| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year college in the Utah System of Higher Education, with a few bachelor’s degrees; campus-based, with online courses |
| Campuses | 2 in central Utah: Ephraim (main) and Richfield, plus a learning center in Nephi and a training site in Delta |
| Credentials | Technical certificates, AAS degrees, AS/AA transfer degrees, and two bachelor’s degrees |
| Typical length | Technical certificates from 3 credits to 1,600 clock hours; ASN two years |
| Accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, since 1953; ASN accredited by ACEN |
| Federal aid | Yes |
| 2026-27 cost | Technical courses $85 per credit; academic tuition $2,096 a semester (Utah residents, 12-18 credits) |
| Students | 5,561 in fall 2025; the college’s 2026 Facts at a Glance puts high-school concurrent-enrollment students at 32% |
| Founded | 1888, as Sanpete Stake Academy; a state college since 1931 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
Snow College: a public Utah college with a technical campus in Richfield
Snow College is a public two-year college in the Utah System of Higher Education. It also awards two bachelor’s degrees, in Software Engineering and Commercial Music. It began in 1888 as Sanpete Stake Academy in Ephraim and passed from the LDS Church to the State of Utah in 1931. Its Richfield campus, opened in 1977 as a vocational center, became part of Snow in a 2003 merger and now hosts most of the technical programs.
Fall 2025 enrollment was 5,561, against 5,577 in fall 2024, and about a third of students are high-school students taking concurrent-enrollment courses. In 2025 the college cut some academic offerings and put the money into CDL, automation, a new Respiratory Therapy program and prison education; a Radiologic Technology AS is planned for fall 2027.
Technical and nursing programs, and where they are taught
Technical education at Snow is competency-based or face-to-face, with starts each semester or half-semester. The table lists the main career programs. Tuition figures come from the college’s technical-education table for 2025-26; the $85 per-credit technical rate did not change for 2026-27, but course fees may have. The ASN is billed at academic tuition.
| Program | Credential | Length / starts | Where | Prepares for | Tuition (2025-26 technical table) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (ASN, RN) | Associate of Science, 72 credits | 2 years; fall and spring entry | Richfield, Ephraim West Campus | NCLEX-RN | Academic tuition |
| CDL Class A | Certificate, 6 credits | 4-7 weeks; starts every half-semester | Richfield, Delta site | Utah Class A skills test | $510 + $1,790 fees (+$270 industry exam fee) |
| HVACR Technician | Certificate of Completion, 27 credits | One year; fall or spring start | Richfield | EPA 608, RMGA Natural Gas Technician | $2,295 |
| Welding Technology | Certificate of Proficiency, 30 credits | Fall, spring or summer start | Richfield | – | $2,550 |
| Automotive Technology | Certificate, 44 credits; AAS | – | Richfield | ASE tests | $3,740 + $40 fees |
| Diesel & Heavy Duty Mechanics | Certificate, 35 credits; AAS | – | Richfield | ASE exams | $2,975 |
| Machining Technology | Certificate, 30 credits | – | Richfield | – | $2,550 |
| Cosmetology | Certificate, 1,600 clock hours (44 credits) | – | Richfield | Utah state board exams | $3,740 + $1,400 fees |
| Nail Technician | Certificate, 9 credits | – | Richfield | Utah licensure | $765 + $1,007 fees |
| Medical Assistant | Certificate, 28 credits | Coursework, then an externship | Richfield, Ephraim, Nephi labs | A national certification exam (not named) | $2,380 + $805 fees |
| Nursing Assistant | Certificate, 3 credits | – | Richfield, Ephraim, Nephi | Utah nursing assistant exams | $255 + $75 fees |
| EMT; Advanced EMT | Certificates, 6 credits each | – | Richfield, Ephraim, Nephi (hybrid) | – | $510 each + $202 / $232 fees |
| Networking and Cybersecurity | Certificate, 30 credits; advanced certificate; AAS | – | Richfield, Ephraim, some online | – | $2,550 + $565 fees |
| Construction Technology; Construction Management | Certificate, 30 credits; AAS and AS | Certificate is year one of the degree | Ephraim | – | $2,550 (certificate) |
| Electrical Apprenticeship | Certificate, 24 credits | – | Ephraim, Nephi, Delta | Works toward journeyman licensure | $2,040 + $492 fees |
| Respiratory Therapy | New degree program | First cohort spring 2026 | Check with the college | National credentialing exams | – |
The ASN holds continuing accreditation from ACEN. Respiratory Therapy, the newest program, was approved by CoARC in December 2025 and took its first students in spring 2026. Music (NASM) and theatre (NAST) are accredited in their fields but are academic, not trade, programs. The college also teaches Phlebotomy, Information Technology, Automation Technology, Composites and agriculture certificates.
What the main programs cover
Nursing (ASN)
The ASN is a two-year, 72-credit degree that ends in the NCLEX-RN. Entry is by points: GPA, work experience and references count, with a 3.0 minimum GPA, a math prerequisite and a current Utah CNA licence before applying. Students apply between January and 1 March to start in fall, or between 1 July and 1 September to start in spring. Classes are at the Richfield campus and the Ephraim West Campus, and clinical rotations are in central Utah health facilities.
CDL Class A
The CDL course is competency-based and hybrid, meets the federal entry-level driver training standard and trains students in a combination vehicle with air brakes. Students must arrive with a valid driver’s licence, a Class A learner’s permit, a DOT medical card, a motor vehicle record and a DOT drug screen taken within two weeks of the start. Drivers sponsored by a company bring an HR letter and a background check. Training runs at Richfield and Delta and prepares students for the State of Utah Class A skills test.
HVACR Technician
HVACR is taught through competency-based modules: students work through computer-based lessons, then practise in labs on heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Each module must be passed with a score of at least 80% before the next one opens, so faster students can finish sooner. Starts are in fall or spring at the Richfield campus. The program builds toward two industry credentials: EPA Section 608 refrigerant handling and the Rocky Mountain Gas Association Natural Gas Technician certification.
Welding Technology
The welding certificate covers the four main arc processes, gas metal arc (GMAW), flux-cored (FCAW), gas tungsten arc (GTAW) and shielded metal arc (SMAW), plus thermal cutting. Instruction is competency-based and hybrid, so students move on as they master each skill, and they can start in fall, spring or summer at the Richfield campus. The college’s program page describes it as a one-semester program at a competency-based pace, while the technical-education table lists 30 credits, so confirm the expected length when you apply.
Cosmetology and Nail Technician
Cosmetology is a 1,600-clock-hour certificate at Richfield that ends with the Utah state board licensure exams. The curriculum includes nail skills, and students build hours by serving the public in Richfield Salon Services, the campus salon where anyone can book an appointment. The separate 9-credit Nail Technician certificate prepares students for the Utah nail licence on its own. Students who later want to run a salon can add the Salon Business AAS. Snow also partners with the Kane County School District on a Kanab lab for high-school students.
Medical Assistant
The Medical Assistant certificate is competency-based and hybrid, so students work through the coursework at their own pace before moving to an externship placed in a working medical office; the college does not publish the number of externship hours. It is offered at Richfield and Ephraim, and labs are also held at the Nephi Learning Center. The college says the program prepares graduates for a national certification exam without naming which one, so ask before enrolling if a particular credential matters to an employer.
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Academic tuition is charged by the semester, with a flat rate from 12 to 18 credits. The Utah Board of Higher Education approved the 2026-27 rates in March 2026: resident tuition rose 4.02%, from $2,015 to $2,096 a semester, and non-resident tuition 1.51%. Technical-education tuition stayed at $85 per credit and is billed separately. The college does not publish a separate non-resident technical rate, so non-residents should check with the college whether the $85 rate applies to them.
| 2026-27, per semester | Amount |
|---|---|
| Utah residents, 12-18 academic credits | $2,096 |
| Non-residents, 12-18 academic credits | $7,400 |
| Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), 12-18 credits | $3,144 |
| Online-only students | $190 per credit ($2,280 flat at 12-18 credits) |
| Technical education courses | $85 per credit |
| Student fees (6 or more credits) | $201.25 |
| Books and supplies (college estimate) | $375 |
A full-time Utah resident pays $4,594.50 for two semesters of tuition and fees in 2026-27. New students from 14 western states (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, ND, NM, NV, OR, SD, WA, WY) are placed on the WUE rate automatically. Snow takes federal student aid; federal data put the average net price at $5,626 (2023-24, in-state full-time beginners with grant aid), and the college’s 2026 Facts at a Glance gives an average aid award of $5,972. In April 2026 the college awarded 54 Technical Education Scholarships of $1,000 each. See the college’s cost of attendance page for the full breakdown.
Open admission, with a selective nursing program
Snow College has open admission. The ASN is the main exception: it admits by points, with a 3.0 minimum GPA, a Utah CNA licence and two application windows a year. Respiratory Therapy has its own entry steps. Technical programs let students advance on mastery and start at several points in the year: Welding in fall, spring or summer, HVACR in fall or spring, and CDL every half-semester.
Accreditation and results
Snow College has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1953. NWCCU’s directory lists a Fall 2026 policies, regulations and financial review that found the college substantially compliant, and an ad hoc report with a visit in Fall 2026; we could not confirm what that report covers. The Year Seven evaluation for the current cycle is due in 2027.
| Measure | Result | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| ASN, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate | 70.21% of 47 candidates (Utah 79.17%, US 86.70%) | 2025, Utah Division of Professional Licensing |
| ASN, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate | 86.84% of 38 candidates | 2024, Utah Division of Professional Licensing |
| ASN, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate | 76.67% of 30 candidates (Utah 82.41%) | 2026, first two quarters only, Utah Division of Professional Licensing |
These are first-time pass rates from Utah’s licensing agency. The college’s own outcomes page reports by cohort and counts repeat test-takers as well as first-time ones, and the 2025 state rate was below the college’s own 80% target. The welding, HVACR and CDL program pages publish no completion, job placement or licensure pass rates.
Before you enroll
- Choose the campus with the program. Automotive, diesel, machining, cosmetology, nail technician, HVACR and welding are based at Richfield; Construction Technology and Construction Management are at Ephraim only.
- The ASN’s first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate fell to 70.21% in 2025, below the Utah and national averages, and you need a Utah CNA licence before you can apply.
- Snow no longer runs a practical nursing (LPN) program: no graduates have sat the NCLEX-PN since 2021, although the Richfield campus page still lists LPN.
- The Medical Assistant program has no CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation and does not name its certification exam, and the welding program does not name an AWS certification.
- The Electrical Apprenticeship is classroom instruction toward journeyman licensure; ask whether you need a sponsoring employer before enrolling.
Two campuses and two outreach sites
| Campus | Address | Taught only here (main career programs) |
|---|---|---|
| Ephraim (main) | 150 College Ave, Ephraim, UT 84627 | Construction Technology and Construction Management; music, theatre and Software Engineering BS |
| Richfield | 800 W 200 S, Richfield, UT 84701 | Automotive, diesel, machining, automation, composites, cosmetology, nail technician, phlebotomy; HVACR and Welding are based here |
Both campuses teach the ASN, Medical Assistant, Nursing Assistant, EMT and AEMT, Networking and Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Carpentry Fundamentals. The Nephi Learning Center (172 West 1500 N) runs hybrid EMT, Nursing Assistant and Medical Assistant labs and continuing education. The Delta training site (305 East 200 North) hosts CDL, Electrical Apprenticeship and automation courses. Online courses are open to students in other states, but the college says its licensure programs are not taught fully online.
Housing, salon practice and industry links
College housing is available at both Ephraim and Richfield; prices are not on the cost page. Cosmetology students practise on the public in Richfield Salon Services. The Nephi Learning Center houses a Small Business Development Center office. Composites students can join a youth apprenticeship with ACT Aerospace, and the CDL program takes company-sponsored drivers.
What students say
On Niche, Snow College is rated 4.23 out of 5 from 1,150 reviews (checked 12 October 2026). Reviewers most often praise small classes, professors who know their students, a supportive community, a compact campus and low cost, along with on-campus jobs, clubs and events. The most common complaints are too few campus events, limited food options, little nightlife in a small town, and dated housing that is not fully accessible. The reviews are for the college as a whole, and we could not tell whether they were invited by the school or posted in bursts.
Sources
Checked October 2026: Cost of attendance 2026-27 · Technical Education · Richfield campus · NWCCU directory · Nursing accreditation · Utah DOPL NCLEX-RN pass rates · College Navigator · Niche
Programs & Courses
Nursing and Health
- Nursing (ASN, RN)
- Respiratory Therapy (first cohort spring 2026)
- Medical Assistant
- Nursing Assistant
- Phlebotomy
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Advanced EMT
- Behavioral Health Technician
Automotive, Diesel and Driving
- Automotive Technology
- Diesel & Heavy Duty Mechanics Technology
- Commercial Driver License (Class A)
Construction and Building Trades
- HVACR Technician
- Electrical Apprenticeship
- Construction Technology
- Construction Management
- Carpentry Fundamentals
Welding and Manufacturing
- Welding Technology
- Machining Technology
- Automation Technology
- Composites
Cosmetology and Salon
- Cosmetology
- Nail Technician
- Salon Business (AAS)
Computers and IT
- Networking and Cybersecurity
- Information Technology
- Software Engineering (BS)
- Computer Science (transfer AS)
Business
- Accounting
- Marketing
- Digital Marketing and Analytics (online certificate)
- Entrepreneurship
Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Agribusiness
- Equine Management
- Farm and Ranch Management
- Precision Agriculture
- Natural Resources
Transfer, Arts and Social Science
- Criminal Justice/Corrections (transfer AS)
- Exercise Science (transfer AS)
- Communication
- Theatre
- Music (AS) and Commercial Music (BM)
Campus Locations
Ephraim, UT 150 College Ave, Ephraim, UT 84627
Richfield, UT 800 W 200 S, Richfield, UT 84701