University Of Utah

The University of Utah prices meaningfully across income levels, with low-income families paying approximately $13,123 per year in net price, middle-income families seeing annual costs around $14,246, and higher-income families paying closer to $21,533. Azimuth ranks University of Utah #320 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.

As a public institution, University of Utah benefits from in-state tuition structures that keep sticker prices lower than comparable private universities, and need-based aid narrows the gap further for qualifying families. The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is real here: published cost of attendance of $25,557 overstates what most families actually pay.

Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families pay at the University of Utah. The spread between low-income and higher-income net prices reflects a tiered aid structure that directs more grant support toward students with demonstrated financial need.

Families in the middle-income range see costs that sit between those two poles, and the university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs that can reduce out-of-pocket costs further depending on individual circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,886; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $75,345, median federal debt of $19,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $215 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of University of Utah earn median earnings of $75,345 four years after enrollment, placing University of Utah in the 75.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).

Graduates earn about $14,944 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 92.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Utah #137 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The earnings pattern reflects a broad program mix anchored by Social Sciences, which accounts for 14% of degrees, followed by Business at 13% and Engineering at 9%. Computer Science combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key contributor to the university's overall return profile.

Among the highest-earning programs, Communication and Media Studies program graduates 322 students annually and delivers median earnings of $63,309 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks the program #48 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. Kinesiology ranks #24 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 281 graduates earning median earnings of $64,356, and Computer Science ranks #39 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with graduates earning median earnings of $137,329.

The breadth across quantitative, applied, and professional fields gives University of Utah students multiple pathways to strong early-career earnings in UT's growing labor market.

University of Utah's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, with Social Sciences accounting for 14% of graduates, Business representing 13%, and Engineering at 9%. The largest program by enrollment is Research Psychology with 413 graduates, followed by Communication and Media Studies (322 graduates) and Kinesiology (281 graduates).

Computer Science combines substantial enrollment with strong earnings, making it a key driver of the institution's overall financial outcomes. Across 69 programs serving roughly 5,481 students annually, 41 meet Azimuth's [ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).

The strongest earnings come from technically oriented fields. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #39 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 219 graduates earning $137,329.

Azimuth ranks Finance #39 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $100,793. Mechanical Engineering adds further depth, with Azimuth ranking it #98 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment and graduates earning $91,127.

Among the most popular programs, Azimuth ranks Communication and Media Studies #48 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $63,309. Several of University of Utah's high-earning programs feed directly into high-mobility career pathways where median four-year earnings reflect labor-market outcomes — particularly in engineering and computer science fields where Salt Lake City's growing technology sector provides strong local employer demand.

Programs in the social sciences and biological sciences are more likely to serve as grad-school-dependent pathways, where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school. The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national wage trends.