University of Utah: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Salt Lake City, Utah · Public · Open access
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.
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.
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.
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.