Best Research Universities in Utah 2024
Interested in attending a STEM school in Utah? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.
Best Research Universities in Utah 2024
- Brigham Young University 21 to 1
- Utah State University 19 to 1
- University of Utah 18 to 1
- University of Utah $8,175
- Utah State University $7,387
- Brigham Young University $6,304
- Brigham Young University $7,932
- University of Utah $7,353
- Utah State University $6,763
- University of Utah 18 to 1
- Utah State University 19 to 1
- Brigham Young University 21 to 1
- Brigham Young University $6,304
- Utah State University $7,387
- University of Utah $8,175
- Utah State University $6,763
- University of Utah $7,353
- Brigham Young University $7,932
Colleges and Universities in Utah
Students hoping to earn their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in Utah can choose from among 18 different colleges and universities. Ten of these schools are private, including a fully online school - Western Governors University - which serves almost 80,000 students. Brigham Young University in Provo, one of Utah’s two religiously affiliated schools, has some of the state’s top programs in religious studies, history, and business.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
While tuition at private schools can be costly, fees at these two schools fall below the national average, ranging between $6,000 and $7,000. Utah’s public universities are also on the cost-friendly side. Utah Valley University, the state’s largest public school, serves over 28,000 students and has a sticker price of about $6,000. The University of Utah, another affordable option, is close behind, with a student population of just under 28,000 students. Here, students can earn degrees in fields such as computer science, chemistry, engineering, and anthropology.
If you’re someone who lives life to the extreme, Utah may be just the place for you. Careening down the hills at its world-class ski resorts, braving the rapids on white-water rafting trips, hiking through national parks, and speeding across mountain bike trails are just some of the ways visitors and residents of The Beehive State can get their thrills. Another selling point for Utah? Average tuition for this state’s colleges and universities falls thousands of dollars below the national average.
Learn more about Utah’s higher education opportunities by checking out the state’s many affordable colleges and universities.
What are Utah’s Colleges & Universities?
- 3 Research Universities
- 10 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 2 Graduate Schools
- 7 Public Colleges & Universities
- 6 Private Colleges & Universities
- 1 Christian College or University
- 4 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 12 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 2 Community Colleges
- Best Online Colleges
Utah’s Best Overall
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 3 research universities in Utah. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).
Best Research Universities in Utah 2023
- #7 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #21 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #22 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #25 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024
Other Rankings
- #1 Best Public Colleges in Utah 2024
- #1 Best Grad Schools in Utah 2024
- #1 Best Colleges in Utah 2024
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Utah 2024
- #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
- #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Utah 2024
- #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Utah
- #1 Best Online Colleges in Utah 2024
- #8 Fastest Accelerated Online Computer Science Doctorates (PhDs)
- #9 Most Affordable Online Computer Science PhDs (Doctorates) 2024
- #9 Most Affordable Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
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: $9,315Expenses: $17,365Starting Salary: $63,500Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Utah known for?
University of Utah’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #6 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #15 Most Affordable Graduate Schools Ranked for 2025 #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Utah 2024
Other Rankings
- #1 Best Private Colleges in Utah 2024
- #2 Best Grad Schools in Utah 2024
- #2 Best Colleges in Utah 2024
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Utah 2024
- #22 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
- #8 Best Online Master's Programs in Utah 2024
- #6 Most Affordable Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
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: $6,304Expenses: $14,816Starting Salary: $71,500Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Brigham Young University known for?
Brigham Young University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Business
- History
- Religious Studies
- Law
- Communications
- Literature
- Education
- Earth Sciences
- Political Science
- Anthropology
Most Influential Alumni
- #2 Best Public Colleges in Utah 2024 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools in Utah 2024 #3 Best Colleges in Utah 2024
Other Rankings
- #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Utah 2024
- #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Utah 2024
- #2 Best Online Master's Programs in Utah 2024
- #2 Best Online MBA Programs in Utah
- #2 Best Online Colleges in Utah 2024
- #6 Most Affordable Online Sociology Doctorate Programs (PhDs)
- #19 Most Affordable Online Applied Behavioral Analysis PhD Programs
- #18 Most Affordable Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
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: $8,305Expenses: $13,156Starting Salary: $49,600Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Utah State University known for?
Utah State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Earth Sciences
- Biology
- Economics
- Engineering
- Business
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Education
- Mathematics
Most Influential Alumni
Find the Best Research Universities in Utah for Your Area of Interest
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.
Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.