University of Utah: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Salt Lake City, Utah · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
University of Utah is a public university in Salt Lake City, Utah that admits about 87% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $13,172 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Research and Experimental Psychology, Communication and Media Studies and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 65% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 11.7 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Utah is a public institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Utah admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 87%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1231 and an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $13,172 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Utah is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What parents should know about University of Utah right now
The University of Utah, established February 28, 1850 as the University of Deseret and renamed in 1892, is Utah's flagship research university and has been an Association of American Universities member since 2019. The most important recent news for parents is enrollment momentum: in fall 2025 the U enrolled 38,257 students, up 3.48 percent from 36,970 in 2024 and the largest incoming class in the school's history for the sixth straight year. Undergraduate enrollment was 28,064 in fall 2024, with a 62 percent acceptance rate, an average admitted GPA of 3.66, and a middle 50 percent SAT composite of 1,150 to 1,370. Academically, the U is best known for computer science and graphics (it was an original ARPANET node and produced pioneers like Alan Kay and Ed Catmull), the top-ranked ballet and ballroom dance program in the country, the state's only accredited medical school, and game design, ranked No. 2 nationally for undergraduate programs by U.S. News for 2026. The campus reported $723.7 million in research funding in fiscal 2023, holds a $2.07 billion endowment, and runs on 49 percent renewable energy via geothermal and solar. Median earnings for U graduates are 25 percent above the national average at $67,170, and the institution charges the lowest tuition among AAU public universities in the West, a meaningful affordability data point for out-of-state families. About 22 percent of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
What GPA does my child need for University of Utah?
University of Utah has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Utah weight in admissions?
University of Utah reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Class rank
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • State residency
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Interview
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Geographical residence
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores University of Utah typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 590–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 22–29. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1200 |
| 50th percentile | 1290 |
| 75th percentile | 1370 |
| % submitting SAT | 10% |
| 25th percentile | 22 |
| 50th percentile | 26 |
| 75th percentile | 29 |
| % submitting ACT | 38% |
- • Test-blind: University of Utah does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Policy detail: Not considered
How much does University of Utah actually cost?
Published tuition is $9,315 for in-state students and $29,837 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,398 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $13,172 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $13,172 |
| Application fee | $55 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Utah
| Regular deadline | April 1 |
| Notification date | January 15 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | December 1 |
Will my child graduate from University of Utah?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Most popular majors at University of Utah
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Utah, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Research and Experimental Psychology, Communication and Media Studies and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. Across all programs, University of Utah confers roughly 2,064 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Communication and Media Studies program report a median income of about $58,546 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 413 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 322 | $58,546 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 281 | $68,009 |
| Computer Science | 219 | $116,395 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 219 | $71,368 |
| Biology, General | 217 | $66,286 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 200 | $83,910 |
| Economics | 193 | $80,323 |
Is University of Utah safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Utah disclosed 319 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 11.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 23 violent offenses and 229 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.
What is campus life like at University of Utah?
About 18% of undergraduates at University of Utah live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 9% of men join a fraternity and 17% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Utah parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Utah
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Utah recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Utah
What GPA do I need for University of Utah?
University of Utah has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Utah typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 590–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 22–29.
How much does University of Utah actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Utah after grants and scholarships is $13,172 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Utah realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Utah is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Utah?
University of Utah accepts about 87% of applicants out of roughly 26,822 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is University of Utah test-optional?
University of Utah is test-blind: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at University of Utah?
About 65% of students at University of Utah graduate within six years. 86% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Utah look for in applicants?
University of Utah rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Utah a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Utah is a public institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
What are the most popular majors at University of Utah?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Utah by annual graduates are Research and Experimental Psychology, Communication and Media Studies and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. The school awards about 2,064 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Utah safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Utah reported 319 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 11.7 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of Utah?
At University of Utah, 18% of undergraduates live on campus, 9% of men are in fraternities, 17% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Utah, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act campus safety disclosures. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.