Rankings / By State
Best Master's Programs in Utah
- 11
- Schools
- $56,555
- Avg. Earnings
- 53%
- Avg. Graduation
- $13,259
- Avg. Net Price
- $14,214
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $41,022 at the low end to $75,790 at the top. That 1.8× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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Utah Valley University offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $55,486 against $6,376 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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The most budget-friendly option on this list is Snow College, at $5,552 annually in net price.
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Completion rates separate this field: Brigham Young University graduates 82% of its students, well above the 53% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Brigham Young University: graduates owe only 0.15× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. Snow College ($5,552/yr) and Westminster University ($27,094/yr) produce graduates earning $41,022 and $66,215 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $21,542 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, Utah Valley University outperforms Brigham Young University: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
- Completion is where this ranking's schools diverge most: Brigham Young University graduates 82% of its students versus 36% at Utah Tech University. Access without completion is opportunity unclaimed.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $55K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Brigham Young University #1 overall | $75,790 ▲ +34% vs avg | $15,564 | 82% | 76 |
| 2 University of Utah #2 overall | $67,170 ▲ +19% vs avg | $16,200 | 64% | 72 |
| 3 Southern Utah University #3 overall | $50,296 ▼ -11% vs avg | $10,462 | 60% | 71 |
| $54,022 ▼ -4% vs avg | $14,936 | 58% | 70 | |
| $56,287 ▲ +0% vs avg | $10,258 | 45% | 68 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Master's Programs in Utah
This analysis ranks 11 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $56,555 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 53% and an average net price of $13,259.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Utah Valley University — Net Price: $6,376 | Graduation Rate: 43%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Brigham Young University — 82% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Brigham Young University — Median alumni earnings: $75,790
Our Analysis Found
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Utah Opportunity Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about higher education and opportunity in Utah?
$55,486
Median earnings (10yr)
48%
Median graduation rate
$12,548
Median net price
0.9%
Avg. mobility rate
Students tend to study where they live and work where they study, which makes a state's colleges its most important economic development asset. This ranking evaluates how well institutions across Utah serve that role: producing graduates with strong earnings, keeping talent in the regional economy, and offering affordable paths for local students.
Start with the medians across these 11 schools. Graduates earn a median of $55,486 ten years after enrollment, or about $7,486 above the $48,000 a typical American worker earns. The median graduation rate is 48%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $12,548 a year with about $14,545 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 24% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 0.9%.
For Utah, the institutions that combine manageable costs with strong graduate outcomes are the ones building the local workforce. With a median net price of $12,548 and graduates earning a median of $55,486, these schools sit where the talent pipeline and economic development meet.
The podium
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Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Brigham Young University lands at #1 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (75/100). Graduates earn a median $75,790 a decade after enrolling, 34% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,564 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
University of Utah lands at #2 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (67/100). Graduates earn a median $67,170 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,200 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Southern Utah University lands at #3 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (67/100). Graduates earn a median $50,296 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,462 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Utah State University lands at #4 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (68/100). Graduates earn a median $54,022 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,936 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Weber State University lands at #5 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (65/100). Graduates earn a median $56,287 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,258 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Utah Valley University lands at #6 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $55,486 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,376 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Snow College lands at #7 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (64/100). Graduates earn a median $41,022 a decade after enrolling, 27% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,552 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Western Governors University lands at #8 with a 62/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (74/100) and pulled down by academic quality (64/100). Graduates earn a median $60,615 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,548 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Westminster University lands at #9 with a 58/100 composite, led by academic quality (77/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $66,215 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,094 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Utah Tech University lands at #10 with a 55/100 composite, led by value per dollar (69/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $44,570 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,039 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Ensign College lands at #11 with a 51/100 composite, led by value per dollar (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $50,630 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,824 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 11 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
When considering a master's program in Utah, prospective students have a variety of options, each with distinct outcomes. With average earnings for graduates across these programs hovering around $56,555, it’s clear that some schools set their students up for more success than others.
The distinction among these institutions lies in key metrics: graduate earnings, completion rates, debt levels, and overall mobility. For example, while Brigham Young University boasts an impressive $75,790 average earning for graduates, the University of Utah, with a lower earning potential of $67,170, still offers a compelling educational experience but comes with higher debt levels.
Southern Utah University and Weber State University present a stark contrast. Southern Utah graduates earn an average of $50,296 with a graduation rate of 60%, while Weber State’s graduates earn slightly more at $56,287 but have a lower graduation rate of 45%. This highlights the tradeoffs prospective students may face as they weigh their options.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 7 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 0.9%. University of Utah leads the group at 1.1%, with Southern Utah University (1%) and Snow College (1%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 4.6% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Southern Utah University leads at 7%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 21.1% across this list. University of Utah posts the highest success rate at 30.7%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.64 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Brigham Young University reaches 1.79, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
The data reveals a notable pattern between Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. While BYU graduates enjoy a significant $8,620 edge in average earnings, the University of Utah's higher debt of $19,000 compared to BYU's $11,069 may be a concern for some students weighing financial outcomes.
For those sifting through the details of these 11 programs, it's essential to consider your priorities. Do you want to minimize debt, or is it more crucial to maximize potential earnings? Are you seeking a campus culture that aligns with your values? Aligning personal goals with financial realities can help narrow down choices.
Ultimately, this data highlights the crucial decisions families are making about education and its long-term impact on financial stability. Choosing the right master's program can set the course for a more secure future, making this decision one that deserves careful consideration.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Master's Programs in Utah: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Master's Programs in Utah ranking? +
Brigham Young University in Provo, UT ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Master's Programs in Utah ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $75,790 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 82% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Brigham Young University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $75,790 ten years after enrollment, well above the $56,555 average across the 11 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Utah Valley University leads: graduates earn a median $55,486 against net price of about $6,376 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Brigham Young University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 82%, compared with a 53% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $13,259 a year across the 11 ranked schools with cost data. Snow College is among the most affordable at roughly $5,552. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Master's Programs in Utah ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 11 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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