University of Utah

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Quick Stats
201 S. Presidents Circle

Salt Lake City, UT 84112

[map]
Phone: (801) 581-7200
2011-2012 Tuition
$6,763
in-state
$21,389
out-of-state
Students
23,371
enrolled
55%
male /
45%
female
Admissions
Apr. 1
application deadline
82.9%
accepted

More Information

_

U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category
U.S. News rank Category Name
#124 National Universities

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Summary

University of Utah is a public institution that was founded in 1850. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 23,371, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,535 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Utah's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 124. Its in-state tuition and fees are $6,763 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $21,389 (2011-12).

The University of Utah, known as the U of U or simply The U, is a Salt Lake City center of academics, powerhouse sports, and research. Undergraduates interested in university housing can choose from traditional residence halls, two- and four-bedroom apartments, and common-interest living communities. The Utah sports teams, the Utes, compete in the NCAA Division I PAC-12 Conference and are rivals with Brigham Young University’s teams. The U of U runs a variety of research centers and institutes, including the Brain Institute, the American West center, and the Center for High Performance Computing.

The University of Utah’s well regarded S. J. Quinney College of Law, College of Engineering, College of Education, and David Eccles School of Business all offer degree programs for graduate students. The U of U School of Medicine, which is particularly well regarded for its primary care program, is the only medical school in the state. Notable alumni of the University of Utah include Alan Ashton, cofounder of WordPerfect; Nolan Bushnell, founder of both Chuck E. Cheese’s and video game company Atari Inc.; and John Warnock, cofounder of Adobe Systems Inc.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

The mission of the University of Utah is to educate the individual and to discover, refine, and disseminate knowledge. As a major teaching and research university, the flagship institution of the Utah State System of Higher Education, the University of Utah strives to create an academic environment where the highest standards of scholarship and professional practice are observed and where responsibilities to students are conscientiously met. The University recognizes the mutual relevance and interdependence of teaching and research as essential components of academic excellence. It welcomes students who are committed to learning and who conform to high academic standards. The right of free inquiry is zealously preserved; diversity is encouraged and respected; critical examination and creativity are promoted; and intellectual integrity and social responsibility are fostered. The University is fully committed to the goals of equal opportunity and affirmative active; which are designed to ensure the each individual be provided with the opportunity for full, unhampered, and responsible participation in every aspect of campus life. Add in the U's spectacular mountain setting -- a one-of-a-kind environment -- and an extraordinary education is guaranteed.

General Information

School type public, coed college
Year founded 1850
Religious affiliation N/A
Academic calendar semester
Setting urban
2010 Endowment $489,790,000

Applying

When applying to University of Utah, it's important to note the application deadline is April 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due June 1. The application fee at University of Utah is $45. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 82.9 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate 83%
Application deadline April 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by June 1

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at University of Utah is 15:1, and the school has 42.2 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Utah include: Social Sciences; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Engineering; and Health Professions and Related Programs. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 82.8 percent.

Class sizes
Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio 15:1
4-year graduation rate 23% - Medium
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Social Sciences 17%
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services 13%
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs 8%
Engineering 7%
Health Professions and Related Programs 7%

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Student Life

University of Utah has a total undergraduate enrollment of 23,371, with a gender distribution of 55.4 percent male students and 44.6 percent female students. 13.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 87.0 percent of students live off campus. University of Utah is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at University of Utah.

Total enrollment 30,819
Student gender distribution
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association NCAA I

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Campus Info & Services

University of Utah offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of Utah also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at University of Utah, 57 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at University of Utah.

Students who have cars on campus 57% - Medium
Health insurance offered Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer No

More About Campus Info & Services

Paying for School

At University of Utah, 42.3 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $5,633.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

In-state tuition and fees $6,763 (2011-12)
Out-of-state tuition and fees $21,389 (2011-12)
Room and board $6,699 (2011-12) - Low
Financial aid statistics
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews

The University of Utah isn't necessarily a traditional "college town", but a burgeoning arts, culture, restaurant and bar scene is just a two-minute bike ride down the hill from campus. If you don't want to do the bike thing, there's light rail -- known as "Trax" -- that connects the U with downtown and the rest of the valley. Trax is also nice for those living off-campus, which many students do. There is a business district adjacent to campus with more restaurants, record stores, bike shops and other retail, and there are plans for a mixed-use development just south of the U's football stadium, along the Trax stadium stop. Plans for this include residential, retail and food, anchored by a local brewpub, Squatter's. One of the real advantages of attending the U is the school's proximity to world-class skiing, snowboarding, mountain-biking, hiking and climbing. Salt Lake City was chosen as the host of 2002 Winter Olympics for a reason -- world-class resorts like Snowbird, Alta and Park City Mountain are less than hour from campus. Right behind campus is a network of hiking and biking trails that wind up into the Wasatch Mountains. Utah also has the highest number of golf courses per capita in the country, and with a nine-hole course right on campus, there's been many days in spring where I've been able to golf, ski and go to school all in the same day.

Andrew Senior

I spend most my time on the lower campus and most of my time in the dorms. People are sometimes surprised that I go to Utah. The recent controversy was that the RIAA sued 12 members for downloading music using file sharing. That was quite interesting. School pride happens at athletic events

brandon Freshman

The saddest realization about the University of Utah is that it is a commuter school. What that means is that most people drive to school like they would any job and then take off at the end of the day. This significantly depletes the "school spirit" available on campus, but I think the U realizes this and does a good job trying to "hedge its bets" so to speak. The fact is, generally I think the "college experience" is a little bit different that people generally have in mind when they think of college living. With that being said, I think there are some amazing things about the U that not a lot of other schools have. For one, I think the U has a beautiful campus. You're not going to find a lot of buildings that match, and something is almost always under construction, but there is grass and trees to keep things aesthetically pleasing. The ability to lawfully possess concealed weapons has to be one of the biggest issues on campus. Thankfully the state legislature made it illegal to openly carry weapons, but this is still a big issue that has many sides and it has been made into hot topic given the amount of campus violence that has been seen on various colleges around the country. The other special nuance of the U that makes it different from a lot of colleges outside of the state is that it is a "dry campus." Without a doubt, alcohol becomes a part of the scenery when you mix people that are on their own for the first time, with the fact that at some point during their college career, those people obtain the ability to legally purchase alcohol. One rumor that I will partially dispel is that Utah is a predominantly LDS population. If this is so, then it sure doesn't seem like it. Many ideas outside the LDS religionÑboth good and badÑare readily accepted on campus. Religion is definitely a part of many peoples' lives, but it is rarely discussed more than just a topic of interest that makes one person unique from another.

Tony Senior

More student reviews

* Overview details based on 2010 data

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