Best Online Master’s Programs in Utah 2024

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Published: May 11, 2022
Updated: Jan 8, 2024

Key Takeaways

The best return on investment from an online master’s degree will come from getting hired in one of Utah’s fastest growing industries, such as manufacturing or technical services.
Utah has 10 online colleges and universities that offer master’s degrees that can be completed entirely online.
Many of the online colleges in Utah offer tuition that is much lower than the national average, making Utah an affordable state to consider for online master’s programs.

Top Online Master's Programs in Utah

University of Utah
Utah State University
Weber State University
Utah Valley University
Southern Utah University
Western Governors University
Westminster University
Brigham Young University
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Nightingale College

University of Utah
Brigham Young University
Utah State University
Weber State University
Utah Valley University
Western Governors University
Southern Utah University
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Nightingale College
Westminster University

Utah State University 94%
University of Utah 89%
Southern Utah University 84%
Westminster University 70%
Brigham Young University 67%

Western Governors University 42 to 1
Utah Valley University 25 to 1
Southern Utah University 22 to 1
Brigham Young University 21 to 1
Weber State University 21 to 1
Utah State University 19 to 1
University of Utah 18 to 1
Westminster University 8 to 1

Westminster University $40,352
University of Utah $8,175
Western Governors University $8,010
Utah State University $7,387
Brigham Young University $6,304
Southern Utah University $6,006
Utah Valley University $5,614
Weber State University $5,471

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions $17,994
Westminster University $16,275
Utah Valley University $9,152
Weber State University $8,089
Brigham Young University $7,932
Western Governors University $7,765
Southern Utah University $7,574
University of Utah $7,353
Utah State University $6,763

Nightingale College
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Brigham Young University
Westminster University
Western Governors University
Southern Utah University
Utah Valley University
Weber State University
Utah State University
University of Utah

Westminster University
Nightingale College
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Southern Utah University
Western Governors University
Utah Valley University
Weber State University
Utah State University
Brigham Young University
University of Utah

Brigham Young University 67%
Westminster University 70%
Southern Utah University 84%
University of Utah 89%
Utah State University 94%

Westminster University 8 to 1
University of Utah 18 to 1
Utah State University 19 to 1
Brigham Young University 21 to 1
Weber State University 21 to 1
Southern Utah University 22 to 1
Utah Valley University 25 to 1
Western Governors University 42 to 1

Weber State University $5,471
Utah Valley University $5,614
Southern Utah University $6,006
Brigham Young University $6,304
Utah State University $7,387
Western Governors University $8,010
University of Utah $8,175
Westminster University $40,352

Utah State University $6,763
University of Utah $7,353
Southern Utah University $7,574
Western Governors University $7,765
Brigham Young University $7,932
Weber State University $8,089
Utah Valley University $9,152
Westminster University $16,275
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions $17,994

Table of Contents

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 graduate programs in 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 affordable colleges and universities offering online master’s degree programs.

Featured Programs

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 Utah.

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. They also offer some of the best online MBA programs in Utah.

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.

What are Utah’s Colleges & Universities?

Utah’s Best Overall

young business professional meeting with a manager

young business professional standing in a restaurant

How do we determine Utah's best online master's degree programs?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Online Master’s Program in Utah 2023

Biggest Industries in Utah

Pursuing a master’s degree requires informed decision-making, especially if you intend to switch careers. If you aim to pursue a career and have the highest ROI possible, you should consider one of the online master’s degree programs that complements the state’s leading industries.

Graduating from an in-demand degree will increase your chances of landing a high-paying career with better job stability.

According to IBIS World, the top 5 industries driving growth in Utah’s GDP are:

Manufacturing

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

MS Technology and Engineering Education
MS/MA in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences
Master of Cyber Security and Information Assurance

Information

Master of Communication
MS in Data Analytics
Master of Strategic Communication

Finance and Insurance

MS in Finance
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Taxation
MS in Accounting

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

How much does an online master’s degree in Utah cost?

The cost of your online master’s degree in Utah will depend on the type of grad school you attend. In 2020-2021, the average cost in the United States for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,394. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $28,445.

Utah’s public universities fall well below the national average. In fact, several schools on our list have tuition ranging from $6,000-$7,000.

While some online master’s degrees cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree, others are 5-10% higher than their in-person counterparts. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction. But getting a master’s degree online will help cost less money since you don’t need to pay for campus housing, transportation, and other campus fees.

Online degrees also offer accelerated online courses, allowing you to complete your degree program in less than two years. This approach will save you money on tuition.

What can I expect from an online college course in Utah?

The experience may require some adjustment for first-time online learners. While you’ll generally follow the same curriculum as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require much independent learning.

You’ll need excellent technological and time management skills, and you need the ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. You need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates.

Will employers in Utah respect my online degree?

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. Your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about adjusting degree programs online to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st-century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech-savvy.

What are the advantages of online classes in Utah?

One of the main advantages of online courses is freedom and flexibility. You can complete coursework and attend classes from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or a quiet conference room at work. You’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities and educational experiences that you can complete on your schedule.

What are the disadvantages of online classes in Utah?

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online colleges will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you adjust to online master’s degree programs, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

Utah’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

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Best Online Master’s Programs in Utah 2024

Key Takeaways

Top Online Master's Programs in Utah

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Utah

What are Utah’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Master’s Program in Utah 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Utah

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Utah State University

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Weber State University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Utah Valley University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Southern Utah University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Western Governors University

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Westminster College, Utah

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Brigham Young University

Online Master's Degrees

Online Master's Degrees

Online Master's Degrees

Biggest Industries in Utah

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

How much does an online master’s degree in Utah cost?

What can I expect from an online college course in Utah?

Will employers in Utah respect my online degree?

What are the advantages of online classes in Utah?

What are the disadvantages of online classes in Utah?

Utah’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest