Utah State University

utah state university accreditation

Degree Programs Available at Utah State University

Utah State University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Psychology Online.

Utah State University offers several degree options that are available both online and on campus or students may choose a hybrid version using both online and on-campus methods of learning.

Utah State University has seven degree-granting colleges as well as the Huntsman School of Business which offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The University offers an expansive, multidisciplinary experience and professors who are passionate about helping students learn.

Utah State University offers concurrent enrollment to local high school students. While still in high school, students may enroll in Utah State University courses in order to receive college credit that may also be applied toward high school credit requirements. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher as well as an ACT score of 22 or higher. Courses available are those that the student will take during the first year of college.

The colleges and schools at Utah State University include:

  • Agriculture and Applied Sciences
  • Caine College of the Arts
  • Education & Human Services
  • Engineering
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Huntsman School of Business
  • Natural Resources
  • Science

The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Utah University offers a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness. The program covers farming, livestock, food production, human nutrition and other fields related to agriculture. Students gain an understanding of financing, marketing, and management of agriculture, gaining a solid foundation in business and agriculture. The program is available both online and on campus. Courses required may include Agricultural Economics, Natural Resources and Regional Economics, Firm Finance and Records Analysis, as well as Principles of Management Information Systems. Students may concentrate their studies in:

  • Ag Finance
  • Ag Marketing
  • Farm and Ranch Management
  • International Agribusiness

The Caine College of the Arts offers a Bachelor of Arts in Art History that emphasizes the study of human visual expression over history. Students learn to describe the physical, visual, social and philosophical dimensions of art. Students can choose from a track that focuses on developing knowledge in the field of art history or one that focuses on linking historical art study to a particular theme or period. Students are provided hands-on research experience, museum internships and the ability to study abroad. The program is only available on campus. Courses required may include Survey of Western Art, Foundations of Modern Civilization, Two-Dimensional Design, Research Seminar in Art History and Directed Reading and Research in Art History.

The Huntsman School of Business offers a Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Extension. The program covers family studies, textiles, nutrition, and other subjects related to family and consumer needs. Although the program does not lead to teaching licensure, it provides students with the skills necessary to teach, plan, evaluate and research fundamentals of family and consumer science. Students gain a real-world understanding of the industry, learning psychological statistics, research methods, adult education, principles of extension education and more. The program is available online and on campus.

Popular online degree programs at Utah State include the A.S. in Criminal Justice, B.S. or B.A. in Psychology, MBA, MPH, and more.

About Utah State University

The Agricultural College of Utah was founded in 1888 under the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act of 1862. As part of the act, signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln, the federal government provided funding in the form of land grants in order to establish an institute of higher learning in each state and territory. The Agricultural College of Utah was open to both men and women from its establishment and the first student enrolled at the school was a 14-year old girl, Vendla Bernston. In 1894, eight students received degrees in business, the first graduating class at the new school.

In 1907, legislators attempted to merge the Agricultural College with the University of Utah in fear that the agricultural school will slow the progress of the university. The measure failed but another bill, limiting the curriculum at the Agricultural College to domestic science, agriculture and mechanical arts, passed. This bill led to the elimination of many popular programs in the arts, humanities, and education, despite the fact that the Morrill Act required the school to offer such programs.

In 1914, the Utah Cooperative Extension Service was founded as part of the land-grant mission. The Extension Service brought research-based knowledge to farmers around the state. The campus temporarily became a military institution in 1918 with enlisted students housed in barracks placed on campus due to the outbreak of World War I. In 1927, all curriculum restrictions which had been established in 1907, were lifted and, the following year, the School of Education was established. In 1929, the school became the school was renamed Utah State Agricultural College.

World War II had an impact on the campus as enrollment dropped from more than 3,600 students in 1941 to only 861 by fall in 1944. The Field House was modified into an Army Specialized Training Program to help with the war effort. In 1957, the school became Utah State University.

Today, there are almost 28,000 students enrolled at Utah State University. Washington Monthly ranks the school fifth in its National Universities Ranking and US News & World Report reports that the school has the fifth-best online bachelor’s programs in the country.

Utah State University Accreditation Details

Utah State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Accreditation is a voluntary process in which Utah State University undergoes periodic evaluation to confirm they offer programs that are of the highest quality based on criteria developed by the Commission. It also indicates that the school has the resources to meet its stated goals and objectives. Programs at the school are also accredited by the following industry-specific organizations:

  • Accrediting Board of Engineering and Technology
  • American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
  • American Association of Museums
  • American Chemistry Society
  • American Music Therapy Association
  • American Political Science Association
  • American Psychological Association
  • Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
  • Association to Advance College Schools of Business
  • Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education
  • Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
  • Commission on English Language Program Accreditation
  • Council on Aviation Accreditation for Aviation Technology
  • Council for Interior Design Accreditation
  • Council of Social Work Educators
  • Council on Rehabilitation Education
  • Council on the Education of the Deaf; Institute of Food Technologists
  • Landscape Architecture and Accreditation Board
  • National Association of School Psychologists
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • National Association of Schools of Theater
  • National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
  • National Council on Family Relations
  • National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  • National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission
  • National Recreation and Park Association
  • Society of American Foresters
  • Society of Range Management
  • Teaching Education Accreditation Council

Utah State University Admission Requirements

Undergraduate applicants must provide official high school transcripts as well as official ACT or SAT scores. Applicants who have earned college credit after high school graduation must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

Graduate applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. They must provide official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended and must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits. They also must score above the 40th percentile on the GRE or GMAT. Three letters of recommendation are also required.

Applicants who wish to complete the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness who are transferring from another college or university must have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applicants to the Bachelor of Arts in Art History who are transferring must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Applicants to the Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education must submit official GRE or GMAT scores.

Utah State University Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition at Utah State University is $950.88 per credit hour for Utah residents and $2,249.16 per credit hour for non-residents. Graduate tuition is $1,056 per credit hour for residents and $2,415.29 for non-residents.

Financial aid is available and all students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) regardless of income as some aid is need-based while other assistance is merit-based. Students may be offered grants and scholarships which do not have to be repaid after graduation. Financial aid packages may also include loans that must be repaid. On-campus students may also be offered work-study programs.

Graduate students attending on campus may be offered assistantships or fellowships. Loans are the primary financial aid offered to graduate students who are responsible for finding grants and scholarships on their own.

Since it was founded, Utah State University has grown from a rural college in the Utah mountains to a thriving research university, providing students with a wide range of academic opportunities.