University of Utah

The University of Utah is Utah's flagship university, and resides in Salt Lake City. The institution is one of the biggest in the state and offers over a 100 different undergraduate majors and 92 different graduate degrees. On average, the school enrolls over 30,000 each semester, about 23,000 of them in undergraduate programs, and 7,000 in graduate programs. It is claimed to be among the top 70 research institutions of the world.

The university did not always bare the same name, as it originally opened in 1850 as the University of Deseret. This is the oldest institution of higher learning in Utah. Its current name was decided in 1892, a few years before the state actually attained statehood. Many renowned scholars attended the school, including three different Noble Peace Prize winners and two different astronauts.

The university is well-known for quite a few different programs. It has the only accredited medical school, as well as architecture program, in the entire state. The medical school is highly esteemed for a plethora of contributions to the world, including the creation of the very first permanent, artificial heart in 1982. They also proudly hold the nation's highest-ranked ballet and ballroom program. In addition to their great programs on campus, the university also offers hundreds of online classes so that non-traditional students, such as those with kids or tight schedules, can balance a full degree.

University of Utah Accreditation Details

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities has given accreditation to the University of Utah since 1933. Additionally, over 35 of its degree programs and academic departments hold specialized accreditation, including its School of Architecture, its College of Education, its Graduate School, and School of Medicine.

University of Utah Application Requirements

• For high school students enrolling to the University of Utah for the first time, they must meet the following admission requirements:
• Four years/units of English emphasizing both literature and composition.
• Two years/units of Math consisting of courses above elementary algebra.
• Three years/units of Natural Science, which must be taken in either Chemistry, Human Biology, or Physics and Biology.
• One year/unit of History concerning American history and government.
• Two years/units in the same foreign language, taken consecutively between the grades of seven and 12.
• Four additional years/units of at least two different subjects in English, Math, History, laboratory science, foreign language, social science, technology and engineering, and fine arts.

Students who do not yet meet the core high school requirements may be admissible on a conditional basis, as long as their academic profile meets a high standard. Just because those students may be admitted, does not mean that they will be able to continue their education without those common core courses. In order to avoid a registration hold, the student must complete whatever deficiencies they may have within the first 30 credit hours at the university.

Applicants are consistently evaluated through a holistic review. This ensures that students are given the best opportunity to present their individual qualifications. Through high school, continuous courses should be taken that consist of honors, AP, and IB. They should strive for a higher GPA and receive outstanding marks on their ACT and/or SAT tests. Any academic achievements or awards, academic distinctions, excellence in creative endeavors, and satisfactory completion of all high school common core requirements, will all go into, and greatly affect, the outcome of whether a student gets accepted or not.

The university also takes into account a student's personal attributes and achievements, beyond education. Proof of motivation, maturity, and integrity will hugely impact admission. Students are urged to participate in their own communities, be it clubs or organizations, and partake in volunteer charity work in the neighborhood.

Tuition and Financial Aid

While individual credit hours and mandatory fees are somewhat steep, students can benefit by taking multiple courses and lowering the cost of each hour. For example, the tuition and fees of one individual credit hour costs $1,230.04, as of 2017. However, a student taking 25 credit hours over the course of two semesters can expect to pay $6,618.50, rendering each credit hour $264.74.

Tuition rates for the newest academic school year are estimated for the student here that chooses to take 26 credit hours, and live on campus:

• Utah Resident – $7,956 (tuition) + $10,566 (room & board) = $18,522
• Out-of-State Resident – $25,198 (tuition) + $10,566 (room & board) = $35,764

Each of the colleges and programs at the university may have its own individual costs and should be taken into account with tuition fees. Students can find those fees on the tuition page of the institution's website.

University of Utah's Online Degree in Robotics Engineering

If students believe they would excel in obtaining a degree offsite, the University offers a plethora of courses that can be taken online. They must apply to the university just as any other student, and courses can even be taken by individuals who do not reside in Utah, per their own state's allowances.

There is a separate flat rate of $60 per class taken online, which pays for technological services involved in developing, delivering, and supporting the online versions of the courses on campus. Online courses follow the same schedule as the on-site classes, beginning the first day of the semester, and ending 16 weeks later. There is no cap to how many courses students can take online at one time.

There is something to fit the lifestyle and program desires of each individual student. Courses are offered within the following programs:

• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Gerontology
• Information Systems
• MBA
• Occupational Therapy

The Electrical and Computer Engineering is one of the most up-and-coming programs at the university. Their courses online give students the ability to take part in a fast-paced, captivating degree, and the graduates from this field typically go on to high-profiting careers with the Fortune 500 companies in Utah and all around the world.

Related Resource: 20 Best Affordable Online Master's in History Degree Programs

After completing the main structured courses online, some students have recently started opting to join the Bionic Engineering Program, where robotic studies are growing rapidly. The aim of the Bionics Program, and the Utah Robotics Center in general, aim to create new, innovative technologies and systems that can eventually improve everyday life. Students interested in enrolling for the next semester should apply as soon as possible to see what a future in robotics at the University of Utah has in store for them.