University of Utah
The University of Utah is the public flagship and largest research university in the state, set in the Wasatch foothills above Salt Lake City. Admission stays accessible for a major research university, with about 90% of roughly 30,000 applicants admitted, and enrolled first-years carry an average high school GPA near 3.64. Utah draws a national pool: 39% of undergraduates come from out of state, and out-of-state applicants are admitted at a slightly higher rate than residents. Business and marketing leads degrees conferred at about 15%, with strong programs in computing, the life sciences, and engineering, and low in-state tuition makes it one of the better values among Western public flagships.
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Utah admissions statistics
Acceptance rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly action
Utah offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized tests
Utah is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Utah supplemental essays — 2026-2027 cycle
Earning a college degree takes focus, hard work, and the ability to keep going even when things get difficult. Tell us about a long-term goal you worked toward, something that took time and effort to achieve. What steps did you take?
Describe a time when you worked with or helped someone whose background, beliefs, or communication style was different from yours. What did you do? What did you learn from that experience?
Nursing can be emotionally and physically demanding. Nurses often work in high-stakes environments, support people during difficult times, and depend on their team. What experiences or personal qualities prepare you to do this kind of work in a responsible and maintainable way?
Significant Experiences: Please describe up to 3 experiences you consider to be most significant in shaping who you are today. (Up to 250 words each)
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Admissions factors
How Utah weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Utah's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Financial aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Frequently asked questions about Utah admissions
No, the University of Utah is not very selective and admits about 90% of applicants, drawing roughly 30,000 applications and enrolling around 6,500 first-year students. Strong grades in a rigorous course load carry the most weight, since the rigor of your high school record and your academic GPA are the only two factors rated very important in Utah's review.
Out-of-state applicants are admitted at a strong rate, slightly above Utah residents. For Fall 2025 the university admitted 89.7% of in-state applicants and 90.4% of out-of-state applicants, so the residency gap is small and actually leans toward non-residents. Out-of-state students make up 39% of undergraduates, so non-residents enroll in large numbers despite the higher tuition.
Aim for a high-B average or better: enrolled first-years averaged a 3.64 high school GPA, and 98% submitted a GPA. There is no hard cutoff, but academic GPA and the rigor of your course load are the two factors Utah weighs as very important, so strong grades in challenging classes matter most.
Yes, the University of Utah is test-optional, so you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Among enrolled first-years who submitted, the middle 50% scored 1120–1320 on the SAT and 22–29 on the ACT. Only 14% submitted SAT scores and 36% submitted ACT scores, and when sent, test scores are weighed as a considered factor rather than a required one.
Yes, a 1300 is a competitive SAT score for the University of Utah. It lands in the upper half of the range: the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1120–1320, with a 50th-percentile mark of 1230, so a 1300 sits comfortably above the median of submitted scores.
Annual tuition and required fees run about $12,252 for Utah residents and $37,454 for out-of-state students, keeping the in-state price among the lower flagship rates in the West. Roughly 30% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, with an average financial aid package near $14,012, and Utah meets about 45% of demonstrated need on average.
Business and marketing leads at about 15% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the social sciences at 13%. Computing and the biological and life sciences each account for about 10%, while engineering and psychology each add 8%, giving Utah broad strength across STEM, business, and the liberal arts.
Yes, the University of Utah reads the application essay as part of a holistic review, where it is rated a considered factor alongside recommendations, activities, and test scores. Grades and course rigor drive the decision, but with so many applicants clearing the academic bar, a specific, well-revised essay helps your file stand out.
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Popular majors
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student-faculty ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by gender
Student diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Source: University of Utah Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-25. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Utah. Banner photo by InSapphoWeTrust, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0). Cite this page as: Esslo College Explorer, “University of Utah admissions statistics, transcribed from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set,” https://www.esslo.org/colleges/utah (retrieved 2026-06-25).