Best Grad Schools in Utah 2026

Badge for BEST IN UTAH GRADUATE SCHOOLS

Graduate school may be a critical step in your higher education, whether you are interested in expanding your knowledge, learning a specialization, or earning advanced credentials required by your profession. The best graduate schools in Utah offer advanced degrees, such as master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as opportunities for independent research, mentorships, and professional networking.

Key Takeaways

  • Utah’s best grad schools emphasize entrepreneurship, with strong ties to the state’s growing tech and healthcare industries. Programs often feature startup incubators, business mentorship, and collaborative opportunities with local companies, providing real-world experience and networking for future careers.
  • Utah’s unique geography provides unmatched access to outdoor and environmental research opportunities. Many grad programs, particularly at institutions like Utah State University, leverage the state’s diverse ecosystems, offering students hands-on fieldwork and research in environmental science, sustainability, and natural resource management.
  • Top universities in Utah offer world-class research opportunities in fields such as engineering, healthcare, and computer science, giving graduate students access to cutting-edge labs and interdisciplinary projects.

There are 3 doctorate-granting graduate schools in Utah. This ranking focuses on accredited, non-profit institutions that offer doctoral and a broad array of graduate degrees, with an emphasis on program strength, faculty influence, and interdisciplinary opportunities — the factors most useful when comparing programs for research, professional advancement, or career change.

If you are weighing options for 2026, consider degree breadth, funding and assistantship availability, research centers, and career-placement pathways as primary decision criteria. Utah also hosts strong online offerings; for readers prioritizing flexible business education, see our ranking of online MBA programs.

Best Grad Schools in Utah

  1. #1

    University of Utah

    Salt Lake City , UT

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    89%

    Graduation

    65%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1290/25

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Utah

    Cost of Degree: $9,315
    Expenses: $21,298
    Starting Salary: $63,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  2. Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    67%

    Graduation

    79%

    Student body

    39K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1374/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Brigham Young University

    Cost of Degree: $6,496
    Expenses: $16,496
    Starting Salary: $71,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  3. Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    54%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1175/23

    Career Outlook for degree at Utah State University

    Cost of Degree: $8,305
    Expenses: $13,692
    Starting Salary: $49,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
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Utah’s Best Grad School for Your Area of Interest

Resources for Prospective Grad Students

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

  1. University of Utah
  2. Brigham Young University
  3. Utah State University
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