Business Schools in Utah
Utah is a fascinating state with several unique characteristics. It is well known as being the Mormon Church’s home state, which has a significant impact on both the state’s culture and its economy. Utah’s relatively small population of about 3 million is heavily concentrated in the Wasatch Front metropolitan region in the northern part of the state, including the capital Salt Lake City and about 70% of the state’s people. A region of outstanding natural beauty and vast wilderness areas, Utah is home to five national parks, the most of any state other than (the much larger) California and Alaska. It has a vibrant economy that relies heavily on tourism and encompasses mining, agriculture, and government services. In 2014, Forbes ranked Utah #1 in its list of the best states for business.
Utah is not one of the country’s primary academic destinations, and given its relatively small population, it has few colleges offering business degrees. National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) statistics reveal 15 public and non-profit schools with business programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Of these, seven are accredited undergraduate schools, and six are accredited graduate colleges. It is always wise to choose an accredited college, wherever you go to school. Accreditation ensures that the program you select has clear objectives and proven quality outcomes while adhering to national and international standards. Accredited schools also typically offer a richer educational experience via interaction with actual businesses.
All of the schools in this article have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). They are all public or non-profit and regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
This article will provide you with the essential data you need to help you choose the best Utah business school for you, based on various key factors: tuition, financial aid, entrance exam scores, acceptance rates, and more. The three sections that follow describe undergraduate programs, graduate schools, and the job prospects for business school graduates in Utah.
Undergraduate Business Schools in Utah
Utah has some of the most inexpensive options for undergraduate business studies in the country. Of the seven accredited schools, 6 have tuitions in the range of $4,840 (Dixie State University) to $8,518 (the University of Utah), with the average for the six just $6,395. Given that these schools average $6,020 in financial aid, you can see that money won’t be a reason not to attend school in Utah! The 7th school on the list, Westminster College, costs much more at $32,404, with the financial aid of $17,938.
We were able to obtain acceptance rate data for 4 of our seven schools, all exceptionally student-friendly. The lowest figure is at Southern Utah University (72%) and the highest at Utah State University (90%). The overall average is very high, at 81%.
Graduation rates for undergraduate business degrees in Utah fall in a wide range but generally are low. The overall average is only 42%, with the highest at the University of Utah (65%) and the weakest at Dixie State University (20%). The best combination of acceptance rate and graduation rate (for the schools for which we have acceptance rates) is Westminster College, with an acceptance rate of 84% and a graduation rate of 62%.
Below you will find a table showing you all the important data you need about undergraduate business schools in Utah, including annual in-state tuition costs, average aid per student, acceptance rates, SAT and ACT score ranges of accepted students, and graduation rates. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.
| School | City | Tuition | Aid | Median SAT | Median ACT | Accept. Rate | Grad. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixie State University | St. George | $4,840 | $5,096 | 20% | |||
| Southern Utah University | Cedar City | $6,530 | $7,184 | 890-1150 | 20-26 | 72% | 39% |
| University of Utah | Salt Lake City | $8,518 | $6,916 | 1050-1300 | 21-27 | 76% | 65% |
| Utah State University | Logan | $7,426 | $6,791 | 980-1220 | 20-27 | 90% | 46% |
| Utah Valley University | Orem | $5,530 | $5,735 | 25% | |||
| Weber State University | Ogden | $5,523 | $4,397 | 35% | |||
| Westminster College | Salt Lake City | $32,404 | $17,938 | 1000-1210 | 22-27 | 84% | 62% |
Graduate Business Schools in Utah
We have data on six accredited schools for graduate business study in Utah. Of these, four are in an affordable tuition cost range of about $21,000 to $27,000 a year. The least expensive school is Southern Utah University, at $14,350. In contrast, the costly outlier is the Eccles School at the University of Utah—its tuition of $59,000 reflects the college’s status as a top 50 business school in the US.
There are two accredited online MBA programs in Utah for those seeking a concurrent study and work experience. Southern Utah University’s online MBA program is ranked in the top 100 in the country and offers accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing concentrations. The Eccles School at the University of Utah offers an online equivalent of its top 50 graduate business education, taught by the same professors and with a choice of three start times per year.
The table below shows graduate business school tuition costs, average accepted applicant GMAT scores, percentage of faculty with a doctorate degree, and student-to-faculty ratios. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.
| School | City | Tuition | Avg. GMAT | Faculty with Doct. Degree | Student/ Faculty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University | Provo | $23,940 | 671 | 89% | 3.73 |
| Southern Utah University | Cedar City | $14,350 | 90% | 6.88 | |
| University of Utah | Salt Lake City | $59,000 | 637 | 75% | 8.95 |
| Utah State University | Logan | $26,685 | 72% | 4.38 | |
| Utah Valley University | Orem | $21,298 | 538 | 67% | 0.54 |
| Weber State University | Ogden | $24,660 | 565 | 92% |
Job Outlook for Business Graduates in Utah
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the total growth of at least 5% is expected in 32 of 37 business and management occupations across the US between 2016 and 2026. The highest growth will be for market analysts and marketing specialists, at 22.8% over ten years, with financial managers coming in second at 18.7%.
Utah has a strong economy that has consistently outpaced that of the nation as a whole. Its unemployment rate currently sits at just 3%, a full percentage point below the US average of 4% at writing. About 134,000 people were employed in the business and management sector in Utah in 2016. The largest subgroup was general and operations managers at 39,810, which dwarfs all the other categories in terms of size.
According to BLS data, Utah ranked 12th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for the overall average annual wage across all occupations in 2016 at $65,977, well above the national average of $57,617. Business and management occupations had a weighted average annual salary of around $83,000 that year. The difference between the average business salary and the overall state average is among the smallest in the country, reflecting Utah’s status as the state with the lowest income inequality in the nation. As is the case in most states, chief executives led the way, coming in at $167,500. Most management positions fell between $80,000 and $120,000. The lowest paid of the groups was credit counselors at $38,390.
| Occupation Title | BLS.gov Code | 2016 Total Employment Utah | Mean Hourly Wage Utah | Mean Annual Wage Utah | National Growth 2016-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 13-2011 | 9,770 | $34 | $70,640 | 8.0% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 11-3011 | 2,380 | $41 | $85,460 | 9.1% |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 11-2011 | 310 | $36 | $73,900 | 5.8% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 11-9041 | 2,150 | $59 | $123,000 | 7.4% |
| Budget Analysts | 13-2031 | 350 | $36 | $74,080 | 10.4% |
| Business Operations Specialists | 13-1199 | 8,170 | $33 | $67,730 | 10.1% |
| Chief Executives | 11-1011 | 4,340 | $81 | $167,500 | 11.9% |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | 11-3111 | 210 | $50 | $103,680 | 0.187 |
| Compensation, and Benefits Specialists | 13-1141 | 450 | $26 | $53,920 | 5.6% |
| Compliance Officers | 13-1041 | 2,750 | $29 | $61,270 | 5.0% |
| Construction Managers | 11-9021 | 2,710 | $39 | $80,860 | 8.9% |
| Cost Estimators | 13-1051 | 2,430 | $32 | $65,610 | 10.3% |
| Credit Analysts | 13-2041 | 900 | $32 | $66,570 | 11.4% |
| Credit Counselors | 13-2071 | 350 | $18 | $38,390 | 5.5% |
| Financial Analysts | 13-2051 | 2,840 | $39 | $81,370 | 4.9% |
| Financial Examiners | 13-2061 | 330 | $36 | $75,880 | 8.2% |
| Financial Managers | 11-3031 | 5,800 | $54 | $112,080 | 10.6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 11-1021 | 39,810 | $40 | $83,910 | 7.1% |
| Human Resources Managers | 11-3121 | 1,190 | $49 | $102,510 | -7.8% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 13-1071 | 5,620 | $28 | $57,350 | 6.9% |
| Information Systems Managers | 11-3021 | 4,990 | $57 | $118,190 | 12.0% |
| Insurance Underwriters | 13-2053 | 540 | $35 | $72,050 | 10.2% |
| Labor Relations Specialists | 13-1075 | 200 | $22 | $45,170 | 8.5% |
| Loan Officers | 13-2072 | 4,410 | $32 | $66,650 | 11.5% |
| Logisticians | 13-1081 | 2,430 | $36 | $74,240 | 22.8% |
| Management Analysts | 13-1111 | 4,750 | $38 | $79,420 | 8.8% |
| Market Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 13-1161 | 6,920 | $28 | $57,830 | 10.0% |
| Marketing Managers | 11-2021 | 2,720 | $55 | $114,270 | 6.5% |
| Meeting and Event Planners | 13-1121 | 910 | $21 | $43,050 | 8.4% |
| Public Relations and Fundraising Managers | 11-2031 | 450 | $49 | $101,950 | 10.8% |
| Purchasing Managers | 11-3061 | 470 | $49 | $101,350 | -5.2% |
| Sales Managers | 11-2022 | 4,170 | $57 | $119,060 | 9.8% |
| Tax Examiners and Revenue Agents | 13-2081 | 1,770 | $24 | $50,510 | 13.9% |
| Tax Preparers | 13-2082 | 810 | $24 | $49,860 | 11.5% |
| Training and Development Managers | 11-3131 | 500 | $44 | $90,570 | -0.6% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 13-1151 | 4,760 | $26 | $54,570 | 10.8% |
Other Popular State Pages
- Business Schools in Oregon
- Business Schools in Nevada
- Business Schools in Arizona
- Business Schools in Hawaii
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics:https://nces.ed.gov/
2. AACSB, Best Business Schools:https://bestbizschools.aacsb.edu/aacsb-accredited
3. ACBSP, Business Schools:https://acbsp.org/page/accreditation-overview
4. IACBE, Business Schools:https://iacbe.org/accreditation/
5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook, Business and Financial Occupations: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm
6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment and Wage Estimates Utah: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ut.htm
7. US News & World Report, Best Business Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools