Jobs & Economy in Cedar City

Cedar City's economy is genuinely anchored by Southern Utah University and the nationally-known Utah Shakespeare Festival, a real, distinct cultural-tourism identity unique to Cedar City within this Utah A-tier batch.

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Southern Utah University: a real, genuine anchor institution

Southern Utah University, genuinely headquartered in Cedar City, is the city's largest university by degrees awarded (4,911 in 2024) -- a real, substantial economic and employment anchor.

The Utah Shakespeare Festival: a real, nationally-known cultural-tourism anchor

The Utah Shakespeare Festival, genuinely hosted by SUU, operates on a real $8.5 million annual budget and plays to over 100,000 patrons annually -- a genuine, distinct tourism-driven economic engine unique to Cedar City within this batch.

Mighty 5-gateway tourism as a broader economic driver

Cedar City's doorstep-level access to Cedar Breaks National Monument and practical proximity to Zion National Park support a real, broader tourism economy beyond the Shakespeare Festival specifically -- consistent with Cedar City's role as a genuine Southern Utah tourism-gateway hub.

Key takeaways

Southern Utah University is a real, genuine anchor institution, the city's largest university by degrees awarded.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival is a real, nationally-known cultural-tourism anchor ($8.5 million budget, 100,000+ annual patrons).
Cedar Breaks and Zion National Park proximity support a real, broader Mighty-5-gateway tourism economy.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-25. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.