Utah Valley University (UVU) is a public university in Orem, Utah, and the largest university by enrollment in the state, with 46,807 students in fall 2024. Its pros are open admission, a low in-state price and a wide mix of certificates, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees; its cons are no on-campus housing, a 26 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and a four-year bachelor’s graduation rate of 17%.
Below is each pro and con in detail, followed by cost, outcome and accreditation figures from the federal College Navigator database, so you can decide whether UVU is a good school for you.
Utah Valley University at a Glance
- Type: public university that offers certificates and associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. College Navigator classifies it as a 4-year, primarily associate’s institution.
- Location: Orem, Utah, at I-15 and University Parkway (“City: Small”).
- History: founded in 1941 as Central Utah Vocational School; it became Utah Valley State College in 1993 and a university on July 1, 2008.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 46,807 total, 45,810 undergraduate. 55% of undergraduates attend part-time.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 26 to 1.
- Admission: open admission.
Pros: What Utah Valley University Does Well
- Open admission. UVU has an open admission policy, so a high school graduate who applies can start, and the university’s range of certificates and associate degrees gives a route into a bachelor’s for students who need one.
- Low cost for Utah residents. In-state tuition and fees were $6,507 in 2024-2025. The average net price after grants for full-time beginning students was $8,721 in 2023-2024, and just $3,904 for families earning up to $30,000.
- Little borrowing. Only 13% of full-time beginning students took out student loans in 2023-2024.
- Flexibility for working students. 14% of undergraduates study entirely online and another 32% mix online and in-person courses, which suits students who work or have families.
- Broad academic range. UVU is organised into colleges and schools that include the Smith College of Engineering and Technology, the Woodbury School of Business, the College of Health and Public Service and the School of Education, and 19 specialised agencies accredit or recognise individual programs.
- Division I athletics. The Wolverines play in NCAA Division I in the Big West Conference, with wrestling in the Big 12.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at UVU
- No on-campus housing. College Navigator lists no campus housing, so students live off campus or with family. The estimated total in-state cost living off campus (not with family) was $23,965 in 2024-2025.
- Few students finish a bachelor’s in four years. Of full-time freshmen who began a bachelor’s degree in fall 2018, 17% graduated in four years and 40% in six.
- Large classes. A 26 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio is high, and introductory courses can be big.
- A commuter feel. With most students part-time and no residence halls, campus life is thinner than at a residential university.
- Out-of-state students pay much more. Non-residents paid $18,489 in tuition and fees in 2024-2025, nearly three times the in-state rate.
What Utah Valley University Costs: Tuition and Net Price
| Item (2024-2025 unless noted) | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $6,507 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $18,489 |
| Total in-state cost, living off campus | $23,965 |
| Total out-of-state cost, living off campus | $35,947 |
| Average net price (2023-2024) | $8,721 |
By income, the 2023-2024 net price ranged from $3,904 for families earning up to $30,000 to $13,297 for families earning more than $110,000. In 2023-2024, 62% of full-time beginning students received grants or scholarships, averaging $5,670.
Is Utah Valley University a Good School? What the Numbers Say
For Utah residents who want a low-cost, low-debt route to a degree, and especially for part-time, working or returning students, UVU is a good school. It combines open admission with bachelor’s and master’s programs and a low net price.
Its completion numbers are weak for students who expect a traditional four-year path. The overall graduation rate for the fall 2018 cohort was 45%, with 19% transferring out, and 73% of full-time freshmen who began in fall 2023 returned in fall 2024. Students who plan a full-time schedule and meet an advisor early give themselves the best chance of finishing on time.
Who Accredits Utah Valley University?
UVU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), with accreditation dating from 1969. Individual programs are accredited, certified or recognised by 19 specialised accreditation agencies.
Who UVU Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: Utah residents on a budget, students who want to start with a certificate or associate degree and continue to a bachelor’s, working adults and online learners.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you want to live in a residence hall, prefer small classes, or are an out-of-state student paying the non-resident rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is UVU hard to get into? No. It has an open admission policy.
- Does UVU have dorms? College Navigator lists no on-campus housing at UVU.
- Is UVU the largest university in Utah? Yes, by enrollment, with over 48,000 students as of fall 2025.
- What conference is UVU in? The Big West Conference, with wrestling in the Big 12.