Out-Of-State Students: University Of Utah's Admission Policy Explained

The University of Utah has an acceptance rate of 87% and welcomes applications from both domestic and international students. The application fee is $55 for domestic students and $65 for international students. The application deadline for the University of Utah is April 1.

International students

The University of Utah welcomes international students and offers a full range of international scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities to support their education. The university provides a comprehensive admissions process for international students, with specific guidelines for various categories, including freshmen, transfer, graduate, returning, and second bachelor's applicants.

International freshmen are students who have not previously enrolled in a regionally accredited college or university and have only taken college courses before high school graduation. The university requires these applicants to provide proof of English proficiency, such as IELTS or Duolingo test scores. Additionally, international applicants must pay a $65 application fee, which is non-refundable and must be submitted online during the application process.

International transfer students refer to those who have already attended any post-secondary institution (college or university). The University of Utah also accepts international graduate applicants who are pursuing a master's or doctoral degree after completing a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree or its equivalent.

International returning students are those who previously enrolled at the University of Utah but discontinued their studies without completing their bachelor's degree. Lastly, the university accommodates international second bachelor's applicants, who have completed a bachelor's degree and wish to pursue another bachelor's degree in a different field.

The University of Utah offers a diverse range of academic programs and opportunities for international students. It is located in Salt Lake City, surrounded by natural wonders and close to several national parks, monuments, and recreation areas. The university also provides housing options, including residence halls, off-campus housing, and an immersive homestay program for international students.

Application fees

The University of Utah does accept out-of-state students. The application fee for domestic students is $55, and for international students, it is $65. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid online through the application. Students who will be studying at the University of Utah on a visa are not eligible for need-based fee waivers.

However, the application fee may be waived for applicants who provide documented proof of a permanent address in Utah (first-time freshmen only) or military connections. In addition, students experiencing financial hardship may also qualify for a fee waiver. To qualify for a fee waiver based on financial hardship, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• You have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.
• You have received or are eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver.
• You are eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL).
• Your family's annual income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
• You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g. TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
• Your family receives public assistance.
• You live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or are homeless.
• You are a ward of the state or an orphan.
• Vocational Rehabilitation or Veteran's Administration is paying part or all of your educational expenses.
• Your familial circumstances make the application fee an excessive burden.

If you have any questions about application fee waivers, you can email admissions_feewaiver@utah.edu.

Acceptance rate

The University of Utah has an acceptance rate of 87%. The predominant consideration in the admissions decision is an applicant's academic record. The University of Utah reviews applications holistically, taking into account factors such as rigorous course selection throughout a student's high school career, cumulative unweighted GPA, excellence in academic achievement, intellectual pursuits, and creative endeavors.

The University of Utah does not have a minimum GPA requirement, but 75% of freshmen admitted to the university in recent years had an unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 or higher. The university also considers how applicants spend their time outside of the classroom, explanations of any time taken away from school, and reflections on personal strengths, talents, and experiences.

In addition to academic factors, the University of Utah also considers letters of recommendation and high school class rank. While not required for admission, SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted. Half of the applicants admitted to the University of Utah who submitted test scores have an SAT score between 1180 and 1398 or an ACT score of 22 and 29.

The University of Utah offers tuition waivers for non-residents who meet certain requirements, such as having recently been granted a U.S. permanent resident card, asylum status, or refugee status. The university also offers application fee waivers for applicants with a permanent address in Utah, U.S. military-connected students, and applicants experiencing financial hardship.

Deadlines

The University of Utah accepts applications for each admission cycle starting on August 1. To be considered for Early Action and merit scholarship consideration, applications and all required materials must be submitted by December 1. The application deadline for the University of Utah is April 1.

For students who are unable or choose not to take the ACT/SAT, a personal comprehensive scholarship review for academic scholarship awarding is available. The priority deadline for this is January 10, 2025.

The University of Utah is test-optional for freshman applications. However, ACT/SAT scores are required for home-school graduates, recipients of a high school equivalency credential, and graduates of a US high school that is not regionally accredited.

International applicants must provide proof of English proficiency. All international applicants must submit English language proficiency test scores, unless they are native English speakers from Canada (except Quebec), the Federated States of Micronesia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, the United Kingdom, or the United States.

For students who are transferring from another institution, the University of Utah does not restrict the number of credits you can transfer for admission purposes. However, the Office of the Registrar will determine how transfer credits will apply to your degree.

Tuition Waivers

Tuition waiver applications are open for specific periods, with deadlines for on-time applications and late applications. For example, for Fall 2024, the application period is from January 15, 2024, to December 13, 2024, with an on-time application deadline of July 1, 2024. Late applications submitted after this date cannot be guaranteed a decision by the tuition due date of August 30, 2024.

Scholarships

The University of Utah offers a variety of scholarships for incoming students, including merit-based and need-based scholarships. While the University of Utah does accept out-of-state students, international students studying on a visa are not eligible for merit scholarships. However, individuals who hold a permanent resident card or have Refugee or Asylee status are eligible to be considered for merit scholarships.

Merit-Based Scholarships

The University of Utah offers merit-based scholarships to incoming freshman students entering in the summer or fall terms. The merit review process is highly competitive and considers the cumulative, unweighted high school grade point average (GPA) and the level of rigor of the courses taken in comparison to the rigorous courses available at each school. While there is no GPA that guarantees a student will receive a merit scholarship, applicants with a GPA of 3.7 or higher are the most competitive. The rigor of the curriculum is determined based on the types of rigorous courses offered at the high school and the number of rigorous courses taken relative to peers.

Need-Based Scholarships

Need-based scholarships require the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who are residents of Utah, have a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.2, complete the FAFSA by March 1, are eligible for the Pell Grant, and meet the December 1 admissions application deadline will be finalists for the For Utah scholarship.

Tuition Waivers

The University of Utah also offers tuition waivers for non-residents who meet the requirements for a policy or exception for resident status. Non-resident students may qualify for a waiver of the non-resident portion of their tuition if they attended a Utah high school for three or more academic years, graduated or will graduate from a Utah high school, have not registered for college classes prior to the Fall 2002 academic school year, do not hold a current visa, and have filed or will file an application to legalize their immigration status as soon as they are eligible to do so.

Frequently asked questions