Best College ROI in Ut 2026
18 colleges in Ut analyzed for return on investment. Ensign College leads with a ROI Score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ut has 18 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 7 public institutions and 11 private ones. Across the 18 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $26K and earn $84K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Ut colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Ensign College (median $95K on Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management). The lowest median debt comes from Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences at $4K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ut
Ensign College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ut's ROI rankings on its Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $19K in median debt.
Neumont College of Computer Science
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer Software and Media Applications. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Western Governors University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $19K.
Top 18 Colleges by ROI in Ut
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ensign College(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 2 | Neumont College of Computer Science(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Western Governors University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 4 | University of Utah(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 5 | Utah Tech University(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 6 | Westminster University(private) | Computer Science | $25K | $95K | A (94) |
| 7 | Weber State University(public) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (94) |
| 8 | Utah State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (94) |
| 9 | Brigham Young University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $20K | $95K | A (94) |
| 10 | Utah Valley University(public) | Computer Science | $26K | $95K | A (92) |
| 11 | Snow College(public) | Computer Engineering | $19K | $92K | A (85) |
| 12 | Southern Utah University(public) | Mechanical Engineering | $20K | $92K | A (84) |
| 13 | Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $4K | $62K | A (82) |
| 14 | Midwives College of Utah(private) | Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services | $24K | $62K | B (77) |
| 15 | Eagle Gate College-Layton(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $38K | $62K | B (74) |
| 16 | Eagle Gate College-Murray(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $45K | $62K | B (72) |
| 17 | Provo College(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $50K | $62K | B (70) |
| 18 | Nightingale College(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $51K | $62K | B (69) |
College debt and earnings data for Ut is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ensign College has the best ROI in Ut with a score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $19K in median debt.
Across 18 Ut colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $26K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $84K.
Ensign College graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ut has 18 colleges in our database (7 public, 11 private). Of the 18 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).