Trying to find the perfect degree for you can seem like a very challenging task. With so many different degree options available to students these days, it can be tough to narrow your selections down to a more manageable list. One of the best ways to narrow down your search is to decide to pursue a degree online. Far cheaper and more flexible than on-campus degrees, an online degree is a great choice for students who want to save money and have more control over their schedule. In this ranking, students will find our top nonprofit online colleges in Utah as ranked by their tuition price per credit.
Ranking the Best Online Colleges in Utah
#1. Western Governors University
Established in 1997, Western Governors University is a private university. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Western Governors University was originally created after a meeting of nineteen different United States Governors. Led by former Governor Mike Leavitt, plans for Western Governors University were officially proposed in 1995 at the Western Governors Association meeting that year. A year later, the proposal for Western Governors University was officially formalized, and each of the nineteen governors contributed $100,000 towards the founding of the school. The plan was to create an online university that would serve people across the nineteen different states represented by the Western Governors Association. In January 1997, the group signed Western Governors University into official existence. A few years later, Western Governors University received $10 million in funding from the United States Department of Education in order to form their Teachers College. Since then, Western Governors University has been able to seek out a variety of different donors that have helped Western Governors University to continue to grow over the past decade. While officially based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, Western Governors University has additional campuses in Indiana, Washington, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio. Today, Western Governors University enrolls over 91,000 students.
Featured Programs
With the motto “A New Kind of U”, Western Governors University offers its students a massive selection of different academic programs from which to enroll in. At the time of this writing, students at Western Governors University can select from dozens of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. All of these programs are offered to students entirely online. By committing fully to online learning, Western Governors University has placed among the top online colleges in Utah. Western Governors University is a private institution.
Accreditation: Western Governors University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $180/credit
Click here for a list of Western Governors University‘s online programs.
#2. Weber State University
Located in Ogden, Utah, Weber State University is a public university. Established in 1889, Weber State University was originally known as Weber Stake Academy. Founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Weber Stake Academy was named after Weber County, which was named after John Henry Weber. An early fur trader, John Henry Weber was one of the earliest settlers of Weber County. Operating as Weber Stake Academy for almost a decade, the school was renamed to Weber Academy in 1902. At this time, Weber Academy began to shift its curriculum towards teacher training. This led to the school being renamed to Weber Normal College in 1918. Focusing on teacher education, Weber Normal College soon began to expand its academic offerings to include a variety of other degree programs for students. With the expansion of its curriculum, Weber Normal College was renamed to Weber College. In the 1920s, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints decided to sever its ties with the school. Transferring to the State of Utah in 1933, Weber College operated as a junior college until 1962. It was that year that the school officially began to offer four-year degree programs and was renamed to Weber State College. In 1991, Weber State College was officially named Weber State University. Now, Weber State University enrolls almost 27,000 students.
Students at Weber State University can select from the school’s large catalog of academic programs. At this time, Weber State University offers a total of over 250 different academic programs including undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral offerings. A large number of these programs is also made available to students entirely online. By dedicating resources to online learning, Weber State University has placed among the top online colleges in Utah. Weber State University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Weber State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $270/credit
Click here for a list of Weber State University‘s online programs.
#3. Utah State University
The largest residential university in Utah, Utah State University is a public research university. Located in Logan, Utah, Utah State University was first established in 1888. Following the establishment of the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, members of the Territorial Legislature of Utah began plans to establish Utah’s first major institution of higher learning. Wanting to create something larger and more substantial than some of the smaller institutions that already dotted the territory, Anthon H. Lund called for the establishment of a college for the state. After securing what was once a former insane asylum, the Utah Legislature called for the official establishment of the Agricultural College of Utah in 1888. A year later, the Agricultural College of Utah enrolled its first class of students. In 1907, the Agricultural College of Utah made a deal with the nearby University of Utah to limit its curriculum to matters of agriculture, mechanic arts, and domestic science. However, this agreement only lasted for twenty years, at which point the Agricultural College of Utah worked to aggressively expand its course offerings. In 1929, the school was renamed to Utah State Agricultural College and later added doctoral degrees to its offerings. The school was renamed to the Utah State University of Agriculture and Applied Science in 1957 but was commonly referred to as Utah State University. Now, Utah State University is home to a student population of almost 28,000 students.
Home of the Aggies, Utah State University currently maintains a sizable catalog of academic programs for students to enroll in. Currently, students at Utah State University can select from almost 170 different undergraduate degrees as well as over 140 graduate programs. Utah State University offers many of these programs to its students entirely online. By doing this, Utah State University has ranked among the top online universities and colleges in Utah. Utah State University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Utah State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $338/credit
Click here for a list of Utah State University‘s online programs.
#4. Southern Utah University
Located in Cedar City, Utah, Southern Utah University is a public university. Established in 1897, Southern Utah University was originally known as Branch Normal School. At the time, Utah was working to build out its public education system, and one way it was doing that was by setting up a network of normal schools throughout the state. These normal schools would act as teacher training facilities to create an educated workforce of teachers who would then go on to work within the state’s public education system. Over time, Branch Normal School began to expand beyond solely offering teacher training. By 1913, Branch Normal School had transitioned from offering only teacher training to offering a variety of different degree programs. It was at this point in the school’s history that it was renamed to Branch Agriculture College. Focusing on agriculture and mechanic arts, Branch Agriculture College saw an increase in enrollment. Wanting to further its growth, Branch Agriculture College started to incorporate a variety of different degree programs into its curriculum, resulting in the school being renamed College of Southern Utah. In 1969, the school’s name was changed to Southern Utah State College and then finally to Southern Utah University in 1991. Now, Southern Utah University enrolls over 10,200 students.
With the motto “Learning Lives Forever”, Southern Utah University affords its students the opportunity to select from a large catalog of academic programs. At this time, students at Southern Utah University can choose from over eighty different undergraduate programs as well as almost ten graduate programs. Of these programs, Southern Utah University offers many of them to students entirely online. Through this dedication to online learning, Southern Utah University has ranked among the top online universities and colleges in Utah. Southern Utah University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Southern Utah University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $513/credit
Click here for a list of Southern Utah University‘s online programs.
#5. Utah Valley University
Opened in 1941, Utah Valley University is a public university. Located in Orem, Utah, Utah Valley University was originally known as the Central Utah Vocational School. In its earliest history, the Central Utah Vocational School was part of a federal work program designed to help people in Utah gain valuable skills needed to succeed in a variety of different industries. Over time, Central Utah Vocational School expanded its different programs to focus more on providing a larger amount of technical and trade skills. This resulted in the Central Utah Vocational School being renamed to Utah Trade Technical Institute. Four years after being named the Utah Trade Technical Institute, the school was renamed once again to the Utah Technical Trade College at Provo. It was at this point that the school began offering students associate degrees. Moving to Orem, Utah in 1977, the school was then renamed Utah Valley Community College ten years later. It wasn’t until 1993 that Utah Valley Community College began offering four-year degree programs, and the school was officially renamed to Utah Valley State College and then Utah Valley University in 2018 after expanding into graduate studies. Today, Utah Valley University is home to a student body of over 37,200 students.
Home of the Wolverines, Utah Valley University students can select from a large catalog of degree programs offered by the school. At this time, Utah Valley University is offering its students the ability to select from dozens of different programs, including both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Many of these programs are also offered to students entirely online. By offering these programs to students online, Utah Valley University has ranked among the top online colleges and universities in Utah. Utah Valley University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Utah Valley University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $879/credit
Click here for a list of Utah Valley University‘s online programs.
#6. Westminster College
Originally known as the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, Westminster College is a private college. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Westminster College was founded by the First Presbyterian College of Salt Lake City. Then known as the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, the school was then renamed to Sheldon Jackson College in 1897. It was at this point in the history of Westminster College that it had begun to offer students college degrees. The school was named after its primary benefactor and Presbyterian minister, Sheldon Jackson. By 1945, Sheldon Jackson College had suspended its high school courses to focus its time and resources into growing the college programs at the school. Receiving accreditation as a junior college that same year, Sheldon Jackson College had become the first accredited junior college in the state. Becoming a four-year institution, Sheldon Jackson College was eventually renamed to Westminster College. This name was chosen as a reference to the Westminster Confession of Faith, a Presbyterian branch with close ties to the First Presbyterian College at Salt Lake City. Since being renamed, Westminster College has grown to become one of the state’s top private colleges. Now, Westminster College is home to a student body of almost 3,000 students.
With the motto “For Christ and Liberty”, Westminster College has grown to offer its students a large selection of academic programs. At this time, students at Westminster College can select from almost thirty-five undergraduate degrees and nearly fifteen graduate programs. Westminster College offers a selection of these programs to students entirely online, helping it to place among the top online universities and colleges in Utah. Westminster College is a private institution.
Accreditation: Westminster College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $1,355/credit
NPCO Staff
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