🎯 Parent/student verdict

Likely

Accessible for most applicants. Major value play for in-state residents.

✅ Best for

  • Solid academic profile (SAT 1060–1300 · ACT 20–28 middle 50% + typically a 3.7+ unweighted GPA in rigorous coursework)
  • In-state residents (tuition ~$9,228 — major value play)
  • Research-oriented students (R1 — top tier of federal research funding)

🎯 The reality

  • Bottom-quartile academic profile if: SAT below 1060, or ACT below 20, or unweighted GPA below ~3.50 (admitted-class quartiles; GPA floor is a calibrated heuristic where CDS not yet on file)
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.7× the in-state rate

Verdict is composed from this college's structured data (admit rate, SAT bands, net price by income, Carnegie classification, scholarship grids) using transparent rule thresholds — not a chat-bot's opinion.

🏛️ Institutional snapshot

What kind of college is this?

Carnegie classification
R1: Doctoral - Very High Research Activity
Total enrollment
20,272
20,000 and above
In-state tuition
$9,228
sticker, before aid
Out-of-state tuition
$24,802
+$15,574 vs in-state
Admit rate
93.6%
Accepts the majority
SAT middle 50%
1060–1300
EBRW + Math composite
ACT middle 50%
20–28
composite
Test policy
Test-optional
2023
10-yr earnings
$54,022
median, after entry

Source: federal IPEDS Admissions 2023 for scores + admit rate; federal College Scorecard (20260606 vintage) for earnings + outcomes. SAT/ACT bands are the 25th–75th percentile of enrolled submitters.

📊 Outcomes & cost

What graduates actually earn, finish, and owe.

Federal College Scorecard data. Earnings are median annual income measured years after entering. Debt is for federal-aid borrowers only (cash-pay students aren't counted).

Earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$44,822
Earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$54,022
4-year completion
59%
Median debt (completers)
$14,340
Cost of attendance
$21,654
sticker price, not net
Pell-eligible students
26%

📚 What students study here

Most popular majors at Utah State University

Top 5 fields of study by bachelor's degrees awarded (most recent IPEDS Completions). Use this to see what Utah State University actually graduates — not just what it markets.

1. Social Sciences
474 degrees · 23.2%
Typical career outcomes
Economist $118k Political Scientist $130k Sociologist $93k Market Research Analyst $75k
Economics + poli sci sub-disciplines pay much more than sociology + anthropology.
2. Business, Management, & Marketing
460 degrees · 22.5%
Typical career outcomes
Financial Analyst $100k Management Analyst (Consultant) $99k Marketing Manager $158k Accountant / Auditor $80k
Broad set of corporate roles. Finance + consulting pay top, accounting + HR pay middle, sales spread is wide.
3. Education
445 degrees · 21.8%
Typical career outcomes
Elementary School Teacher $64k Secondary School Teacher $65k School Principal $101k Special Education Teacher $66k
Teaching is the largest path. Salary depends heavily on district + state.
4. Health Professions
394 degrees · 19.3%
Typical career outcomes
Registered Nurse $86k Physician Assistant $130k Pharmacist $136k Physical Therapist (post-DPT) $100k
Highest-paying group on this list, but most careers require additional training beyond a 4-year degree.
5. Engineering
268 degrees · 13.1%
Typical career outcomes
Mechanical Engineer $100k Electrical Engineer $107k Civil Engineer $93k Chemical Engineer $112k
Engineering majors land high-paying technical roles. Top-earning sub-disciplines: petroleum, chemical, computer engineering.

Source: IPEDS Completions (C2023_a), bachelor's-level first majors aggregated to 2-digit CIP family. Share is of these top 5 only — not all majors.

💼 Top programs by earnings

Highest-earning majors at Utah State University

Median earnings 4 years after entry, by major (CIP code). From the federal College Scorecard program-level outcomes.

Major (CIP) Credential Cohort 1-yr earnings 4-yr earnings
Computer Engineering. Bachelor's Degree 16 $111,527
Computer and Information Sciences, General. Bachelor's Degree 127 $71,335 $110,414
Air Transportation. Bachelor's Degree 51 $33,142 $103,989
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. Bachelor's Degree 38 $74,055 $94,576
Physics. Bachelor's Degree 9 $93,461
Public Health. Bachelor's Degree 15 $76,451 $93,161
Mechanical Engineering. Bachelor's Degree 128 $69,406 $89,901
Information Science/Studies. Bachelor's Degree $61,896 $88,289
Marketing. Bachelor's Degree 106 $54,562 $87,905
Accounting and Related Services. Bachelor's Degree 109 $57,481 $87,050

For full college-vs-major comparison + ROI leaderboards, see /college-outcomes →

🤖 AI program signal

AI + computing education at Utah State University

CS degrees (annual)
138
CIP 11.0701 + 11.0101

Full multi-lens comparison: /ai-colleges →

⚖️ Compare side-by-side

Utah State University vs. another college

Type the college you want to compare against. We'll show admit rates, net price by your family income, top majors with career outcomes, and merit aid — all in one side-by-side view.

Alternatives to Utah State University

Matched not just by selectivity, but by strategic goal — what a family actually decides on.

🏆 Better merit-aid options
These similar-selectivity schools have published auto-merit grids that Utah State University doesnt — your kids scores could unlock real scholarship dollars.
University of Alabama in Huntsville
AL · Public
39 auto-merit scholarships on file
Texas Tech University
TX · Public
31 auto-merit scholarships on file
The University of Alabama
AL · Public
23 auto-merit scholarships on file
Mississippi State University
MS · Public
19 auto-merit scholarships on file
University of Alabama at Birmingham
AL · Public
19 auto-merit scholarships on file

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