Mountain Adventures Meet Top-Tier Business Programs
University of Utah is an outstanding match scoring 88/100, hitting nearly every major preference. The school excels in all five academic int...
AI Recommendation
University of Utah is an outstanding match scoring 88/100, hitting nearly every major preference. The school excels in all five academic interest areas with nationally-ranked programs in business (#48), psychology (#41), strong pre-law advising (85% law school acceptance), and direct pre-PT pathway. The school spirit is exceptional with Division I PAC-12/Big 12 athletics and legendary student section. The location is ideal - urban Salt Lake City with 222 sunny days and unmatched outdoor recreation access (skiing, hiking, mountains). The Division I dance team explicitly offers walk-on tryouts, meeting this unique requirement perfectly. The primary concern is class sizes - with 17:1 ratio and large introductory classes (30-300 students), the student won't get the 'teacher support and smaller classes' desired initially, though upper-division classes improve significantly. The 25-30% commuter presence and LDS cultural influence (35-40% of students, dry campus) create a somewhat different social dynamic than typical state schools, though campus remains active. Despite these concerns, the exceptional alignment on academics, spirit, location, nature access, and dance team opportunity make this a strong recommendation.
Quick Actions
Performance vs. Average College
Score Breakdown
Top Strengths
6
- 1 All five academic interests have strong, nationally-ranked programs with excellent career outcomes (89-95% placement rates)
- 2 Exceptional school spirit with Division I athletics, 40,000+ football crowds, and legendary MUSS student section
- 3 Perfect location combining urban Salt Lake City amenities with unmatched outdoor recreation (222 sunny days, mountains, 7 ski resorts within 45 minutes)
- 4 Division I dance team with explicit walk-on tryout opportunities - highly visible, nationally competitive team
- 5 Outstanding internship opportunities through business school (75% participation) in growing Salt Lake economy with 1,000+ employer partnerships
- 6 Beautiful 1,534-acre campus with mountain backdrop, consistently rated among most beautiful campuses nationally
Things to Consider
6
- 1 Class sizes don't meet 'smaller classes' preference - 17:1 ratio with introductory classes of 30-300 students, though upper-division improves to 15-25
- 2 Teacher support may be limited initially at research university with some TA instruction - student must be proactive about office hours and academic support services
- 3 25-30% commuter population means some weekend campus exodus, though football Saturdays and activities keep campus engaged
- 4 LDS cultural influence (35-40% students, dry campus) creates different social dynamic - less traditional party culture than typical state schools
- 5 69% six-year graduation rate is lower than ideal, suggesting potential support gaps or student transfer patterns
- 6 Out-of-state tuition of $33,512 is significant financial consideration if not Utah resident
Detailed Research
Internships
Strong internship programs through Eccles School Career Center. 75% of business students complete internships. Partnerships with over 1,000 employers. Salt Lake City provides robust internship market in tech, finance, healthcare, and outdoor industry.
Avg Class Size
Lower-division classes average 30-50 students; upper-division classes 15-25 students. Some introductory lectures can have 100-300 students but include smaller discussion sections.
Teaching Style
Mix of lecture-based and applied learning. Business school emphasizes case studies, client projects, and internships. Heavy research university focus but increasing undergraduate teaching emphasis.
Academic Support
ASUU Tutoring Center, Writing Center, Supplemental Instruction for difficult courses, academic advisors in each college, Learning Success Coaches. Business school has dedicated advising team.
Career Placement
89% of graduates employed or in graduate school within 6 months. Business school reports 92% placement rate with average starting salary of $58,000.
Program Rankings
- No specific pre-law major but strong advising through Pre-Law Center. S.J. Quinney College of Law on campus (ranked #45). 85% acceptance rate to law schools for qualified applicants.
- David Eccles School of Business is AACSB-accredited and ranked #48 for undergraduate business programs (U.S. News 2024). Entrepreneurship program ranked in top 25 nationally.
- Strong program within Eccles School of Business with experiential learning focus and corporate partnerships with Adobe, Goldman Sachs, and local firms.
- Ranked #41 nationally for psychology programs (U.S. News). Strong research opportunities and clinical psychology focus.
- Exercise and Sport Science program with Pre-PT track. College of Health has strong reputation. Direct pathway to U of U's DPT program (ranked #38 nationally).
Student Faculty Ratio
17:1
Greek Life
10-12% of students in Greek life. 28 chapters total. Present but not dominant - social scene doesn't revolve around Greek life. Mix of social and service-oriented chapters.
Social Scene
Vibrant and diverse. Major city location provides concerts, restaurants, professional sports. Campus events, outdoor adventure clubs very popular. LDS influence (35-40% of student body) means less party culture than typical state schools but still active social scene. Dry campus but off-campus party scene exists.
School Spirit
VERY STRONG. PAC-12 athletics (moving to Big 12 in 2024). Football and basketball draw 40,000+ and 15,000+ respectively. MUSS (Mighty Utah Student Section) is legendary - one of best student sections nationally. Red/white game day traditions very visible. 'Utah Man' fight song and 'Utes' pride pervasive.
Retention Rate
91% freshman retention rate
Graduation Rate
69% six-year graduation rate
Weekend Activity
ACTIVE campus on weekends, though some commuter influence. Football Saturdays are huge. Proximity to world-class skiing means some students leave for mountains. Greek life, club activities, and outdoor recreation keep campus engaged. NOT a dead campus but has some commuter population (estimated 25-30% live off-campus locally).
Political Climate
Moderate to liberal campus in conservative state. Student body more liberal than surrounding area. Active political discourse and diverse viewpoints. Generally tolerant and inclusive environment.
Setting
Urban campus at base of Wasatch Mountains. 1,534-acre campus in Salt Lake City proper. Mix of historic red brick buildings and modern facilities. Mountains visible from most of campus.
Sunny Days
222 sunny days per year. Four distinct seasons. Winters cold and snowy (great for skiing). Summers warm and dry (80s-90s). Low humidity. 'Greatest Snow on Earth' nearby.
Nature Access
EXCEPTIONAL. Campus borders foothills with direct hiking/biking trail access. 7 world-class ski resorts within 45 minutes. Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Canyons 30 minutes away. Red Rock country (Moab, Zion, Arches) 3-5 hours. Outdoor recreation is lifestyle here.
Transportation
UTA light rail (TRAX) Red Line runs through campus - free for students. Free campus shuttle system. Bike-friendly. Car helpful but not essential. Walkable campus.
Nearest Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport - 10 minutes/8 miles from campus. Major Delta hub with direct flights nationwide.
Surrounding Area
Salt Lake City (200,000 city; 1.2M metro) offers urban amenities with outdoor access. Downtown 10 minutes away. Growing tech hub ('Silicon Slopes'). Arts scene, professional sports (Jazz, Real Salt Lake), music venues. More cosmopolitan than Utah stereotype suggests.
Dance Team
YES - University of Utah Dance Team. Division I, performs at football and basketball games. Nationally competitive - regularly places at UDA College Nationals. WALK-ON TRYOUTS held each spring (April/May). No dance major required. Team is highly visible and respected. Also has competitive ballroom team and multiple dance clubs.
Recreation
- Very active intramural program. Outdoor recreation is central to student life. Ski/snowboard bus to resorts on weekends.
- Student Life Center with climbing wall, pools, basketball courts, fitness equipment. Outdoor Adventures program rents gear and organizes trips. 50+ intramural sports. Extensive club sports including skiing, snowboarding, cycling, climbing.
Food Quality
Above average. Multiple dining halls including Heritage Commons (main), Peterson Heritage Center. Retail dining includes Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Einstein Bros, Starbucks. Meal plans flexible. Salt Lake City dining scene accessible. Student ratings: 7/10.
Campus Beauty
Beautiful campus with stunning mountain backdrop. Red brick historic buildings mixed with modern glass structures. Fort Douglas historic district on campus. Mature trees and green spaces. Presidential Circle is iconic. Mountains provide dramatic scenery. Consistently rated among most beautiful campuses.
Housing Quality
Good to very good. Guaranteed housing for freshmen. Honors dorms available. Newer residence halls include Lassonde Studios (entrepreneurship-focused, apartment-style) and Officer's Circle (suite-style). Traditional dorms are older but functional. Most upperclassmen move off-campus to nearby apartments.
Dance Team Contact
Dance Team Coach: Kenzie Killpack. Contact through Spirit Squad office: (801) 581-8849 or utahspiritsquad@utah.edu. Department of Modern Dance: (801) 581-8231.
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