2023 Best Online Colleges in Utah
There are several public and private online colleges in Utah with bachelor's degree programs across various majors. Anyone considering going to college in Utah might consider an online education, which can offer greater flexibility than traditional on-campus learning. Utah's online degrees include some of the most popular subjects in higher education, such as business, health professions, the social sciences, and psychology.
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2023 Best Online Colleges in Utah
Rank | School | Salary Score | Online Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Western Governors University | 72 | 150,116 | |
Utah Valley University | 68 | 7,529 | |
University of Utah | 66 | 3,407 | |
Utah State University | 50 | 4,747 | |
Weber State University | 49 | 5,613 | |
Southern Utah University | 36 | 3,075 | |
Utah Tech University | 28 | 1,130 |
#1 Western Governors University
- Salary Score: 72
- Online Enrollment: 150,116
- Locations: Salt Lake City
- Accreditation: NWCCU
Western Governors University (WGU) is a private university with many fully online bachelor's degree programs. These include some of the university's most popular degrees, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Prelicensure) and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN). Another high-enrollment program is the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a management concentration. The university has an open admissions policy and a 54% graduation rate for bachelor's degree students.
WGU's online learners sign in to Blackboard to access coursework, including lectures, assignments, and class discussions. All WGU enrollees are considered full-time students; they move at their own pace and only advance to the next courses when they've demonstrated competency in the current ones.
#2 Utah Valley University
- Salary Score: 68
- Online Enrollment: 7,529
- Locations: Orem
- Accreditation: NWCCU
Utah Valley University (UVU) is a public institution that features two dozen online bachelor's degrees to choose from. A few popular choices are the Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Business Management, and Bachelor of Science in Professional Pilot degrees. The pilot degree requires an extensive period of in-person simulator and flight training. The university has an open admissions policy, and 38% of its bachelor's degree students eventually graduate.
UVU's online learners complete coursework in the Canvas learning management system (LMS). About one-third of all enrollees study part time. Although it's the largest public university in Utah, UVU also offers many associate degrees and professional certificates, similar to a community college.
#3 University of Utah
- Salary Score: 66
- Online Enrollment: 3,407
- Locations: Salt Lake City
- Accreditation: NWCCU
The University of Utah (UU) is a public school providing several choices for online bachelor's degrees. The school's Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree has the highest enrollment of any program, and the Bachelor of Science in Economics is another popular option. UU offers the same tuition rates to online students no matter where they live — Utah residency makes no difference. The university's acceptance rate is 79% for bachelor's degree applicants, and its graduation rate for these students is 70%.
Online learners at UU sign in to Canvas to interact with faculty and classmates and to complete coursework. Among Utah's public universities, UU has the most favorable student-to-faculty ratio at 18:1.
#4 Utah State University
- Salary Score: 50
- Online Enrollment: 4,747
- Locations: Logan
- Accreditation: NWCCU
The public Utah State University (USU) offers a number of online bachelor's degrees. Some of USU's most popular offerings include a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree and a Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders & Deaf Education degree, which are both available to distance learners. The university accepts 91% of bachelor's applicants and eventually graduates 54% of them with their degrees.
USU hosts online courses on the Canvas digital learning platform. The federal government designates the university a Native American-serving non-tribal institution, meaning that it serves a sizable portion of people from American Indian or Native Alaskan backgrounds but isn't run by a recognized tribe. Sixteen percent of USU students are enrolled in online-only programs.
#5 Weber State University
- Salary Score: 49
- Online Enrollment: 5,613
- Locations: Ogden
- Accreditation: NWCCU
Weber State University (WSU) is a public institution with many fully online bachelor's degrees, many of them in healthcare disciplines. Students can even study the university's most popular bachelor's program online, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Other healthcare choices include a Bachelor of Science in Health Service Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science. WSU has an open admissions policy and a 42% graduation rate.
The university uses the Canvas LMS to host online courses. Eighteen percent of undergraduates are exclusively online learners. WSU was founded in affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints but transformed into a public university more than 40 years later.
#6 Southern Utah University
- Salary Score: 36
- Online Enrollment: 3,075
- Locations: Cedar City
- Accreditation: NWCCU
At Southern Utah University (SUU), a public university, future students can pursue online degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. Popular online bachelor’s degrees at SUU include business management, elementary education, and RN to BSN. Online bachelor’s degrees at SUU are 120 credit hours, lasting four years for full-time students. SUU’s acceptance rate is 89%, with a 53% graduation rate.
SUU facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning through the digital platform Canvas. The university’s student-to-faculty ratio is 23:1. Financial aid is available to online students at SUU, including scholarships, grants, and loans. Online student support includes academic advising, a career center, library services, tutoring, and a writing center. SUU has received recognition for offering affordable online degree programs and for having low student debt.
#7 Utah Tech University
- Salary Score: 28
- Online Enrollment: 1,130
- Locations: St. George
- Accreditation: NWCCU
Utah Tech University (UT) is a public institution offering online associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. Some of the online bachelor’s degree programs include communication studies, management, and individualized studies. At a minimum, online students can expect to take 120 credit hours for online bachelor’s degrees, which can take four years with a full schedule of classes. The acceptance rate at UT is 100%, with a graduation rate of 41%.
At UT, online students complete courses delivered asynchronously and synchronously on the learning management system Canvas. The student-to-faculty ratio is 22:1. Potential financial aid opportunities for online students include scholarships, grants, and loans. Online students at UT can access academic advising, library services, and career services. UT offers over 200 online courses across various fields.
Higher Education in Utah
In the heart of the Southwest sits the state of Utah, home to about 3.38 million people. Residents here work in a diverse mix of industries, from manufacturing and aerospace to financial and healthcare services. Some of the state's top employers are Intermountain Healthcare, Hill Air Force Base, Delta Airlines, Wells Fargo Bank, and Discover.
Prospective Utah students can prepare to meet the state's workforce needs through a wide range of education programs. Some are traditional, while others involve distance learning.
Many students today — especially those earning bachelor's degrees and master's degrees — find online education to be more flexible and convenient because they can work at their own pace to complete coursework. However, you can also earn associate degrees, doctoral degrees, certificates, and diplomas through distance learning in Utah. Among the most popular majors are a business administration degree, a criminal justice degree, and an information technology degree, but you can study almost any subject online.
Online classes and online learning programs are available through both private and public schools. For example, the Utah System of Higher Education is made up of six 4-year public institutions, two 2-year community colleges, and eight 2-year technical colleges. These include the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah State University in Logan, Utah Valley University in Orem, Dixie Technical College in St. George, and Southwest Technical College in Cedar City. Private universities include Brigham Young University in Provo and Western Governors University — which specializes in online programs — in Millcreek.
Accreditation
There are many factors to consider when you're researching traditional and online colleges in Utah. These include cost, program offerings, services, and faculty, but perhaps most critical is accreditation. All of the schools that appear on our list of the best online colleges in Utah are accredited, usually by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) or the Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC).
If you're planning to earn your degree online, enrollment in an accredited online college in Utah is important for a variety of reasons. It is required to receive financial aid and to transfer credits between colleges. You may also need a degree from an accredited college to get into a master's program or to obtain state licensure to practice certain professions, such as nursing or counseling.
Thinking about becoming a nurse or social worker in Utah? Explore your options on our lists of online nursing programs in Utah and online MSW programs in Utah.
FAQs About Online Colleges in Utah
How Much Is College in Utah?
The cost of a college degree in Utah varies dramatically depending on the school. In general, however, 2020-21 data provided by the NCES shows that in-state and out-of-state tuition rates at both public and private institutions in Utah are significantly lower than the national average. Some schools also set lower tuition rates for their online degree programs than for their traditional, on-campus programs.
Does Utah Offer Financial Aid for College Students?
Yes, Utah offers quite a few financial aid programs for college students. Residents can apply for this aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Among the grants and scholarships available are the Technical Education Scholarship, the Talent Development Grant Program, the Opportunity Scholarship, and the Utah Promise last-dollar scholarship. Online learners over the age of 26 may also be eligible for the Adult Learner Grant Program.
How Many Colleges Are in Utah?
Utah is home to 64 postsecondary institutions of higher education, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) College Navigator. About two-thirds are private colleges and specialty schools, while the remaining third are public institutions.
What Are the Best Colleges in Utah?
Many of Utah's colleges and universities have earned high praise for academic excellence. At the top of the list are the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah State University in Logan, and Brigham Young University in Provo, all of which offer online undergraduate and graduate degrees. Not all schools in Utah offer fully online degrees through distance education, but Westminster College, another highly respected private institution in Salt Lake City, is one of many colleges in Utah that offer online courses.
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