Last Updated: September 29, 2021
Utah - The Beehive State
Utah is a state in the west of the United States. The state is widely popular as a tourist destination and has a rich history. Utah gets its name from the Ute tribe, which is a Native American tribe that means people belonging to the mountains. However, the other side of the story is that the territory was once inhabited by another tribe called the Navajo Indians who were also known as "Yuttahih" which meant 'one that is higher up'. The European settlers misinterpreted the term for the Ute tribe, and hence, named the region after them.
The entire state is divided into three regions namely the Colorado Plateau, Rocky Mountains, and the Great Basin. From arid deserts to pine forests, there is something for everyone in the state to discover. Salt Lake City is the state's capital as well as the largest city in Utah. The state experiences a sub-tropical climate and has predominantly dry weather throughout the year. Some parts of the state like Salt Lake City are hugely crowded, while other parts are least inhabited. Utah has an estimated population of more than 3 million (2021).
Major Cities in Utah
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is the biggest city in Utah with an estimated population of around 198,000. It was established as a city in 1847 and is the capital city of Utah. It is a major educational hub because of the presence of several educational institutions such as the University of Utah, Westminster College, and the University of Phoenix-Utah. Salt Lake City is a vibrant city with several beautiful attractions such as the Mormon Temple, Natural History Museum of Utah, Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Liberty Park, Utah State Capitol, and Red Butte Garden.
West Valley City
With a population of about 136,000, West Valley City is the second-biggest city in Utah. It was established as a city in the year 1980 and is located in Salt Lake County. It is known for its cultural diversity as well as its affordability. The Jordan River Parkway Trail, Utah Cultural Celebration Center, Lodestone Park, USANA Amphitheatre, Clark Planetarium, Valley Regional Park, and The Utah Symphony are some of the most popular places to visit in this city.
Provo
Provo is the third-largest city in Utah with a population of roughly 117,000. Provo was named after the French-Canadian explorer Etienne Provost and was established as a city in 1849. The city is well known for the most reputed educational institution of the state, the Brigham Young University-Provo. It is also known for its booming technological sector. Popular tourist attractions are abundant in this city that includes Mount Timpanogos, Bridal Veil Falls, Springville Museum of Art, Utah Lake State Park, Provo Canyon, Provo City Center Utah Temple, and so on.
West Jordan
West Jordan is the fourth major city in the state of Utah with a population of about 116,000. It was established as a city in 1849 and was named by its Mormon settlers after the Jordan River in Palestine. West Jordan has a diverse economy with major sectors like manufacturing, healthcare services, and mining. Given that the city has considerably low crime rates, it is one of the safest cities in Utah, and also one of the most affordable. Popular sites include Bingham Copper Mine, Conservation Garden Park, West Jordan Off-Leash Dog Park, Little Cottonwood Creek, Butterfield Canyon, and so on.
Economy/Job Market
Utah is known as the 'Beehive State' pertaining to the motto of the state, that is "industry". This is to display the hard work and industrious nature of its citizens or workers. This is rightly represented through the booming economy of Utah.
- Agriculture, cattle ranching, mining, manufacturing, and service have been the major economic sectors of Utah.
- Because of livestock farming and cattle ranching, the production of hay is abundant in this state. Apart from hay, other crops grown here are corn, wheat, vegetables, cherries, and apricots.
- The largest companies headquartered in Utah are Home Credit, Autoliv, Intermountain Healthcare, Nu Skin Enterprises, MSC Group, Needle Holdings, Alsco, and SkyWest Airlines.
- The manufacturing industry has contributed a lot to the state's economy despite the downturn caused by the pandemic and accounts for more than 11.0% of the state’s GDP. Other sectors that added to the GDP growth are finance, retail, and real estate.
- Even after the major setbacks caused by the covid-19 pandemic, the economy of the Beehive State is at its best and ranks 1 on Forbes list of top states with the biggest GDP growth.
- The national unemployment rate is 5.2%, which demonstrates that Utah's unemployment rate is much lower at 2.7%.
Tuition Fee and Living Cost in Utah
The cost of living in Utah is higher than the national average, with housing costs being the highest followed by healthcare services. Transportation is the cheapest when compared to the national average. Some of the most expensive cities in Utah are Heber, Fruit Heights, Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ivins. The most affordable places to live in are Washington Terrace, Sunset, Roosevelt, Hyrum, Nibley, Price, and Roy. According to reports by the American Community Survey (ACS), the median household income for Utah is around $76,000 which is higher than the national median household income (around $66,000). The educational costs are however reasonable in this state and are extremely affordable for the in-state students. Brigham Young University-Provo is the best educational institute in the state and provides the best learning experience with a tuition fee of just $6,300 (approx.).
List of Few Major Universities/Colleges
The vast educational network of Utah draws many students from across the globe for education. Most of the colleges and universities are located in Salt Lake City. The best colleges/universities in the state of Utah are:
- Brigham Young University-Provo Founded in 1875, Brigham Young University is a private university situated in the city of Provo. It was founded by Brigham Young and is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The university offers 187 undergraduate programs, 88 master's programs, and 32 doctoral programs. Not only is it one of the best institutes of higher learning in Utah, but is also one of the cheapest private universities in the country. With more than 33,000 students and more than 1,500 faculty members, the student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1. The tuition fee charged in this institution is around $6,300 for all undergraduate students.
- University of Utah This is another reputed institution situated in the capital city of Utah, Salt Lake City. The University of Utah was founded in 1850 and was formerly known as the University of Deseret. With almost 39,000 students and more than 3,000 faculty members, the student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. The university is known for offering an excellent teaching-learning experience, and also for its high research activity. Popular programs include medicine, law, dentistry, ballet, and political science. The tuition fee for undergraduate in-state students is around $10,000 and about $30,000 for out-of-state students.
- Utah State University Utah State University is situated in Logan and was established in the year 1888. It is well known for its picturesque location amidst two mountain ranges, offering a relaxing environment for students. The university provides more than 200 academic programs and is also reputed for its excellent curriculum, research, and its engineering program. With around 33,000 students, more than 800 faculty members, the student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1. The tuition fee for undergraduate in-state students is around $9,000 and roughly $25,000 for out-of-state students.
- Southern Utah University This is a public university situated in Cedar City. It was founded in 1897 and is known for its friendly campus atmosphere, and for offering quality education at affordable rates. With more than 14,000 students and more than 200 teachers, the student-to-faculty ratio is 23:1. The university offers more than 150-degree programs out of which nursing and business are the top programs. The tuition fee for undergraduate in-state students is approximately $8,000 and around $22,000 for out-of-state students.
Scholarships/Financial Aid for Students
There are various scholarships and grants aided by the state government, federal government, or individual institutions. They may be classified into several types based on need, merit, vocation, major, and so on. Students need to submit the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before applying for any kind of scholarship or grant. Every financial aid depends on the FAFSA to determine the qualification of the candidate for grants and scholarships.
- Utah Promise Scholarship: The Utah Promise Scholarship is a popular need-based scholarship program. To be qualified for the program, the applicant must demonstrate the required level of economic need, display satisfactory academic performance, be a permanent resident of Utah, and enroll at an accredited institution in Utah on a full-time basis. The award amount is $2,000 per academic year.
- Utah New Century Scholarship Program: This is a scholarship program for high school students who are also pursuing an associate degree from an accredited institute of the state. This is a need-based as well as a merit-based scholarship. To be eligible, the applicant must be a legal citizen of Utah, secure a minimum score of 3.0 GPA, and cover 16 college credits per semester. The award amount is $1,250 for each semester.
- Utah Regents Scholarship: This is a scholarship program awarded by the Utah Board of Regents to high school graduates who display exceptional academic merit. The scholarship program includes three types of awards, namely the Base Award, the Exemplary Academic Achievement Award, and the Utah Educational Savings Plan Supplemental Award. After the evaluation of the applicants, it will be decided if they will receive one of the three awards or all of them. To be qualified, students must maintain a good score for courses including Foreign Language, History, Mathematics, English, and Science (more than 3.0 GPA), secure a minimum ACT score of 26, and plan to attend an accredited institution from Utah. The award amount varies each year from about $500 to $1,000.
- NTA Utah â€" Keith Griffall Scholarship: This is a scholarship program provided by Tourism Cares for students who are pursuing a major in travel and tourism, hospitality, or any related field. To be eligible for the program, the student must be a permanent resident of Utah and attend an accredited institution in the state, secure and maintain more than a 3.0 GPA, actively participate in extracurricular activities, and display leadership qualities. The candidate is also required to submit an essay, two letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, and proof of residency. The award amount is $2,000 per academic year.
Tourism
Even though Utah is a semi-arid region that remains dry throughout the year, it experiences extreme heat as well as cold. It is best to visit the state when it is moderately warm around April to May, and moderately cool around September and October. The state is filled with a plethora of natural wonders which are ideal for trekking, hiking, and biking activities. Popular places one must explore on visiting the Beehive State are Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Salt Lake City and the Mormon Temple, Capitol Reef National Park, Park City, Dead Horse Point State Park, and a lot more.
Universities & Colleges in Utah
*UG - Undergraduate
*G - Graduate
*in - In-state Fees
*out - Out-of-State Fees
- Recommended program (Top 250)
