University of Utah
Utah's flagship research university at the foot of the Wasatch Range, a birthplace of computer graphics and ARPANET.
- Acceptance rate
- 90%
- First-year students entering fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
- Students
- 38,261
- 29,335 undergraduates
- International
- 6%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 19:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $32,932
- 2026-27
About The U
The University of Utah was founded in 1850 and is the state's public flagship, a member of the Association of American Universities and a Carnegie R1 research university. Its 1,534-acre campus sits on the east bench of the Salt Lake Valley at the foot of the Wasatch Range, about 2 miles east of downtown Salt Lake City, and includes a major academic medical center with University of Utah Hospital and the Huntsman Cancer Institute. In fall 2025 it enrolled 38,261 students, including 29,335 undergraduates.
The U organises around 150 academic departments and programs into 17 colleges and schools, among them the College of Engineering and its School of Computing, the David Eccles School of Business, the S.J. Quinney College of Law, the state's only allopathic School of Medicine and an Honors College. It was one of the four original ARPANET nodes, and its computing program trained graphics pioneers including Pixar's Ed Catmull and Adobe's John Warnock. The medical school implanted the world's first permanent artificial heart, the Jarvik-7, in 1982.
Admission is broad: the U admitted 27,076 of 30,036 first-year applicants for fall 2025 (90.1%), with a holistic review led by course rigor and unweighted GPA. It suits students who want a big research university with the Wasatch mountains at the edge of campus, and out-of-state students from western states can qualify for reduced WUE tuition.
Imagine, then Do
University motto
Why students choose The U
Access to the outdoors: the campus sits against the Wasatch Range, and the university hosted the athletes' village and ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
A computing and graphics legacy that runs from ARPANET and Evans and Sutherland to alumni who founded Pixar, Adobe, Atari and Silicon Graphics, plus Lassonde Studios, a 400-student entrepreneurship residence with a maker space.
Low tuition for a flagship: $10,480 a year for Utah residents and $15,720 for eligible Western Undergraduate Exchange students in 2026-27.
An academic medical center on campus, including University of Utah Hospital, the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Moran Eye Center, for pre-health students.
Admissions
First-year students entering fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
27,076 admitted from 30,036 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
6,513 first-years enrolled. There is no minimum GPA, but 75% of recent freshman admits had an unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher, and the likelihood of admission can depend on the applicant pool and enrollment goals.
Typical entry requirements
| US high school | Holistic review; no minimum GPA; rigorous courses (AP, IB, concurrent enrollment) strongly weighted |
|---|---|
| International secondary school | Transcripts for grades 9-12 (unofficial copies accepted to apply; official records and proof of graduation required before enrolling) |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 80 Freshmen can meet the requirement with TOEFL iBT 80 (or 4.5 on the new 6-point scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 110. Native English-speaking citizens of listed countries (including the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa) are exempt. |
Deadlines
- Early Action and merit scholarship deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In 56 daysDecember 1, 2026
Complete application needed by this date for university merit scholarships; notifications from January 18, 2027.
- Fall 2027 freshman deadline Non-binding In ~6 monthsApril 1, 2027
Final fall deadline for US freshmen. FAFSA priority date is February 1.
- International freshman (fall) Non-binding In ~10 monthsAugust 1, 2027
Immigration (I-20) documents for students outside the US are due June 1, so apply well before the application deadline.
December 1, 2026 and the merit notification date are from the U's freshman scholarship page for fall 2027; the April 1 fall deadline and international dates are from the admissions pages, which list recurring dates. The U has no Early Decision.
How to apply
Common App (or the free Beehive Application for Utah high school graduates); $55 fee ($65 international, waived for Utah first-years); official high school transcripts; optional self-reported SAT/ACT; Honors College applicants answer the Honors essay prompts in the same application.
What admissions looks for
- Academic record as the predominant factor: rigorous courses (especially AP, IB and concurrent enrollment), grade trends and cumulative unweighted GPA.
- Excellence in academic achievement, intellectual pursuits and creative endeavours.
- How you spend time outside class and reflections on your strengths, talents and experiences, shared through the application prompts.
- Evidence of preparedness not visible on a transcript, such as test scores, academic awards and explanations of time away from school.
Tips for applying to The U
- 1 Apply by December 1, 2026 to be considered for merit scholarships such as the President John R. Park and Provost's scholarships; your admission application is your scholarship application.
- 2 If you live in a WUE state, check whether you qualify for the WUE rate, which cuts 2026-27 tuition and fees from $32,932 to $15,720.
- 3 Use the optional prompts to explain grade dips or time away from school; the U lists these as secondary review factors.
- 4 International applicants should aim well ahead of the August 1 deadline because I-20 documents are due June 1.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for University of Utah
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Merit scholarships are awarded from the admission application if it is complete by December 1, with named awards including the President John R. Park, Provost's, Bonneville, Red Rock and Great Salt Lake scholarships, and eligible western-state students can receive the WUE tuition rate. Need-based aid uses the FAFSA (priority date February 1). International students rely mainly on college, department and ISSS scholarships.
- $45,878
- 2026-27 cost of attendance on campus, Utah resident
- $68,330
- 2026-27 cost of attendance on campus, non-resident
- $66,105 (12 credits per semester, including $3,000 health insurance)
- 2026-27 estimated expenses for international I-20
- 37%
- Average share of need met for full-time undergraduates (CDS 2025-26)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Computer Science (School of Computing)
An original ARPANET node whose graduates include Ed Catmull (Pixar), John Warnock (Adobe), Nolan Bushnell (Atari) and Turing Award winner Alan Kay.
Entrepreneurship (Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute)
Lassonde Studios, opened in 2016, houses 400 students with a 3D-printing creative garage for building ventures.
Pre-health and biomedical sciences
Undergraduates share a campus with the state's only allopathic medical school, the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Moran Eye Center.
Honors College
Applicants answer honors prompts in the main application, and honors students can live in the Marriott Honors Residential Scholars Community.
Research
- $789 million in higher education R&D expenditures in FY2024 (Fast Facts 2026).
- One of the four original nodes of ARPANET, and the birthplace of graphics techniques such as Gouraud shading and the Phong reflection model.
- The world's first permanent artificial heart, the Jarvik-7, was implanted at the university in 1982.
- Faculty include 7 Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators and 12 National Academy of Sciences members (Fast Facts 2026).
Schools & faculties
- College of Engineering
- School of Computing
- David Eccles School of Business
- College of Social Work
- School for Cultural and Social Transformation
- Honors College
- S.J. Quinney College of Law
- School of Medicine
- College of Pharmacy
- School of Dentistry
College Scorecard: median earnings of $67,170 ten years after entry (and $55,239 six years after entry) for federally aided students.
Student life
On-campus housing is a 34-building complex with nine areas, including the Marriott Honors Residential Scholars Community, Lassonde Studios for entrepreneurs and Kahlert Village. Lower campus holds Presidents Circle, the Marriott Library, Rice-Eccles Stadium, the Huntsman Center and Kingsbury Hall, while TRAX light rail connects campus with downtown Salt Lake City. The Utah Utes field 20 varsity teams, and women's gymnastics, with ten national titles, is a campus institution.
- Utah Utes: 9 men's and 11 women's NCAA Division I varsity teams; women's gymnastics has won ten national championships.
- Lassonde Studios, a 400-bed entrepreneurship residence with a creative garage.
- Rice-Eccles Stadium, renovated for the 2002 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.
- TRAX light rail to downtown Salt Lake City.
Housing. The university runs a 34-building on-campus housing complex in nine areas, including honors and entrepreneurship communities.
Location
Salt Lake City is Utah's capital, and the U sits on the city's east bench about 2 miles from downtown, right against the Wasatch Range. TRAX light rail links campus to downtown and to FrontRunner commuter rail. For students who want the outdoors as part of daily life, the mountains start at the edge of campus.
Nearest airport: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Notable alumni
- EC Ed CatmullCo-founder of Pixar
- JW John WarnockCo-founder of Adobe
- NB Nolan BushnellFounder of Atari
- JC Jim ClarkFounder of Silicon Graphics and Netscape
- AK Alan KayTuring Award-winning computer scientist
- WS Wallace StegnerPulitzer Prize-winning novelist
- LT Laurel Thatcher UlrichPulitzer Prize-winning historian
- MR Martha RaddatzABC News chief global affairs correspondent
Frequently asked questions
What is the University of Utah's acceptance rate?
The U admitted 27,076 of 30,036 first-year applicants for fall 2025, an acceptance rate of about 90%.
Is the University of Utah test-optional?
Yes. SAT and ACT scores are optional for admission, merit scholarships, the Honors College and majors, except for homeschooled students, GED/HiSET recipients and graduates of non-accredited US high schools.
When should I apply to the University of Utah?
Apply by December 1, 2026 for Early Action and merit scholarship consideration. The final fall 2027 deadline for US freshmen is April 1, 2027.
How much does the University of Utah cost for out-of-state students?
For 2026-27, non-resident tuition and fees are $32,932 and the estimated on-campus cost of attendance is $68,330. Students from WUE states may qualify for tuition and fees of $15,720.
What English test score do international students need?
Freshmen can meet the requirement with TOEFL iBT 80 (4.5 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 110. Native English-speaking citizens of listed countries are exempt.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- University of Utah Admissions: Freshman Students
- University of Utah Admissions: Undergraduate Admissions Standards and Test Optional FAQ
- University of Utah Admissions: International Freshman Admissions and Undergraduate Costs
- University of Utah Admissions: English Proficiency
- University of Utah Admissions: International Scholarships
- University of Utah Financial Aid: 2026-2027 Cost of Attendance
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