University of Utah

Located in the bustling urban landscape of Salt Lake City, the University of Utah stands as the state's flagship institution and the region's hub of higher education. Also known as “the U,” we are a Tier 1 research university and a member of the exclusive Association of American Universities. Home to the state's only academic medical center, we offer world-class health care education and patient care. Driven by our goal to become a top 10 public university with unsurpassed societal impact, we're committed to making social, economic and cultural contributions that improve the quality of life throughout the state, the nation and the world.

History

After early settlers came to the area, an ambitious vision took shape to establish an institution of higher learning that would leave an indelible mark on the western frontier. And on February 28, 1850, the first state university west off the Missouri River opened as the University of Deseret. Classes were held in private homes and tuition was $8 per quarter. In 1884, the university found its permanent home on the east benches of the Salt Lake Valley, and in 1892 it was renamed the University of Utah. This rich history of trailblazing spirit and growth has shaped our institution into the esteemed university it is today.

OUR MISSION

The University of Utah fosters student success by preparing students from diverse backgrounds for lives of impact as leaders and citizens. We generate and share new knowledge, discoveries, and innovations, and we engage local and global communities to promote education, health, and quality of life. These contributions, in addition to responsible stewardship of our intellectual, physical, and financial resources, ensure the long-term success and viability of the institution.

Inspire

We inspire lifetime success through learning.

Our campus is more than a classroom; it's an experience, a playground where everything is possible. We focus on student achievement knowing that our efforts will help increase our students' lifetime earnings, enhance their social mobility, and help them live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. We strive to achieve a healthy, humane campus culture for all students. The U has 18 colleges and schools and nearly 100 departments. We also serve as the state's dental school, law school, medical school, pharmacy school, comprehensive cancer institute, and mental health institute.

Innovate

We generate discoveries that improve lives and change the world.

The University of Utah faces an unprecedented era of opportunity. We are located in the middle of the nation's most vibrant economic region—the Intermountain West—in the fastest-growing state in the U.S., with the nation's fastest-growing economy, in a community increasing in cultural diversity. We are not on the periphery, we are at the very center. Since 2000, the U has launched 360+ companies and more than 750 products, generating 27,000+ life science jobs. The co-location of a comprehensive research university and an academic medical center makes the U one of just 12 equivalent institutions in the country.

SERVE

We serve our surrounding communities and all of Utah.

The U is enmeshed in the community we serve—cultivating community connections, building trust, caring for patients, uprooting injustices, and transforming the future of the state we call home. That's why the state arboretum (Red Butte Garden), the Natural History Museum of Utah, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Utah Presents, Pioneer Theatre Company all call our campus home. We embed ourselves in the social, economic, health care, and cultural fabric of Utah and fulfill our responsibility as a model public university with a goal to impact the lives of all 3.5 million Utahns.