when it rains, the smell of wet sage and pine is crisp and rejuvenating. Not only do I love the location and my classes, I love the clubs on campus. Some of these clubs include ASL, Ukulele, Soccer, and Swing. SUU also has a fine Honors program with plenty perks. One of these perks is a study room exclusive for its students. Recently we took place in the annual SUU homecoming cardboard-duct-tape boat race in the swimming pool.

On the flip side, there are always those professors and fellow students who no one enjoys being around. At the moment I am not enjoying my ENGL 2010 class for this reason. Alas, my thinking is being directed in ways I never thought possible; therefore, I am learning and shall not complain too much.
Bang for the buck
Tuition is cheap- less than 3,000 for instate students.
The City is small which makes gas more affordable.
Nearly every week there are events going on for free!
Students have access to everything on campus for free (excluding the food court, rock wall, and weights gym).
Students have the opportunity to engage is resume building activities (service)
There is a tangible atmosphere of learning!
Classes are intentionally restricted in size; hence, students can have one on one time with their professors!
-St. George is only 45 minutes away and Las Vegas 1.5-3 hours depending on who is driving.
Tips for prospective students
-Know what your scholarships cover and what they are intended to cover. Tuition is typically raised yearly, so be prepared to protest it if it decreases the value of your scholarship.
-Most departmental scholarships are awarded to upper class-men and are rarely stacked.
-Apply for FAFSA as soon as possible
-If you are planning on living off campus, either reserve your housing early (April or May), or wait until the last possible second (the week that school starts). You get better deals either of those ways. Don't worry about it disappearing. Cedar City is overbuilt; that is why housing is inexpensive.
-Apply for jobs everywhere and pray someone can hook you up. If you are Work-Study eligible, start applying two weeks before school starts and you'll get something fairly quickly.
-Apply early!
-Tour the campus. A lot of students don't consider coming to SUU until after the tour. Also, you get a free T-Shirt and a coupon for 20% off at the bookstore. Careful, though- the coupon expires.
-If you don't like something, TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT! The staff is sympathetic with the students and often will change something just because you talked to them.
-Make friends with the faculty. They can give more advice than simply homework help.
-Deposit every dollar you make between now and college. You will not regret it.
Great for these types of students
Art
Theater
Education
Philosophy
Mechanics
Married
Outdoorsy
Passionate

Bradley from Stansbury Park, UT

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Southern Utah University provides students with a quality education; small class sizes, and real-world experience make your learning more meaningful and worthwhile.
Tips for prospective students
Prospective students should take a tour of campus to see how great it is. The ease to move around, look in, or sit in if you can, on a class to experience what makes SUU great. Experience the red rock of Cedar City and what there is to do around.
Academic Rigor
The academic rigor at SUU is fairly strong considering its 8,000 student count. It's strong in many undergraduate programs, especially the arts. SUU also hosts many graduate programs if your education would take you there.
Dorm Life
Dorm Life is a fantastic place to meet people. The rooms are only a few years old which means the conditions and facilities are in extremely good shape. With near 100 other people in your building it's easy to meet people in the shared lobby while watching TV or playing games, or even doing laundry.
Food and Dining
Food and Dining at SUU takes places in Thunderbird Dining Circle, it's a buffet style dining hall. There's decent choice, but after a while there are repeats as to what is to eat. The times the dining hall is open is not optimal if your schedule does not match traditional eating times. There are small fast food type places in the student center where you can use dining dollars which are part of a meal plan if you want variety in your food.
What to do for fun
SUU is located in Cedar City which is a very outdoor campus with many things to do, be it at the local reservoir or the mountains. The Utah Shakespeare Festival is held on campus with showings of Shakespeare's best plays. If you aren't into the outdoors and the arts, then a place like Cedar City you need to know how to create your own fun, by yourself or with friends that you meet.
Bang for the buck
For the education and amenities at SUU the price is very well worth it.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Every Homecoming friday True T-Bird Night takes place. You and a special friend go to Old Sorrow, which is a commemorative statue for the University's beginnings, at midnight and kiss, you then are a true t-bird. Every Friday SUU students wear red to show school pride.
Great for these types of students
Great for students focused on education. For students who prefer a smaller, college town than a large city. For students who like to get into sports events for free.
Clubs and Activities
There are over 130 clubs at SUU.
Campus Safety
SUU has it's own police department, and hires security guards that constantly make rounds at campus and appearances at school events.

Jennifer from Las Vegas, NV

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The best thing about going to SUU? The classes are fairly small size. That's a GREAT thing. You dont have to worry about not being able to get to know your professor or vice versa. There are some classes that have around 40-50 students but even then, the professors still try to get to know their students, as long as your willing to make the effort. I had a class my first semester of college, it had 50 students and by the end of the first week, the professor knew my name. Its all about WANTING to be there and making the EFFORT. If you believe in yourself, you'll learn A LOT. This school doesn't only teach you things IN class, but outside of class too. You learn to be yourself, this school had some great diversity going on. You learn a lot about cultures by the people you meet!
Am enjoying being here
I have to admit that when I first came down to the school for orientation, I thought I was going to hate it. It was hard for a big city girl like me, being from Los Angeles & Las Vegas, and moving to a small town like Cedar City, I thought my social life was going to go down the drain. But my first year, I met the most AMAZING people. We became like family and now when I go back to Las Vegas on break, I look forward to going back to Cedar City to see my friends, I mean my FAMILY. We grew really fond of each other! I learned that it is not about the town that your in, its about what you make of it. Meeting my friends have made the experience at SUU 100 times better than I had ever imagined!
Bang for the buck
Money is tough. Point blank period. I learned a great lesson my first year. I didn't think that money was going to be THAT big of a deal, but being out of state, tution is so much higher for me. The best thing to do, is to apply for scholarships EVERY SINGLE DAY! Fill out at least 10-15 a week, at the very least. Applying for scholarships is like a job. It takes time but think about it: for every hour you spend applying for scholarships, if you win a $500 scholarship, you just got paid 500 bucks an hour! Take it from someone who didn't take it seriously my first semester. Scholarships are VERY important and HARD to get. The sooner you start, the better!
Tips for prospective students
1. Do NOT judge a book by its' cover. Things just might surprise you.
2. Be yourself, the key to making & KEEPING friends, is to be who you are.
3. Get used to traveling out your comfort zone. I've never been away from my parents before, & going out of state was a nightmare for me, but it actually turned out to be the best thing & most AMAZING experience. Trust me(:
4. Stay on top of your work. Know what you want and DON'T forget why your here. Don't get caught up in having too much fun. College is WAY different than high school.
5. Last but not least: Make the best of your college years. College is the BEST experience you will ever have!
Great for these types of students
SUU is great for ANYBODY! Me being the big city girl, I enjoyed my first year and cannot wait to go back! It really did surprise me in the most amazing ways. I'm not an outdoor kind of girl, but SUU and the town offers A LOT of outdoor fun. Get out and do something you would never dream of doing. College is about experiencing new things. SUU gives you just that!

Jenica from Tooele, UT

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
It wasn't my originally my first choice, but I'm so glad I came here! I know that this is where I belong because of how friendly everyone is, all of the amazing resources on campus, and the incredible on campus housing experience! I give SUU 5 stars!
Tips for prospective students
Attend leadership weekends for opportunities to get involved before school even begins, and don't worry about not being able to make friends! Everyone here is so friendly that you could literally walk up to anyone and start a conversation!
Academic Rigor
I'm only a freshman so I'm not quite taking extremely hard courses yet, but the ones I am taking are about as hard as a good Advanced Placement class in high school. The professors learn your name and do care about you. Even if you aren't interested in the subject you will be able to take so much information out of the class that will relate to many other areas of your life.
Dorm Life
I LOVE living on campus. I'm friends with pretty much everyone on my floor and most of the people in the building. The Resident Assistants are friendly and interact with everyone on such a personal basis. I want to live on campus for the rest of my college years because it's opened so many doors for me socially and intellectually. Fun fact about the residence halls, in Cedar Hall there are study rooms... with a whiteboard wall that you can write on! It's incredible! I'm so blessed to be here at SUU.
Food and Dining
The Dining Hall offers something different each day, and if you don't like change don't worry, there's a salad bar and some sort of pasta available everyday. If you have any special food allergies they can and will accommodate you. I personally really enjoy the food. I'm excited to eat at the dining hall each day!
What to do for fun
There is ALWAYS something going on around campus. There have been free movie nights, dances, convocations, and we even had a mentalist come this year! If you don't have money, like me, you don't have to worry because you can get into most of the on-campus activities for free just by showing them your ID card. A huge thing here is to play ultimate Frisbee on the quads. I usually find myself reading outside between classes or hanging out with my roommates at night!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Southern Utah University has this clock tower that you must NEVER go under unless you are an incoming freshman or an outgoing senior. The incoming freshman go under heading East, where the sun rises, to symbolize the start of a new chapter of life and outgoing seniors walk under going west to symbolize the end of this incredible chapter


Another cool tradition we have is True T-Bird night. On homecoming at midnight everyone goes to the Ol'Sorrel statue and finds someone to kiss! If you don't kiss someone you're not a true T-bird!
Great for these types of students
Southern Utah University is great for everyone because not only is the campus a good size, but it has the resources to make anyone feel comfortable.
Campus Safety
Southern Utah University has emergency poles around campus in case you are ever in trouble or need help. You just press the button and help is on the way. There is also a number students can call if they ever feel uneasy walking around at night and a police officer will escort them to where they need to be. Also the SUU campus police are located right on campus for any of your needs.

Emily from Lehi, UT

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Southern Utah University is a great school. All the academic advisers are very helpful and will help you register for classes. Campus is very small and it's very easy to get to classes.
Tips for prospective students
Try to visit campus before school starts. Meet with your academic adviser when you are trying to register for classes, they can give you tips on the classes.
Bang for the buck
You get a great education here. The class sizes are small enough that the professors get to know you better than just a number in the class.
Campus Safety
Southern Utah University has a very small campus and they have emergency phones all over campus. This is a very safe campus.

T from Springville, UT

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
suu is an incredible school for a great value! you receive the education and opportunities that usually come from a larger school but with smaller class sizes and more individual attention from your professors. suu works very hard to make sure each student has the opportunity to succeed in their academics by creating great professor office hours, learning labs, and an atmosphere that is not only fun, but also very conducive to learning.
Tips for prospective students
-talk to develop friendships with your professors. they want to help you but you have to take the initiative to go to their office and work with them.
-get involved! there are so many great opportunities at suu, leadership opportunities, clubs, and activities, just to name a few.. go out there and join something!
-seriously consider study abroad. suu has a great study abroad program, look at the options for your major and decide if it's something interesting. it's a rare opportunity i would highly recommend taking advantage of. my time spent studying abroad was one of the best times of my life and a i really learned a lot while there.
-if you want a job, you need to move to cedar city a few weeks before school starts, or even better, at the beginning of the summer. cedar city is a hard place to find a job so you have to go down early if you want a chance.
-don't procrastinate! this goes for any school, not just suu. do everything sooner rather than later and you'll have work of a better quality and save yourself a lot of stress.
Academic Rigor
suu challenges students at the same level as other, larger schools. you will be challenged academically but they will give you every opportunity to succeed and do your best. communicate with your professors, go to learning labs, create study groups, and you will do well academically.
Dorm Life
i lived in cedar hall my freshman year and it was a really great way to get to know a lot of people. the dorms were not only a lot of fun, but also provided an atmosphere that really helped me learn. there are study rooms with white board walls in each building of cedar hall that are a great place to go and do homework or study for a test. cedar hall also has a lobby with a bigscreen tv and a kitchen. it's a fun place to socialize and get to know the people living in your dorm.
Food and Dining
the food served in the dining hall is.. cafeteria food. it's not great, but it's definitely a lot better than anything you would have time to make for yourself. you get a little sick of it by the end of the year, but if you're like me and you live off campus your second year, you will definitely miss your meal plan.
What to do for fun
suu has so many activities going on every night! there is no reason anyone who goes to southern utah university should ever be bored. suusa is constantly bringing in comedians, musicians, and other entertainers that are free for students! there are a lot of really fun dances not only at the school but also out in the community.
the school also has a great performing and visual arts program so there are always great theatre, dance, music, and art shows to attend. suu hosts the utah shakespeare festival, so in the fall you can go and see professional plays at a student discount. suu also has a lot of clubs on campus, i would recommend joining a few of them, it's a great way to get to know other students and have fun doing something that interests you. the clubs also put on a lot of fun activities that are open to the student body. there are also a lot of fun outdoor activites around cedar city, we are really close to a lot of national parks, so get out and go see some beautiful scenery while you hike around southern utah!
Bang for the buck
suu is a great value for your money. small class size, great professor-student relations, a beautiful campus, wonderful professors, and tons of opportunities, all the benefits of a larger school at the price of a small college.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
old maine was the first building built on campus, and there is a legend that there is a ghost in the building, if you look up into the window at midnight on a full moon, it's said that you can see the ghost!
Great for these types of students
students who are open to a lot of diversity will love suu! suu has a great foreign exchange program so you get to know students of many different cultures.
Clubs and Activities
get involved with suusa (suu student association) and attend the activities they put on, they are a lot of fun and they put something on every weekend, usually they have a few activites going on. we also have a lot of clubs on campus, there's something for everyone, so during the first week of the semester go to the club fair and sign up for things!
Campus Safety
there are emergency poles all over campus, if you are being attacked, you can run to one of these poles and campus police will rush to the scene. there is also an escort service offered, if you call the number provided on the back of your student id card, an escort will come to wherever you are on campus and walk you wherever you need to go. the escort service is great so that you don't have to walk home alone if you're studying late in the library or working on a project on campus after dark.

Chelsea from Draper, UT

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
suu is a great learning atmosphere because it is reasonably priced and has small classroom sizes, making learning easier and more convenient. your professors typically know you by name and are willing to work with you if there are any difficulties. also, the location is great, offering plenty of outdoor activities and learning opportunities.
Tips for prospective students
get involved with organizations on campus. whether it is student government, greek organizations, sports, or a club, being involved on campus and meeting new people allows for a positive experience at southern utah university.
Academic Rigor
suu has many excellent departments. the theatre department is unbeatable due to cedar city's local shakespearean festival. the nursing program has also grown so much and has had a 100% pass rate on the nclex state boards 3 semesters out of 4.
Dorm Life
the new dorm facilities are very nice.
What to do for fun
you can go hiking, biking, camping, bowling, etc. there is a little lake on the hill that is great for swimming, as well as several parks. it is located near st. george for shopping, and fairly close to zion national park and bryce canyon.
Bang for the buck
it is comparable to a private institution at a public school's cost.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
true t-bird night
Great for these types of students
nursing and theatre majors.
Greek Life
greek life is an amazing way to get involved and to make close friends! i strongly recommend it. there are 2 sororities: alpha phi international sorority and delta psi omega (a local sorority); and 2 fraternities: sigma chi and chi phi.