Tour Tuesday: University of Utah
I try to visit 30–50 college campuses each year, and starting now, I’m going to share more of those experiences here on the blog. These posts will include my personal notes, impressions, and images from each stop - some practical, some purely observational. Whether you’re a prospective student, a parent, or just someone who enjoys exploring different college environments, I hope this series gives you a better sense of what these places are really like on the ground!
The University of Utah: Innovation, Games, & Global Reach from the Wasatch Foothills
Overview
The University of Utah (“The U”) blends top-tier research, cutting-edge game design, and a strong academic foundation in a setting that’s both rugged and welcoming. With about 26,000 undergraduates, its main campus sits in Salt Lake City, Utah - a place that’s big enough to offer real opportunity, but still close to the mountains, the snow, and fresh air. The U also operates an international campus in Incheon, South Korea (Utah Asia Campus), where many of its signature programs - including the Games Division - are offered with the same curriculum and standards.
It’s an R1 research university (Carnegie Classification), investing heavily in areas like engineering, medicine, and all fields broadly, with about $600 million/year in research spend. The student body is roughly 50% in-state / 50% out-of-state, which gives a nice mix of local and more distant perspectives.
Quick Look
~26,000 undergrad students
Salt Lake City main campus; Asia campus in Incheon, South Korea
R1 research institution; ~$600M annually in research spending
Honors College requires research participation
Games Division ranked #1 among public institutions in undergraduate programs (Princeton Review), #2 for graduate programs.
Strong majors: games/game design, business, communications, urban development, engineering
Freshmen are not required to live on campus
Out-of-state/cross-state benefits: Ability to gain residency for in-state tuition; Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) applies.
Big entrepreneurship culture; available space and support for startup/business launch within the university.
Outdoor culture is real: skiing, snow opportunities; discounts on an icon pass.
Location
The main campus in Salt Lake City, Utah is beautifully set with the Wasatch Mountains as backdrop. Upper campus is where many health science buildings and residence halls are, and the lower campus tends to be more of the “action” like classes, student life, common spaces, and the vibes. The housing includes residence halls originally built for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Then there’s the Asia Campus in Incheon, South Korea, offering many of the same majors, including the Games Division. Students there benefit from a U.S. degree with global context and faculty oversight that matches the Salt Lake campus.
Admissions Information
No heavy requirement that freshmen live on campus.
About 50% of students are from in-state; 50% are from out of state.
If you’re out of state, internships through the University of Utah program can count toward residency (i.e. help with in-state tuition or status).
WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange) is in the mix - helpful for students from neighboring states.
Academic / Major Information
Here are some of the academic features, especially ones highlighted in my visit:
Games / Game Design: The Division of Games (formerly Entertainment Arts & Engineering, EAE) is a flagship program. It’s interdisciplinary, housed within the College of Architecture & Planning but drawing from computing, art, storytelling, etc.
Ranked #1 among public institutions for undergrad game design in the world; #2 for graduate programs.
Offers degrees/paths including BS in Games, BS in Computer Science with EAE emphasis, Master’s in EAE, a dual MBA/MEAE, plus minors.
Students work across software, storytelling, design, animation, etc. Projects are real, from pitch to publish; hands-on learning.
Other majors: Business, Communications, Urban Development, Engineering, and Medicine are all strong fields.
Because it’s R1, all fields have significant research opportunities, not just games or engineering.
The Honors College requires students to do research, which integrates nicely with these fields.
Entrepreneurship & Start-Up Culture
The school is consistently ranked among the top in the nation for student-launched startups, even competing with powerhouses like MIT in the number of successful ventures that come out of campus programs. Students have access to dedicated office space, mentoring, and funding opportunities through centers like the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, which blends living, creating, and learning all under one roof. Whether you’re in games, business, engineering, or health sciences, the entrepreneurial spirit here is woven directly into the academic experience.
Housing and Student Life
Freshmen not required to live on campus (good flexibility).
Residence halls include older buildings (some from Olympics legacy), especially in upper campus. Lower campus has more student-activity density and newer facilitie .
Big outdoor life: club skiing, snow activities, discounts (e.g. Icon Pass) available for students.
Entrepreneurship: strong support via university spaces and programs. Students launching startups are part of the culture.
Athletics
Athletics at the University of Utah are both competitive and deeply tied to school spirit. The U is a Pac-12 Conference school, and its teams - the Utah Utes - are a big point of pride for students, alumni, and the broader Salt Lake community.
Football: Rice-Eccles Stadium (site of the 2002 Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony) comes alive on fall Saturdays. The Utes have been a powerhouse in recent years, competing for conference titles and major bowl games.
Gymnastics: Utah gymnastics (known as the “Red Rocks”) is one of the most successful programs in NCAA history, with multiple national championships and an incredibly loyal fan base.
Basketball & More: Both men’s and women’s basketball programs have strong traditions, and other sports like skiing, soccer, and baseball round out the mix.
School Spirit: Students rally around the “MUSS” (Mighty Utah Student Section), a nationally recognized student cheering section that brings high energy to games.
Outdoors Connection: Skiing and snowboarding are actually NCAA sports at Utah - the ski team is a perennial national champion, making the most of the university’s mountain location.
Cost and Scholarships
Out-of-state/in-state split is ~50-50.
WUE helps certain out-of-state regional students get lower tuition.
Students can earn in-state residency after one full year, and be eligible for in-state tuition moving forward.
The Games Division offers scholarships related to e-games / esports. Partial game scholarships are already available; there is movement toward more full game scholarships for esports.
Fun Facts / Traditions
The Games Division is relatively young (undergrad major launched in 2017), yet has exploded in growth, becoming one of the largest majors on campus.
Student game launches: many student publish projects commercially or publicly. Building a strong portfolio before graduation is expected.
The U Asia Campus (Incheon) offers the same Games curriculum, so students in Asia can tap into this global program.
Outdoor culture + mountain proximity means students ski, snowboard, hike - it’s built into student lifestyle.
Final Thoughts: Who Would Thrive at the University of Utah
If you are a student who:
Wants a top-tier games / game design education where you can work in software, storytelling, animation, etc., and graduate with a portfolio
Likes interdisciplinary work, where art meets engineering, design meets computing
Is excited by research, or wants to combine entrepreneurship with academics
Enjoys a setting that offers both city living and mountain outdoors, adventure, snow, and seasons
May come from out of state, but want cost effective options (residency, WUE)
… then Utah is a strong fit.
If instead you’re someone looking for small class sizes, rigid and traditional major paths, or if you can’t see yourself in a climate with cold / snow, then you might want to consider a few other options.
