Southern Utah University is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as a extension of the state's teacher training school by the citizens of Cedar City.

The University still has the original building, affectionately known as Old Main. It also boasts the rather elaborate legend of Old' Sorrel. Old' Sorrel was a horse who allegedly assisted the citizens in founding the school. A statue of the horse is located in front of The Centrum (athletic center), on the west side of campus. The university's sports teams are known as the Thunderbirds. The colors are red and white. Teams compete in Division I-AA in football (Great Western Football Conference) and in Division I in other sports (Mid-Continent Conference).

The school also has a loose affiliation with the Utah Shakespearean Festival, which uses university theaters during the summer break.