In the 19th century, not all children had to go to school. Some parents wanted schooling for their children; other parents were against book-learning. Some children had to work instead of going to school, or they didn’t have a school nearby.

But most people really wanted their children to go to school, so each town usually built a schoolhouse. The LDS (Mormon) church controlled most of the early schools, but other churches also opened schools in Utah. Many churches hoped to convert the Mormon children away from their religion.

It was not until 1890 that the Territorial Legislature passed the first Free Public School Act. This created public-supported schools and required children to attend.

The early schools didn’t usually go past eighth grade.

Secondary schools did not exist until the 1890s—but it wasn’t until the 1920s that everyone went to secondary school.

For more information on education in Utah go to Utah Encyclopedia.


Higher Education
The University of Deseret, which became the University of Utah, opened in 1850, just three years after the first settlers arrived.

Utah now has six four-year, degree-granting universities and colleges (four state and two private), and it has five community colleges. You can go to the home pages for colleges and universities from the links below.

Public:
University of Utah
Utah State University
Weber State University
Salt Lake Community College
Utah Valley State College
Southern Utah University
Dixie State College
Snow College
College of Eastern Utah

Private:
Brigham Young University
Westminster College
University of Phoenix
LDS Business College

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