MBA Programs in Utah Overview

Utah’s economy is growing: According to IBISWorld, from 2017 to 2022, the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annualized rate of 1.3% per year. Its trailing GDP over that same period ranked Utah highest of all 50 states.

IBISWorld also reports the three sectors that contributed the most money to Utah’s economy in 2022 were manufacturing; real estate and rental and leasing; and professional, scientific and technical services. These three industries accounted for 38.1% of the state’s GDP that year.

Utah’s growing economy may signal increased demand for professionals with business knowledge. You can advance your career and explore new industries by pursuing an MBA degree in Utah. Roles this graduate-level credential can help you qualify for include general and operations managers, accountants and auditors, and project management specialists.

Eight schools offer MBA programs in Utah. These programs have different learning modalities, including fully in-person and fully online. Some professional MBAs let you take all of your classes in the evenings, while others meet only during weekends.

In this guide, we explore three of Utah’s MBA programs and careers MBA graduates can pursue in the state.

Sources: U.S. Census, Current Results, NCES, Statista

Earning your business degree in Utah can help you make networking connections with companies and other professionals in the state, especially useful for students who plan to work in Utah after graduation.

Several Utah MBA programs only admit small classes each year: For instance, BYU’s class of 2023 was composed of only 145 enrollees, while the entering class of full-time MBA students at the University of Utah comprised just 50 learners in 2022. Smaller programs often mean more opportunities for individualized instruction and career insights from faculty.

If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU’s MBA is the only program of its kind for future Mormon business leaders. In addition to discounted tuition, LDS MBA students at BYU can also apply for funding like the Cardon International Sponsorship.

Prospective colleges and universities on your list should hold institutional accreditation. Accreditation verifies a school’s academic quality and accountability. Many colleges and universities in Utah hold institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Some business schools in Utah also undergo programmatic accreditation — an optional process that evaluates how well a program’s curriculum prepares graduates for careers in the field. Some institutions, including the University of Utah, hold business programmatic accreditation from AACSB International.

MBA degrees can help workers qualify for advanced roles and higher salaries. However, paying for these degrees can be costly, especially if you choose an out-of-state or private school.

Financial aid options like scholarships, fellowships, grants, and loans can help defray your educational expenses. Scholarships, fellowships, and grants do not require repayment, but student loans require repayment with interest, so consider your options carefully.

Some schools may award financial aid automatically with your acceptance, while other schools may require a separate application to qualify you for assistance.

Utah maintains a scholarships and aid programs page to connect students to funding opportunities. Prospective MBA enrollees can also investigate each institution’s internal pages related to fellowships, scholarships, and other aid.

Source: NCES

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the average graduate tuition for public schools is lower than the average graduate tuition at private and for-profit institutions. However, in-state tuition is more affordable than out-of-state tuition, though some online programs at public institutions offer in-state tuition to all learners regardless of residency status.

World Population Review‘s cost of living index defines “cost of living” as how much it costs to pay for necessities like food, shelter, transportation, and healthcare in a state. This index scores the national baseline as 100, so states scoring below 100 are less expensive than average and states above 100 are more expensive than average.

Utah’s cost of living — 99 — is slightly below the national average, with expenses like groceries, utilities, and housing all likewise falling below the national score.

In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked Utah the top state in the country overall as well as the number one state in its economy rankings. Provo, Ogden, and Salt Lake City, some of Utah’s largest cities, also ranked in the top 25 of Forbes’ “The Best Places For Business And Careers” report in 2019.

The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity in Utah has named sectors like life sciences and healthcare, financial services, software and IT, and aerospace and defense as targeted industries, shifting resources toward the development of these areas of business. Many of these industries employ professionals who hold MBAs.

Below, we explore common careers for MBA-holders in Utah.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The data in the table above reveals many business careers in Utah offer average salaries below the national averages for these roles. However, this may be partly explained by Utah’s overall lower-than-average cost of living. Furthermore, these wages each exceed the average salary for all workers in Utah, which the BLS reports was $57,360 in 2022.

According to the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, the majority of graduates from their four MBA programs experience beneficial outcomes after earning their degree, including increased salaries and promotions. These positive returns on investment may signal that employers value job candidates with advanced credentials from this institution.

The cost of an MBA in Utah varies by school. Utah residents pay less than out-of-state students at public universities. LDS enrollees at Brigham Young University’s program pay less if they are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the most selective Utah postsecondary institution is Brigham Young University (BYU), which only admits 59% of undergraduate applicants. Note that this data does not cover master’s programs, so admission rates for MBAs may differ.

Utah has no historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), though the University of Utah and Utah State University have partnership agreements with HBCUs around the country.