Utah State University
#3 Best Online Colleges in UtahBottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 22.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.8 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Online Colleges in Utah.
Every $1 spent returns $22.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,301,589.
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What The Data Says
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Earnings 32% above the national college median.
Every $1 invested returns $22.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Utah State University Matters
Utah State University is a public research university in Logan, UT and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 20,272
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Health Professions
Why students choose Utah State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 92% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1070–1290. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,936 a year after grants and scholarships — 13% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,022 ten years after enrolling — 32% above the typical college, against $14,340 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 93% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.62 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 20,000 students and an acceptance rate of 92%, Utah State University is an accessible choice for many. It’s well-suited for those looking to study in fields like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Health Professions, and Education. The welcoming environment and variety of programs make it a solid option for students who want to explore their interests while gaining a practical education.
When it comes to life after graduation, the average earnings for alumni 10 years out is $54,022. This gives you a good sense of the potential return on your investment. Plus, with a graduation rate of 58%, many students find their footing and move into promising careers. The affordability of the education here is also noteworthy, especially with 26% of students receiving Pell Grants to help with costs.
Looking at the numbers, the net price after aid is $14,936, which is quite manageable compared to the median debt of $14,340. This means many students can graduate with relatively low debt, which can ease the transition into the workforce. Those who thrive here tend to be self-motivated and engaged, often taking advantage of the resources and community support available to them.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Utah State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Utah State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Logan, Utah, Utah State University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 92% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,187. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 58%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Utah State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Utah State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $24,802 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,936 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,057 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $14,340.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Utah State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Utah State University earn a median of $54,022, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Utah Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Utah State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Utah State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,936/year ($59,744 total). Graduates earn $54,022 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,361,333 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,301,589 (22.8× your investment). The median debt is $14,340, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 58% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Utah State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Utah State University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.65%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 3.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Utah State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Utah State University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Utah State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Logan, Utah, Utah State University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 92% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,187. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 58%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Utah State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Utah State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $24,802 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,936 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,057 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $14,340.
Is Utah State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Utah State University earn a median of $54,022, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Utah State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Utah State University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.65%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 3.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Utah State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Utah State University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.62 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Utah State University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Utah State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Utah State University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.62 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note