University of Utah

Introduction

The University of Utah is a top-tier public research institution and one of only a handful of institutions in the country with both an academic campus and a research hospital located on the same campus. It is committed to teaching, research, public life, and health care and has focused heavily on ensuring students have support to complete their degrees in a timely manner and are well prepared for successful lives after graduation. In 2019, the university was selected as a new member of the Association of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 65 leading research institutions marked by excellence in academic expertise and research impact, student success, and securing resources in support of core missions. The University of Utah has the highest graduation rate, the lowest average debt at graduation, and the highest average salary for graduates of any public institution in the state—and well above the national median. Over the past nine years, the U has increased its six-year graduation rate by 16%. To achieve this success, the U focused on improving the advisor-student ratio and increasing advising, increasing availability of critical courses and online offerings, and strategically using scholarships to help students avoid the need to work outside of school. A new income-share agreement launched in 2019 is an innovative way to help students complete their degrees faster. U administration also announced a new campus innovation challenge aimed at incubating ideas to accelerate baccalaureate degree completion. Salt Lake is the University of Utah’s “college city,” pairing outdoor adventure—including world-class skiing and five national parks (plus low-cost campus equipment rentals and outings to help students explore)—with sophisticated urban offerings from Utah Jazz NBA games to Broadway shows. However, students don’t have to leave campus to experience outstanding music, theater, and dance performances. Talented students and faculty create and perform hundreds of shows each year, and the student government has hosted concerts featuring such artists as B.o.B and Icona Pop. Recent speakers have included former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and the creator of Humans of New York. Salt Lake City is top in the nation for diversity of jobs, according to LinkUp, which means there is an abundance of companies providing internship and employment opportunities. And, when students land that job downtown, their transportation is covered. U students have access to public transportation to, from, and around campus and the Salt Lake Valley for no additional cost. The U offers an affordable investment in a high-quality and high-value degree by having the lowest out-of-state cost of attendance in the Pac-12, along with the opportunity to meet requirements for in-state tuition after just one year. As a leader in global research and innovation, the U provides students with exciting ways to discover and nurture their interests. From Lassonde Studios (an on-campus entrepreneurial center) to its international campus in Incheon, South Korea, to its hundreds of undergrad research opportunities, the possibilities are only limited by the imagination. The University of Utah’s mission is to foster student success by preparing students from diverse backgrounds for lives of impact as leaders and citizens. The U generates and shares new knowledge, discoveries, and innovations, and engages local and global communities to promote education, health, and quality of life. These contributions, in addition to responsible stewardship of the U’s intellectual, physical, and financial resources, ensure the long‐term success and viability of the institution.