New report ranks BYU, Utah top value schools in the state

New report ranks BYU, Utah top value schools in the state

(Jaren Wilkey/BYU)


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SALT LAKE CITY — When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck with your college education, BYU sits at the top of the Utah pack.

That's according to a new study by SmartAsset, a New York-based financial tech company, that ranked the nation's universities based on factors such as average salary out of school, average debt and average scholarships and grants.

When it comes to Utah schools, BYU is historically known for being a great value, thanks to low annual tuition costs — just $4,710 for undergrads — and high starting salary — $50,000, according to the study.

The University of Utah ranked second among Utah schools in terms of value with tuition at $7,139 and average starting salary at $46,300. Utah State rounded out the top three with students paying $5,940 a year in tuition and making an average of $44,400 following graduation.

Weber State was in the fourth slot, followed by Westminster, Southern Utah University and Utah Valley University. While Weber fell behind three other schools in terms of overall value, it also produced the second-highest earning graduates in the state with Wildcats making $48,800 annually.

The U. took the top spot among the pack in terms of student retention with 88 percent of students re-enrolling after their first year, according to the report. BYU had an 85 percent student retention rate, while Westminster came in third with a retention rate of 75 percent.

Top Value Schools in Utah
SmartAsset Rankings:
  1. Brigham Young Unversity
  2. University of Utah
  3. Utah State University
  4. Weber State University
  5. Westminster College

In all, Utah's schools averaged an annual tuition of $13,414, with graduates taking jobs paying an average of $45,663 a year, SmartAsset reports.

Nationally, BYU ranked 27th for affordability and return on investment, while the University of Utah landed at 175th and Utah State landed at 233rd.

SmartAsset also factored in student living costs to "capture the true cost of attending a school," according to its methodology explanation.

"We weighted each of the five factors equally to come up with a ranking of schools in our analysis," SmartAsset explained.

Which college in the country gives its students the best education for the best value? The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, according to the report.

Students pay an annual $12,994 in tuition and make an average of $54,000 upon graduation. Additionally, the school boasts a 97 percent student retention rate.

Top Utah Schools Based on Starting Salaries (Courtesy: SmartAsset)
Top Utah Schools Based on Starting Salaries (Courtesy: SmartAsset)

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