The University of Utah is shuttering its satellite campus in Sandy at the end of this year — affecting more than 600 students taking classes there.

In a statement Friday, the U. said the closure was approved this spring as part of its plans to cut and reallocate resources under a state-mandated budget directive affecting all of public higher education.

Most students were not notified the Sandy campus would close until last week. Just last month, the U. posted an announcement encouraging students to enroll there, billing it as “a convenient way to complete general education and degree requirements outside of the main campus.”

The U. has operated a Sandy campus for 25 years. In 2015, it moved to its larger current location, at 10011 Centennial Parkway, so it could expand offerings.

The building sits just off of Interstate 15 and a TRAX station, which has made it a favorite for students who live near the south end of Salt Lake County.

The facility has offered many of the required general education courses that all students must take to earn their degrees, as well as flexible evening options. It includes a bookstore and testing center.

Residents in the area could also sign up for continuing education classes there, such as photography or writing, meant for those not enrolled at the U. who want to learn new skills.

The U. said fall classes at the campus will continue as planned for the 660 students currently enrolled. But by Jan. 1, operations there will end.

Moving forward, school advisers are working with students to “help them identify in-person and online options that meet their academic needs,” the U. noted. Continuing education classes will shift to other locations.

“We are committed to helping students navigate their options and make plans that keep them moving toward their degrees,” said Paul Kohn, the U.’s senior vice provost for strategic enrollment and student success, in a statement.

Under the budget cut and reallocation process state lawmakers approved in 2025, Utah’s eight public colleges and universities have been required to slash a combined $60.5 million in “inefficient” programs, then redistribute that money to degrees legislators say will earn graduates high-paying, high-demand jobs.

The U.’s share of that has been $19.6 million. Schools have three years to meet those obligations.

The U.’s initial plans, presented in summer 2025 to the Utah Board of Higher Education, did not include the Sandy campus closure.

The Sandy campus came up earlier this year, as schools made presentations for the second year of implementation.

“Operating the separate instructional location requires dedicated facility and administrative resources,” the school said in its statement Friday.

It is not immediately clear how much money the U. will save by shutting down the 30,000-square-foot Sandy campus, which sits in an office building shared with other tenants.

The U. in 2023 signed an agreement to lease the space for another 10 years, costing $7.35 million. The school may decide to sublease the space to another renter.