The flexible nature of an online degree program means you can also study around your current work schedule or family responsibilities.
Here's a high-level look at the landscape of online colleges in Utah:
Students pursuing a degree at an online college in Utah may want to know about the 15 to Finish campaign. This initiative is intended to help students complete their degree programs early by increasing their course load. This faster timeline can translate into saving money and entering the workforce sooner.
Explore below the best online colleges in Utah as well as the most affordable ones. The financial aid section also outlines Utah-specific scholarships and loans, which are offered through the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority.
OnlineColleges.com has created different rankings to help students find the best online colleges in Utah. Each institution was judged according to carefully selected criteria, and each has been accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Every school in the Utah System of Higher Education, and five private schools — including Brigham Young University — are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), the primary regional accrediting agency for Utah. However, there are other online colleges in the state that are accredited by other official national or faith-based agencies. Students can read about why accreditation matters on our "What is College Accreditation?" page, or check which forms of accreditation are valid in Utah at the Utah System of Higher Education.
Our rankings can help students make more informed decisions about online colleges in Utah before committing to enrollment. We've created our rankings using data points with relevance to online education, such as cost of in-state tuition, number of online programs offered, percentage of distance learners at each school and more. Students can visit the "What Makes a Good Online College?" section on our "About Us" page to see how OnlineColleges.com selects criteria for our rankings, and why we consider our data points to be relevant to the discussion of the best online colleges in Utah.
Our ranking of the best online colleges in Utah can help distance learners find their future alma mater in the Beehive State. Using data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, we have ranked the best online colleges in Utah based on aspects such as graduation rate, number of online programs and net price.
Visit our methodologies page to learn more about how we use official data to evaluate schools.
What is SUU like?
SUU was founded in 1897 as a school to train teachers in pioneer settlement communities. Over time, it has evolved to offer online degree programs in various disciplines via its online portal, SUU Online.
What online programs are at SUU?
Canvas, Proctorio, TurnItIn, Kaltura, Big Blue Button and Studio77 are several of the technologies SUU employs to deliver its asynchronous online courses. Distance learners can earn an online M.S. in sport conditioning and performance at SUU -- the program includes three intensive summer courses that require students to attend clinical workshops on campus. Bachelor's degree programs in accounting, business management and nursing are available as well.
What online resources does SUU offer?
At SUU, online students can receive access to a personal advisor who can answer questions via phone. They can also find help with their papers at the Writing Center or utilize the university's Speech and Presentation Center to practice their ability to write and present speeches.
What is UU like?
When it was founded in 1850, UU was a university for men only. Eventually, it became a coeducational institution that offers online degree programs via UOnline in addition to on-campus programs in Salt Lake City. Its fully online undergraduate program made its initial debut in the fall of 2017.
What online programs are at UU?
UU's online courses are delivered via the Canvas learning platform. Online courses at UU adhere to a semester schedule and are typically 16 weeks long.
Distance learners at UU can also participate in BlockU, an intensive general education experience that focuses on global leadership. BlockU can allow students to complete six general education requirements while studying the complicated issues that our planet faces.
What online resources does UU offer?
Students can receive online advising services through Cranium Café, a video chat and tele-conferencing platform. They can also opt for e-Tutoring, which is an online tutoring system that hosts one-on-one tutoring in a number of subjects such as accounting, chemistry and economics. Career coaching services via the Career and Professional Development Center are available as well.
What is USU like?
Founded in 1888 as the Agricultural College of Utah, Utah State University's main campus is in Logan and is considered the largest public residential campus in Utah. While the university has many on-campus offerings, it's also expanded its online program since USU's first fully online course launched in 1997.
What online programs are at USU?
Online programs at USU are taught through USU-Online and delivered in 14-week sessions.
USU is the only university in the state to offer an online bachelor's degree program in agribusiness. This program focuses on the marketing, management and financing of food production. An online master's in aviation science, as well as online certificate programs in engineering education, rehabilitation counseling and geographic information science, are also available.
What online resources does USU offer?
The E-tutoring website is an option for students who would like to receive real-time and submission based tutoring in various subjects. E-tutoring features a writing lab, live chat and offline submission.
What is IU like?
IU is an online college that specializes in career-focused, accelerated degree programs in healthcare, business, IT and graphic arts. The school has climbed two spots from its ranking on last year's list of the best online colleges in Utah.
What online programs are at IU?
Online programs at IU do not involve any electives, which allows students to complete their programs that much more quickly. The university's online associate degrees can be earned in 19 to 26 months, while bachelor's degrees take 36 to 38 months and master's degrees can require 15 to 16 months. Online courses at IU begin every month.
What online resources does IU offer?
Students who pursue a degree at IU are assigned to a Student Success Team who can answer questions and assist with academic needs they may have. In addition, IU students can utilize tutoring, career advising and career placement services at no extra cost.
What is EGC like?
EGC offers nursing and healthcare degrees for working adults and nontraditional students. The school's online and hybrid programs focus on the knowledge and skills that students need to earn positions as members of the healthcare field.
What online programs are at EGC?
The BSN program at EGC is available in a hybrid format and can be completed in as little as 36 months. Students can also enroll in an M.S. in nursing administration and leadership. This program is taught entirely online and designed for those who would like to move into higher levels of practice care and leadership roles.
Online courses at EGC are delivered in an asynchronous format.
What online resources does EGC offer?
Online students may receive resume and cover writing services, participate in mock interviews, and get connected to dozens of local healthcare providers through EGC's career services. Once students graduate, they can return to EGC to take Continuing Learning courses, which can help them keep their skills up to date.
What is WSU like?
Weber State University awarded its first bachelor's degree in 1964 at its campus in Ogden, Utah. The decades since then have seen WSU flourish, and the university has come to offer a number of fully online degree programs and individual online courses through WSU Online.
What online programs are at WSU?
Online courses at WSU are delivered via the Canvas learning platform. Independent Study classes -- self-paced online courses that can be started at any time -- are available to online students as well.
Students who are or wish to become laboratory healthcare professionals may consider advancing their careers by earning an online A.A.S. for medical laboratory technicians or an online B.S. for medical laboratory scientists. The university also offers online master's degree programs in criminal justice, respiratory therapy and healthcare administration.
What online resources does WSU offer?
Through the Stewart Library, online WSU students can find books, video, audio, magazines and journal articles from multiple databases in one search. Students also have access to the eWeber portal, an online webpage that can allow them to register for classes, check their email, read university-wide announcements and more all in one place.
What is PC like?
PC is considered the sister college to Eagle Gate College. It focuses on health-related degree programs that are available in online and hybrid formats. The school strongly emphasizes real-world, hands-on learning, even in its hybrid and online programs.
What online programs are at PC?
At PC, students can enroll in a hybrid BSN program that can be completed within 36 months. Other options include a medical assisting certificate program and an associate degree program in physical therapy. Since PC considers working adults and nontraditional students its primary audience and wants to offer them flexibility for their work and family schedules, its online courses are delivered in an asynchronous format.
What online resources does PC offer?
The Career Services Department at PC offers mock interviews, where students can gain experience answering questions that they might be asked during real interviews. It also specializes in resume and cover letter assistance, with a particular focus on the wants and needs of local healthcare companies.
After graduation, students are welcome to return to PC to complete continuing education courses.
What is UVU like?
UVU is the largest public university in Utah. While it has a campus in Orem, Utah, the university also offers online degree and certificate programs, as well as individual online courses, via its Office of Extended Studies.
What online programs are at UVU?
Distance learning programs at UVU are taught via the Canvas learning management system, in three possible formats:
The university offers programs in several different fields, some of them quite unique. Online master's degree programs in nursing and public services are available, as are certificate programs in Six Sigma Green Belt and substance use disorder counseling. Students who enroll in the online B.S. in emergency services administration program can specialize in either emergency care or emergency management.
What online resources does UVU offer?
The Career Development Center at UVU posts jobs and internships via Handshake, a career website for universities. Students can also participate in the Center's online workshops, which focus on topics such as interviewing, networking and resume writing. Private and group tutoring sessions are both available.
What is DSU like?
DSU is a public university with a campus in St. George, Utah. The school's Distance and Digital Learning department was created in 2017. Ever since 2017, the school has been working to expand its online offerings, a factor which has led to OnlineColleges considering it one of the best online colleges in Utah.
What online programs are at DSU?
For the most part, DSU's online education is delivered as individual online courses via the Canvas learning system. These courses can help busy working adults to fit important classes into their schedules, creating hybrid programs if and when they need them.
However, as of May 2019, DSU began offering its first online program: a BSN program for registered nurses who already hold a diploma or associate degree. More online programs in early childhood education, health sciences and retail management are also said to be in development.
What online resources does DSU offer?
DSU's Academic Performance and Tutoring Center offers online tutoring services for online students. Students can also use article databases, research guides, and e-books via the DSU Library. In addition, they have access to the Handshake website -- which features job and internship postings -- and can find assistance with resume writing as well as take career placement tests through Career Services.
What is SC like?
Snow College has campuses in Ephraim and Richfield. While the college was created in 1888 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it became a state-supported institution in 1931.
What online programs are at SC?
Online courses at SC are delivered asynchronously via the Canvas learning platform. Courses can be pursued on an individual basis or they can be taken as part of an associate degree program, which students may be able to complete within 18 months. Online certificate programs in subjects like economics and psychology are also offered.
What online resources does SC offer?
Students pursuing online learning at SC can search for jobs and internships via the Handshake website. In addition, they can utilize the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University, which offers writing resources and instructional material as well as one-on-one consultations. Assistance with research and access to databases, online journals and e-books is also available via the SC Libraries.
The following schools in Utah offer online degree programs with particularly affordable tuition costs.
Students in Utah have access to education loans through the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority, which is governed by the Utah State Board of Regents. However, before applying for any loans, it's recommended that students seek out all available options for scholarship and grant awards. If you've exhausted all of those options and find that you are still in need of financial assistance, you may apply for state-based, federal, and/or private loans to cover your college expenses. Keep in mind that you will need to fill out the FAFSA and supply information about your family's financial situation in order to apply for federal aid.
Learn more about student loans in the Ultimate Guide to Student Loans.
According to data compiled by the New York Times, Utah is one of a handful of U.S. states that have significantly more out-of-state students moving there for college than residents leaving to attend university programs elsewhere. More than 3,500 students came to the Beehive State to attend public colleges in 2016, while fewer than 650 left for similar programs in other states.
Some of those brand new Utah residents likely paid the full price of out-of-state tuition, but you may be able to defray some of your own costs through initiatives like these:
Individual institutions may also offer scholarships or other measures designed to ease the tuition burden for non-resident students. Look over the USHE website and check with an adviser or registrar at your destination school to find out more.
According to Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, by 2020, 64 percent of the most in demand jobs in Utah are expected to require a bachelor's degree. That doesn't mean you should just rush in and earn any old degree, however. It's important to pursue a degree that can help you with your career goals, which means it's also important to know what your career goals are.
If you're still deciding on your career goals, we might be able to help. We have analyzed the best jobs to have in Utah and displayed them below, complete with data on salaries, employment numbers and more.
| Employment | Employment Growth | Median High School Salary | Median Bachelor's Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,490,490 | 29.1% | $31,677 | $48,647 |
*Industry rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data is sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
| Top Industries | Employment | Projected Growth | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data processing, hosting, and related services | 592,100 | 29% | $63,037 |
| Pipeline transportation | 460,530 | 30% | $67,798 |
| Telecommunications | 682,370 | 29% | $62,138 |
| Monetary authorities-central bank | 343,550 | 32% | $69,176 |
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 1,041,490 | 31% | $58,167 |
| Oil and gas extraction | 656,340 | 30% | $64,018 |
| Utilities | 804,090 | 29% | $59,732 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 1,265,080 | 30% | $56,939 |
| Lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets (except copyrighted works) | 469,240 | 30% | $64,615 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 1,133,070 | 30% | $56,928 |
A report by the Computing Technology Industry Association discovered that Utah's tech industry grew faster in 2017 than any other state in the nation. There is good reason for this: the Beehive State is home to tech startups such as Podium, Teem and Big Squid. As the tech industry continues to grow, it creates enormous demand for data services and telecommunications professionals, making these some of the hottest jobs in Utah.
With multiple prominent colleges and universities such as the University of Utah, Brigham Young University and Western Governors University, education is another thriving industry. At the state, local and private level, teachers and administrators of various stripes are high demand careers in Utah.
In addition, with so many quality colleges around, Utah has developed many of its more skilled industries, such as healthcare and finance. The nationwide shortage of primary care physicians has generated demand for nurses, physician assistants and other medical professionals at Utah facilities such as University of Utah Health Care, Intermountain Medical Center, Utah Valley Hospital and Jordan Valley Medical Center. Banks such as the Bank of Utah, Marlin Business Bank and Rock Canyon Bank have created opportunities for monetary authorities, lessors of assets and other financial professionals as well.
Let's dive deeper into the best jobs in Utah metro areas, so that you can determine which careers may be right for you based on your location.
The software development industry is a prominent part of the Salt Lake City area, in part thanks to the educational technology company known as Instructure. This company is responsible for Canvas, the online learning platform utilized by many of the best online colleges in Utah.
Postsecondary health specialties teachers are also high demand jobs in Salt Lake City, as the area is home to the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College, Westminster College and several other institutions of higher learning.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | Doctoral or professional degree | $159,870 | 1,890 |
| Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | Bachelor's degree | $106,460 | 10,190 |
| Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | Bachelor's degree | $106,460 | 10,190 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | Bachelor's degree | $135,050 | 3,240 |
| Marketing Managers | Bachelor's degree | $129,880 | 1,850 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
For 34 years, Aerospace Engineering & Support has called Ogden its home, driving demand for aerospace engineers and making them notably high paying jobs in Ogden. Mechanical engineers are also valued in the Ogden-Clearfield region to fill the needs of companies such as Northrop Grumman, Thompson Manufacturing, and Randstad Engineering. Finally, Shopper Approved -- which solicits customer reviews after purchases for its clients -- is a noteworthy employer in Ogden that has helped to increase demand for computer and information research scientists in this metro area.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineers | Bachelor's degree | $101,570 | 420 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | Bachelor's degree | $93,100 | 870 |
| General and Operations Managers | Bachelor's degree | $78,160 | 7,630 |
| Mechanical Engineers | Bachelor's degree | $91,790 | 1,180 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | Doctoral or professional degree | $83,650 | 490 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
Vivint Smart Home is a large home automation company is headquartered in Provo. Therefore, it's no surprise that software developers and computer and information systems managers are prominent entries on the list of high paying jobs in Provo.
Provo is also home to Brigham Young University's College of Fine Arts and Communications. This institution's prestigious Department of Art and Department of Theatre and Media Arts have been creating excitement and demand for postsecondary art, drama, and music teachers for years at this point.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | Bachelor's degree | $98,540 | 5,090 |
| Marketing Managers | Bachelor's degree | $116,720 | 780 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | Bachelor's degree | $148,100 | 1,120 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | Master's degree | $112,520 | N/A |
| General and Operations Managers | Bachelor's degree | $86,760 | 7,580 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.