Growing up in the state of Utah often comes with a few common themes: a love for the outdoors, a passion for dirty sodas and the widespread stereotype of young marriage.
Many parents in the state married in their early college years. Even among recent high school graduates, the trend continues, with Instagram feeds already filled with announcements of engagements from classmates.
It often isn’t until moving away that many realize how unique this pattern is to Utah culture.
Marriage in Utah
In the fall of 2021, Brigham Young University reported that at least a quarter of its students were married while enrolled in college — a drastic difference from the 7% average among college students across the U.S.
In contrast, the University of Utah does not release data on married students and lacks a reputation for a large married student population. Still, that doesn’t change the broader trend of early marriage among young adults in Utah.
According to a 2023 study from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the U’s David Eccles School of Business, Utah has the highest female marriage rate in the nation. The state has a high marriage rate overall.
“Utahns marry at a younger age than residents in other states,” the study said. “One factor in Utah’s younger marrying age may be an increased willingness among Utahns to marry before completing higher education.”
Why Utah youth opt for an early marriage
Oaklee Ivie, a recently married Utah State University student, explains that the decision to marry young was easy for her and her husband. She said the timing “just felt right.”
“I honestly was just sick of the dating stage,” said Ivie.
A culture that emphasizes marriage can encourage young people to marry at an earlier age. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the predominant religion in Utah, often teaches the importance of marriage and does not discourage couples from getting married at a young age.
“I hear people all the time say how crazy it is to get married this young,” said Ivie.
One of the key debates in recent conversations about young marriage is whether marriage serves as a capstone or a cornerstone in a person’s life.
A study from the Institute for Family Studies explains that a capstone marriage happens when individuals marry after getting their life in order, such as securing a career and achieving financial stability.
A cornerstone marriage describes a foundational relationship in which a couple builds their lives together from the beginning. The idea of creating a life together can feel especially appealing to college students who desire marriage at a young age.
“It’s just super convenient that my favorite person is there all the time,” Ivie said.
University support
Couples who marry while still in college can access several benefits. Because most young couples have lower incomes, they often qualify for more scholarships and grants.
The U provides several resources for married students, such as housing, childcare and family support services.
Married students can apply for housing in family dorms, such as the newly built Sunnyside Apartments, as well as the Cedar and Cottonwood Apartments.
These resources aim to ease the financial and logistical pressures of early marriage, allowing students to focus on building both their education and their future together.
