More than half of the state's colleges and universities are losing more students than they're pulling in, but Southern Utah University seems to have found a niche for growth.

The Cedar City school was one of three institutions to report an increase in enrollment for fall semester this year. SUU is up 4.94 percent from last year in its head count, putting it at the top of Utah's institutions for the third consecutive year.

The growth comes during a time when job trends are luring students away from higher education and most schools in the region are reporting losses. Typically, enrollments increase when the economy cools and dip with the economy gets hot.

Among Utah's schools reporting a slight decrease in student enrollment are the University of Utah, Weber State University, Snow College, Dixie State College and the College of Eastern Utah.

Despite the losses, Commissioner of Higher Education Rich Kendell said the data shows an importance for continuing education past high school.

"Postsecondary education provides essential training and skills to better enhance workers' income potential and job security," he said. "I would hope that by next year, more students get that message and enter or return to college. It is an investment in their future."

Along with SUU, Utah Valley State College and Utah State University reported increases in both head counts and full-time equivalent students, which approximates the number of students enrolled full time, taking 15 hours or more of undergraduate education courses and 10 or more at the graduate level.

SUU President Michael T. Benson credits the private-school-like atmosphere of the public university for its continued growth, which is nearly 2 percent above its closest competitor, Utah Valley State College, which reported a 3 percent increase this semester.

"School administrators will never lose sight of the unique experience that is SUU: small classes taught by full-time faculty with dedicated staff who care about each class and every student that sets foot on campus," he said. Efforts to grow the university have been fruitful.

"The latest enrollment reports validate the considerable time and effort put into growing the university," said Stephen Allen, enrollment and recruitment director at SUU. "Students and parents are falling in love with SUU because it provides the experience of a small expensive private school at a public school price."

"Behind this data are 10 individual stories," said Utah Valley State College President Bill Sederburg, who has studied college demographic data for the Utah System of Higher Education.