by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Utah, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **11** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 11 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading colleges below:
University Of Utah earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Utah. Set in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,527 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Brigham Young University Provo, which ranked #2 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Provo, UT. About 81% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Brigham Young University Provo graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,507. Students borrow a median of $12,184 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Neumont University earned it the #3 place in Utah. Neumont University is a private for-profit school based in Salt Lake City, UT. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,360.
A rank of #4 makes Western Governors University one of the top colleges in Utah. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, Western Governors University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,658. Median early-career earnings reach $74,771. Western Governors University students take on a median of $23,277 in debt.
Out of the 11 colleges in Utah in this year's ranking, Westminster College Utah landed the #5 spot. Westminster College Utah is a private not-for-profit school based in Salt Lake City, UT. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $43,528. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,433 early in their careers. Westminster College Utah students take on a median of $23,090 in debt.
Weber State University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Ogden, UT, Weber State University is a public institution. Weber State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 47%. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,920. Weber State University students take on a median of $19,176 in debt.
Utah State University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Utah State University is a public school based in Logan, UT. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Median early-career earnings reach $50,348. Typical student debt is $16,191.
Utah Valley University landed the #8 spot in Utah this year. This public school is set in Orem, UT. Utah Valley University graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,242. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete a degree here.
Nightingale College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Salt Lake City, UT, Nightingale College is a private for-profit institution. Nightingale College posts a six-year graduation rate of 26%. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,271 early in their careers. Nightingale College students take on a median of $27,875 in debt.
Salt Lake Community College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, Salt Lake Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. Salt Lake Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,031. Typical student debt is $10,855.
Latter Day Saints Business College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, Latter Day Saints Business College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,004.
Southern Utah University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Cedar City, UT, Southern Utah University is a public institution. Southern Utah University posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,962, with out-of-state students paying around $21,192. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,998. Graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans.
Dixie State College Of Utah landed the #13 spot in Utah this year. This public school is set in Saint George, UT. About 28% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $18,246. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,266. Graduates carry a median of $18,666 in student loans.
Ameritech College Draper came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Draper, UT, Ameritech College Draper is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,260. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,756. Ameritech College Draper students take on a median of $25,110 in debt.
Snow College did well this year, earning the #15 position. This public school is set in Ephraim, UT. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,776. The median student debt is $10,440.
Davis Technical College did well this year, earning the #16 position. This public school is set in Kaysville, UT. Early-career graduates earn a median of $34,093. Typical student debt is $6,262.
Dixie Technical College placed #17 among the best colleges in Utah. Set in Saint George, UT, Dixie Technical College is a public institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,292 early in their careers.
Southwest Technical College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Cedar City, UT, Southwest Technical College is a public institution. Southwest Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $35,838.
Uintah Basin Technical College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in Roosevelt, UT, Uintah Basin Technical College is a public institution.
Skinworks School Of Advanced Skincare placed #20 among the best colleges in Utah. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, Skinworks School Of Advanced Skincare is a private for-profit institution. Skinworks School Of Advanced Skincare graduates report median early-career earnings of $24,463. Graduates carry a median of $7,667 in student loans.
Medspa Academies came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in South Jordan, UT, Medspa Academies is a private for-profit institution. Medspa Academies graduates report median early-career earnings of $25,502. Medspa Academies students take on a median of $12,394 in debt.
Cameo College Of Essential Beauty ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private for-profit school is set in Murray, UT. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $22,885. Typical student debt is $6,150.
Bridgerland Technical College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Logan, UT. Graduates go on to earn a median of $28,884 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete a degree here.
Ogden Weber Technical College landed the #24 spot in Utah this year. Based in Ogden, UT, Ogden Weber Technical College is a public institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $34,308. Graduates carry a median of $8,833 in student loans.
Mandalyn Academy did well this year, earning the #25 position. Mandalyn Academy is a private for-profit school based in American Fork, UT. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $21,711. The median student debt is $7,667.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.