Utah Valley University
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Utah- Graduation Rate
- 43% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $55,486 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $6,376 A-
- 63% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 28,453
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 53.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $53.5 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Utah.
Every $1 spent returns $53.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,338,981.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 36% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 43% — 25% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $53.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.3%
- Top 63%
- Patents
- 83
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 714
- Downstream influence
Why Utah Valley University Matters
Utah Valley University is a public community college in Orem, UT and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by 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 Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 28,453
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Humanities, Health Professions, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Utah Valley 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
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,376 a year after grants and scholarships — 63% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $55,486 ten years after enrolling — 36% above the typical college, against $14,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 81% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.72 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 28,000 students, Utah Valley University is a great fit for those who value a diverse learning community and a range of academic options. Students here dive into popular fields like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Visual & Performing Arts, and Health Professions. This variety allows individuals to tailor their education to their interests and career goals while benefiting from a supportive campus environment.
When it comes to life after graduation, the numbers tell an encouraging story. Graduates earn a median income of $55,486 ten years after completing their degree. This figure can help prospective students weigh the return on investment for their education. Additionally, with a net price of just $6,376 after financial aid, many students find that a degree from Utah Valley University is attainable without excessive financial strain, especially considering that 23% of students receive Pell Grants.
Looking at the practical aspects, the median debt for graduates stands at $14,750, which is manageable for many. This affordability can make a significant difference in a graduate's financial journey. Students who thrive here tend to be those who are proactive, open to exploring various fields, and willing to engage with the community both academically and socially. In essence, Utah Valley University offers a pathway to success for those ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Utah Valley 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 Valley University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Utah Valley University, located in Orem, Utah, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
- Retention Rate
- 73%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 39%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,149
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 25:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.40
- First-Gen Students
- 27%
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 Valley University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Utah Valley University is $18,489, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,376. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,904 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,507
- Out-of-State
- $18,489
- Avg Net Price
- $6,376
- Median Debt
- $14,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,904
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,231
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,664
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,297
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Utah Valley University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Utah Valley University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Utah Valley University earn a median of $55,486, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,825
- 8 Years
- $50,056
- 10 Years
- $55,486
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 65%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (169)
- 13%
- 100% (169)
- 13%
- 100% (169)
- 13%
- 100% (169)
- 13%
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 Valley University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Utah Valley University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,376/year ($25,504 total). Graduates earn $55,486 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,364,485 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,338,981 (53.5× your investment). The median debt is $14,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 43% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $25,504
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,364,485
- Net Return
- $1,338,981
- ROI Multiple
- 53.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,376
- Median Debt
- $14,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 43%
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 Valley University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Utah Valley 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 0.92%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $89,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.92%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 18.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $122,007
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Utah Valley University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 83 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.31%
- Top 63% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 83
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 714
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.11%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $19,572
- Investment Income
- $-811,635
Top Programs
The fields Utah Valley University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 28% $63,697 early-career
- Humanities 18% $33,335 early-career
- Health Professions 9% $65,225 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8% $38,614 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $91,967 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $59,534 early-career
- Psychology 3% $36,264 early-career
- Education 3% $45,261 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Utah Valley University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Utah Valley University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Utah Valley University, located in Orem, Utah, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Utah Valley University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Utah Valley University is $18,489, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,376. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,904 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,750 in federal student loans.
Is Utah Valley University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Utah Valley University earn a median of $55,486, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Utah Valley University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Utah Valley 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 0.92%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $89,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Utah Valley 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 Valley University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually 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 Valley University.
- California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge, CA · Close peer57% grad $59,115 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV · Close peer50% grad $55,037 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburg, TX · Close peer50% grad $49,620 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Weber State UniversityOgden, UT · Close peer45% grad $56,287 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- California State University-FresnoFresno, CA · Close peer56% grad $61,244 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- California State University-SacramentoSacramento, CA · Close peer56% grad $64,876 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Utah Valley 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 Valley University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note