The University of Utah is a premier public research institution in Salt Lake City, known for its strong programs in engineering, business, and health sciences. As a large state university, it maintains a highly accessible admissions process, though its applicant pool has grown increasingly competitive in recent years [1]. Our analysis shows a steady surge in application volume, indicating that while the university remains largely accessible to applicants, it is attracting a much wider national and international audience.

Class of 2030 (Predicted)

Based on recent downward trends in acceptance rates and surging application numbers, we predict the University of Utah Class of 2030 acceptance rate will be approximately 84% to 85%.

This estimation is drawn from a clear multi-year pattern. Over the last three cycles, total applications have climbed rapidly from roughly 21,000 to nearly 27,000 [1]. While the university has expanded its admitted class size to accommodate this demand, it hasn't completely kept pace with the sheer volume of new applicants, leading to a steady, marginal decline in the overall acceptance rate year over year.

Note: The official Common Data Set for the Class of 2030 has not yet been published. We will update this data as soon as it is released.

Class of 2029 Admissions Statistics

For the most recently recorded admissions cycle (Class of 2029 / Fall 2025 entry), the University of Utah received a record-breaking 26,822 applications [1]. Of those, 23,062 students were admitted, resulting in an overall acceptance rate of 86.0%.

Despite the high acceptance rate, the academic caliber of the admitted class remains solid. The middle 50% of enrolled students scored between 22 and 29 on the ACT, and between 1190 and 1380 on the SAT [1]. The university does not typically rely on a waitlist to fill its freshman class, opting instead for rolling and early action decisions that give students clarity early in the cycle. The yield rate—the percentage of admitted students who actually enroll—sat at 26.0%, with exactly 6,001 students choosing to join the freshman class.

Historical Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at the University of Utah has experienced a gentle downward slope over the past few years, moving from nearly 90% to the mid-80s.

For the Class of 2027, the university accepted 89.1% of its 21,072 applicants. By the Class of 2028, that number dipped to 87.2% out of 22,996 applicants. Most recently, the Class of 2029 saw the rate fall to 86.0% amidst a massive pool of 26,822 applicants [1].

Our analysis shows that this trend is less about the university drastically changing its admissions standards and more about a rapid expansion in its popularity. As out-of-state interest increases and the university's reputation in STEM and research grows, the applicant pool is swelling faster than the physical capacity of the campus. Future applicants should anticipate this continued growth, meaning that the sheer volume of applicants is making the landscape slightly more competitive.

Conclusion

The University of Utah continues to offer an excellent balance of accessibility and rigorous academic opportunity. While application numbers are climbing and the overall acceptance rate is slightly compressing, it remains an incredibly welcoming institution for prospective students.