University of Utah or Arizona State University (ASU)

University of Utah vs Arizona State University

University of Utah is a well-respected public university in Salt Lake City, Utah in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. It is a mid-size institution with about 26,827 undergraduate students. Utlizations are moderately competitive because University of Utah's acceptance rate is around 87%. Some popular majors are Computer Science, Psychology, Biology, Nursing, and Business Administration. The six-year graduation rate is 67%, and University of Utah alums have a median starting salary of around INR 46,00,000 (ten years post-graduation, converted from $55,239 median earnings).

Arizona State University is a large, public university with its headquarters in Tempe, Arizona in the Phoenix metropolitan area. It has a large undergraduate student body of around 141,000 students, spread across various campuses. Admissions are accessible, with ASU's acceptance rate being around 86%. Popular majors are Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Biological Sciences, and Health Professions. The six-year graduation rate stands at 57%, and the median starting salary earned by ASU graduates is approximately INR 62,93,000 (converted from a $75,000 median earnings ten years after graduation).

Overview Comparison
University of UtahArizona State University
Collegedunia Score5.4 Out of 105.5 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 201 Times Higher Education 2026
# 540 QS World University 2026
# 114 Center for World University Rankings 2025
# 173 QS World University 2026
# 201 Times Higher Education 2026
# 196 Center for World University Rankings 2025
Subject Strength# 58 for Engineering by US News 2025
# 201 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 176 for Law by Times Higher Education 2025
# 47 for Engineering by US News 2025
# 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025
# 301 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
ProgramsUG Programs -210
PG Programs -95
Doctorate Programs -72
UG Programs -66
PG Programs -114
Doctorate Programs -21
Acceptance Rate0.0 %90.0 %
Exam ScoreDuolingo-110
IELTS-6.5
TOEFL-80
GMAT-650
GRE-300
IELTS-6.5
SAT-1180
TOEFL-80
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   27943
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  30500
[For PG Program]
Average Tuition Fees   65760
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  65541
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 22446 Per Year
placement (average package)

The University of Utah has maintained a reputable and well-defined placement rate throughout the years.

Internships and jobs are available on campus at the University of Utah. Google, Biofire, Overstock, Skullcandy, Salt Lake County, and numerous others are among the top recruiters. 

Base Salaries by the Degree: 

  • Bachelor of Arts: $112,000 
  • Masters in Science: $109,000 
  • MBA: $83,000 
  • Bachelor of Science: $70,000 
  • Masters in Finance: $63,000 
  • Master (Other): $54,000

Top Recruiters are WP Carey & Co., Goldman Sachs Group, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, Intel Corp, Daimler Benz, Rubbermaid, AMERCO, HSBC, Shell oil company, Bank of America, Honeywell International.

  • MBA  : $1,23,000
  • Master of Science : $91,000
  • Bachelor Of Science : $81,000

application requirements

Academic transcripts; 2-3 LORs; SOPs/ Essays; Resume; Standardized test scores; Proof of English language proficiency; Additional requirements as per program (work experience, research proposal, writing samples, etc.)

LOR- 3 letters of recommendation, SOP- Yes, GPA- 3.53 (C+ grade)

Campuses and B-SchoolsNAW. P. Carey School of Business
CollegeDunia Reviews8.0/10 Read 10 reviews7.6/10 Read 68 reviews

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

ranking# 251 for Business by QS World University 2026
# 40 for Business by US News 2025
# 401 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 83 for Business by QS World University 2025
# 91 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 53 for Business by Financial Times 2024
exam scoresDuolingo - 115/160IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 90/120Duolingo - 105/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 60/90TOEFL - 80/120
cost to studyTotal Cost (Tuition + Living) -Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -65541
documents required#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose
application datesApr 1, 2026 (Final Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake)
May 3, 2026 (Priority Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake)
Jun 1, 2026 (Scholarship Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake)
Aug 1, 2026 (Final Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake)
Dec 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake)
Jul 1, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake)
General Facts Comparison
General FactsUniversity of UtahArizona State University
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1850
1885
Student:Faculty Ratio15.5:1
18:1:1
Male:Female1% Male, 0% Female50% Male, 0% Female
Location Facts

1,534 acres campus (including the Health Sciences complex, Research Park, and Fort Douglas) located east bank of the Salt Lake Valley, close to the Wasatch Range & approx. 2 miles east of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.


If you get overburdened with study, then you should relax in arranging a party bike with your friends and colleagues. It is one of the funniest experiences around the campus premise. 

If you are a connoisseur of art, then you must pay a visit to the ceramic art museum. Those pieces of art display the expressionism form at its best. 


Library

4 libraries: houses 4,574,050 (print plus electronic) volumes; University libraries also offer technical equipment and software, rare and unique research materials, a café, digital and analog listening stations, a technology lab, scores, books, and music periodicals.


More than 4.5 million volumes of books along with articles. It is considered to be the 34th largest library located in USA and Canada


Campus Life

100+ student clubs & societies; Campus attractions include: Natural History Museum of Utah, Kingsbury Hall, Pioneer Theatre, Red Butte Garden, Utah Museum of Fine Arts; Sports & recreation facilities include: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Ute Field, Jon M. Huntsman Center, Smith’s Ballpark, Ute Natatorium, etc. Events held: Redfest (annual fall concert), Grand Kerfuffle (annual spring campus concerts), Crimson Nights, weekend road trips, etc.


Homecoming Lantern Walk, Academic Bowl, Inferno are the major mentioning events that happened on the campus for new students. More than 1000 clubs are there for the students on basis of preferences 


Hostel-#Housing and meals - $18993
#Transportation - $3453
Famous Alumni

4 Nobel Prize winners; 22 Rhodes scholars, 2 astronauts, various Pulitzer prize winners, Ed Catmull (co-founder of Pixar, president of Walt Disney Animation Studios & Pixar Animation Studios); John Warnock (co-founder of Adobe Systems Inc.); J. Willard Marriott (founder of Marriott International); E. Gordon Gee (past president of universities including Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Brown & University of Colorado); Robert A. "Bob" McDonald (CEO of Procter & Gamble).


Reggie Jackson (baseball player), Barry Bonds (baseball player), Dough Dacey (Governor of Arizona), Phil Mickelson (professional golfer), David Spade (actor), Kate Spade (fashion designer), Jimmy Kimmel (TV host), Patt Tillman (American footballer), James Harden (basketball player), etc


City Life

Salt Lake City- Capital & most populous city in Utah; industrial banking center of USA; headquarters of the LDS Church; Popular attractions include: Temple Square that includes Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake Tabernacle, LDS Conference Center, etc; Olympic Cauldron Park, Hogle Zoo, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Golden Spike National Historic Site; Unemployment rate: 2.4% 


If you love to explore the city along with a good taste of food, then you must take a tour to Downtown Tempe. Other than magnificent cityscape, you will be getting ideas about exciting activities happening around the city. Whether it's shopping or restaurants or nightlife, you will definitely fall in love with this kind of tour. 


Weather
Comparison Notes

University of Utah vs Arizona State University

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Both Arizona State University (ASU) and the University of Utah are well-respected public research universities in the US West, although ASU more usually has a more widespread international presence. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, ASU is placed about 287th and Utah nearer 540th. As per Times Higher Education, ASU is at about 136th, and Utah at about 240th, indicating ASU's wider level of international recognition.

In subject ranking, ASU does well in Engineering, Data Science, Business, and Sustainability, with various programs ranked in the international top 50–100. Utah is strong in Medicine, Law, Engineering, and Social Sciences, and does well in U.S. News rankings for Engineering and Law. ASU's emphasis on interdisciplinary studies and innovation positions it ahead of others in applied research, and Utah has health sciences and public policy as its strengths.

General Information

University of Utah, which was established in 1850, is situated in Salt Lake City, Utah, covering a 1,534-acre campus with the Health Sciences complex and Research Park. It accommodates approximately 35,260 students with an equal number of graduate and undergraduate students. Arizona State University, which was founded in 1885, has its base in Tempe, Arizona, and is counted among the biggest public universities in the U.S., with approximately 79,593 students enrolled.

Utah provides a picturesque, research-oriented campus within reach of the Wasatch Mountains, and ASU offers an urban, lively environment with several campuses within the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Admissions to both institutions are open. Utah's acceptance rate is approximately 87.2%, and ASU's is just a bit higher at 86%. Utah's students generally have SAT scores of 1180–1398 and ACT scores of 22–29, while ASU's accepted students have an average of 1100–1320 SAT and 21–28 ACT.

ASU is test-blind, with no standardized scores used for admission, whereas Utah is test-optional. GPA, rigor of courses, and extracurricular activities are stressed by both universities.

Research Impact & Facilities

Utah's research facilities consist of the University of Utah Health System, Research Park, and Eccles Broadcast Center to support areas of excellence in biomedicine, public health, and engineering. It also contains one of the region's largest academic libraries, with more than 4.5 million volumes.

ASU's research infrastructure is vast, with locations such as the Biodesign Institute, Global Institute of Sustainability, and W. P. Carey School of Business. ASU prides itself in innovation, being ranked #1 in the U.S. for innovation by U.S. News for a few consecutive years. It dominates in climate science, urban planning, and cross-disciplinary studies.

Cost & Financial Aid

Both institutions are public and fairly priced. Utah's in-state tuition is approximately $8,175, and out-of-state tuition is $28,697. ASU's in-state tuition is $11,308, and out-of-state tuition is $31,450. Room and board are cheaper at Utah ($12,398) than at ASU ($16,091).

ASU provides more extensive financial aid, with 89% of students receiving grants, whereas Utah assists 73% of students through aid. Utah's net price average is lower ($13,341) than that of ASU ($16,401), making it more affordable in general.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

Both universities have graduates with good career prospects. University of Utah alumni have a median income of $61,300 after a decade of graduation, while graduates of ASU have approximately $52,600. Utah's alumni are well-represented in the field of healthcare, engineering, and public service, and are well connected to local employers such as BioFire, Overstock, and Skullcandy.

ASU's network of alumni is large, at more than 300,000 members, and has strong concentrations in business, media, technology, and government. Leading recruiters are Intel, Honeywell, JPMorgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs. ASU's focus on internships and experiential learning provides greater employability across sectors.