How one Utah career college is attracting top U.S. students by teaching the skills that top tech companies are looking for.
Neumont University in Sandy…Hmmm…Do they have a football team? Nope. Do they have a homecoming parade? Unhunh. Are they a Playboy party school? Ixnay.
What they do have is one of the top business technology schools in the country, with students averaging $60,000 in salary offers upon graduation.
It is small wonder that many area residents have not heard of Neumont. it has only 300 students, and 85 percent of these are from out of state. What attracts them is a passion for technology.
“A very specific student applies here,” said communications manager Stacy Hughes. “At age 12 or so they were in the basement networking computers…Our students know from very early in life that IT is what they want.”
The school, which opened in 2004, accommodates them by offering a highly innovative program. It was conceived ty three Utahns – Graham Doxey, Scott McKinley and Marlow Enlund – who wanted to create a better way to motivate students. For starters it does away with the traditional four-year program and substitutes 10 quarters over 2 1/2 years. “Classes run ffrom 8 am to 5 pm for 500 days, making it a full-time job that runs at the pace of industry,” Hughes said.
Neumont recognizes that technology managers must get ideas across by helping to put the speak in a geek. “Spoken Communications” is thus a required course, along with “Collaborative and Interpersonal Communications.” Freshmen take three courses together in 25 day intensive “sprints.” In the second year, student teams work up to four hours a day partnered with companies such as Oracle and Novell to identify and solve real life corporate problems.
“It serves as a 10-week interview process. Or graduates have a full portfolio of work and many are hired by the companies they partnered with,” Hughes said. She added that firms wait for up to six months to hire individuals. But the school is more than just a factory production line. There is a strong sense of community as well, said second year student Luna Chong. “Everyone here is really supportive. Once I needed help on a project at 2 am. I knocked on someone’s door in the dorm who I didn’t even know, and they helped me! I really like it here.”
Neumont grads most likely will never be on the sports pages. The business pages will suit them just fine.
Neumont Factoids:
- Tuition is $7,000 per quarter
- Bachelors degree programs offered in Business Technology Operations Management, computer Science, Software and Game Development, Web Design and Development.
- Masters degree program in Computer Science
Nice to see that a computer science focused school like Neumont has been able to bridge the gap between education and the technology industry. This kind of program is a perfect fit for students that know what they want (expertise in programming) and want to start making a difference for a company as soon as possible. I spent some time on their website and was really impressed with their program. The results are impressive. An efficient, focused college education…why hasn’t anyone thought of this before?
For years, Neumont has been a secret in Utah; while everybody in the state can name traditional colleges and universities, few know about Neumont.
It’s nice to see local publications taking notice of our exceptional computer science program. I’m glad that everybody in the area–not just employers who review and interview Neumont grads on a regular basis–will learn about this unique program.
Neumont University is an awesome computer science school in Utah! It has to be one of the best programs around. Who cares about a football team when you can be up in the mountains!
Neumont University is a hidden gem of Utah.
The Computer Science program has been nationally recognized, both the Department of Education and by the national press, as being remarkably attuned to the needs of students and families who are questioning the value of higher education.
Students receive an intense, focused Bachelor of Science in computer science degree in just 2.5 years — think of it as a 4-year degree compressed into 2.5 years by going to school during the summer and by having longer schools days. It’s also different from other computer science degrees by the fact that students have to work on a series of projects in the classroom and with carefully recruited employers. The result is that graduates get great jobs in their chosen field (95% average for the last two years of graduates). Check it out at http://www.neumont.edu/ROI
Now, it’s this type of outcomes that means that Neumont University has been recognized by the national press – read what they have to say at http://www.neumont.edu/news. So, here’s some good news for the tech-obsessed in Utah: You can get a degree from a nationally recognized university that is right in your backyard.
Isabella Porter, Admissions Marketing at Neumont
Neumont University is a Utah based school that caters to young people who know where they want to go and what they want to do. It’s focus on Computer Science allows students to actually do what most colleges are trying to do, which is actually get out into the work force and do something they love.
I have personally seen students go from young and green to well rounded and ready for the work force.
Neumont’s is Utah’s little secret when it comes to industry aligned computer science programs. It continues to have high placement with high salaries, and companies inside and outside of Utah cannot get enough Neumont graduates to fulfill their demands. Students only graduate so quickly. ;)
Neumont is a great computer science school.
Sweet article about the best Computer Science program in Utah.
Thanks for this detailed review of Neumont University. In our home state of Utah, many people don’t even know that Neumont University exists. As a small college focused on computer science, game development, technology management, and web development, we’ve been educating the technology elite for over seven years, graduating students into well paying careers, at astonishingly high placement rates. This is an excellent article for letting the rest of the state in on Utah’s best technology education secret.