Utah State University
Utah State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Utah State University at a Glance
Utah State University is a public land-grant university and research university in Logan, Utah, United States. Founded in 1888 under the Morrill Land-Grant Acts as Utah's only federal land-grant institution, USU is one of the state's two flagship universities. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". As of fall 2025, USU enrolled 29,831 students across its statewide system, making its Logan campus the largest public residential campus in Utah, with more t…
1888
138 years old
$617M
$616.7 million (2025)
29,831
8,780 undergrad · 3,202 grad
1,200
600 acres
Prestige & value signals
Identity
How to Apply to Utah State University
Official admissions page$50
3 required
Testing policy
Is Utah State University Worth It?
Utah State University offers moderate value at $14,936/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $54,022, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 58% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 92% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
How Utah State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in UT
Ranked #41 of 83 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #3 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #4 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #5 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #6 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #41 | Utah State University | 53 | $14,936 | $54,022 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Utah State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in UT.
Best Programs at Utah State University
The highest-earning program at Utah State University is Computer and Information Sciences, General at $65,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at $18,400/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer and Information Sciences, General graduate from Utah State University earns $65,200, while a Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services graduate earns $18,400. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates carry $15,750 in median debt vs. $14,000 for Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,936/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $65,200 | $65,200 | $15,750 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $64,100 | $64,100 | $17,301 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $59,700 | $59,700 | $12,500 |
| Information Science/Studies | $58,900 | $58,900 | $19,750 |
| Civil Engineering | $55,500 | $55,500 | $18,518 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $49,000 | $49,000 | $12,881 |
| Economics | $48,900 | $48,900 | $13,124 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $48,000 | $48,000 | $14,208 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $47,200 | $47,200 | $13,000 |
| Marketing | $46,900 | $46,900 | $14,538 |
| Landscape Architecture | $44,900 | $44,900 | $22,495 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $42,600 | $42,600 | N/A |
| Special Education and Teaching | $37,400 | $37,400 | $18,969 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $36,100 | $36,100 | $16,925 |
| Plant Sciences | $35,900 | $35,900 | $20,000 |
| Biology, General | $34,400 | $34,400 | $14,323 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $33,000 | $33,000 | $11,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $32,200 | $32,200 | N/A |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $32,100 | $32,100 | $16,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,900 | $31,900 | $12,092 |
| History | $31,900 | $31,900 | $21,477 |
| Journalism | $31,800 | $31,800 | $16,828 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $31,600 | $31,600 | $14,000 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $30,200 | $30,200 | $11,125 |
| Psychology, General | $28,900 | $28,900 | $17,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $28,700 | $28,700 | $16,500 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $28,300 | $28,300 | $13,500 |
| Social Work | $28,200 | $28,200 | $19,699 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $27,900 | $27,900 | $11,786 |
| Anthropology | $27,400 | $27,400 | $17,095 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $27,300 | $27,300 | $12,250 |
| Sociology | $25,300 | $25,300 | $16,000 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $24,600 | $24,600 | $22,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $23,400 | $23,400 | $12,562 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $23,200 | $23,200 | $10,705 |
| Animal Sciences | $22,900 | $22,900 | $15,500 |
| Area Studies | $21,200 | $21,200 | $17,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $18,400 | $18,400 | $14,000 |
Similar Colleges in UT
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Logan, UT
- Student Body
- 20,272 students
- Admission Rate
- 92%
- Graduation Rate
- 58%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,936
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $54,022
- Median Student Debt
- $14,340