Cost of college in Utah
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Utah averages $7,700 a year, or $11,849 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $56,445 and owe about $15,341. The net price pays back in about 3.2 years.
How Utah compares to the US
Utah ranks #43 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #23 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #11 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Utah | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $7,700 | $9,518 | -$1,818 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $22,515 | $23,652 | -$1,137 |
| Net price after aid | $11,849 | $13,788 | -$1,939 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $56,445 | $56,427 | +$18 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,341 | $17,856 | -$2,515 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Utah pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Utah costs about $47,396 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 3.2 years from the roughly $14,645-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #11 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Utah list about $8,295 in tuition and net out to about $13,077 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Utah?
At a public 4-year college in Utah, in-state tuition and fees average about $7,700 a year and out-of-state runs about $22,515. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $11,849. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Utah earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Utah's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $56,445 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $15,341 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Utah?
A public 4-year degree in Utah costs about $47,396 over four years at net price and recoups in about 3.2 years from the roughly $14,645-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.