2019 Best Online Colleges in Utah

The University of Utah has been offering online bachelor’s degree completion programs for years, but in 2017 they launched their “Block U” courses, a group of general education classes that allow students to complete their full undergraduate degree online. One of the required classes for freshmen is called “global citizen,” which aims to foster community among a diverse group of online learners. UU’s online undergraduate programs include majors in economics, sustainable tourism, and social work. They also offer several master’s degrees—such as an MBA and an MS in information systems—as well as a doctorate in occupational therapy.

Early in its history, Utah State University offered distance education opportunities through correspondence courses. Since 1997, they’ve been innovators in online learning. Now, USU offers seven bachelor’s and 12 master’s degree programs fully online, as well as 12 certificates, endorsements, and associate options. Subject areas range from agribusiness to psychology to educational technology. Undergraduates can round out their undergraduate degree with a choice of 18 minors, including American Sign Language, folklore, and women and gender studies. USU offers semester-based, 7-week, and accelerated courses to provide non-traditional students with the flexibility they need to reach their academic and professional goals.

In 2018, Weber State University Online celebrated their twentieth birthday. Their distance learning program has grown over the years, with the school now offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and/or certificate programs in sixteen different subject areas. These include health information, professional sales, and criminal justice. Online courses are offered in two formats: semester-based and independent study. The latter option provides the greatest flexibility, allowing students to work at their own pace to complete the class within a six-month time frame. WSU is dedicated to providing instructional design workshops for their online faculty members, allowing them to take full advantage of the available technology. This helps ensure students receive the highest quality online learning experience.

Western Governors University is an accredited online college with students in all fifty states and on several international military bases. They offer more than 60 flexible undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the areas of business, education, information technology, and health professions. They are pioneers in competency-based learning, a system which allows students to complete courses once they’ve demonstrated mastery of the material, not once the semester or course period ends. This allows students to work at an accelerated pace, and with flat-rate tuition per term, students who work faster will save money on their degree. Programs begin on the first of each month, offering students the opportunity to start their program at any time of year.

Utah Valley University is a public institution in Orem that offers online learning for non-traditional students, whether working adults in the area or students studying from halfway across the country. Students can earn online degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s level from a school regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Subject areas include health, aviation science, business management, and emergency services. UVU also offers four certificate programs in areas such as accounting and substance use disorder counseling, as well as non-credit online classes for those pursuing careers in medical administration or IT.

Southern Utah University is a public institution located in Cedar City, Utah. They offer a variety of online undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs for students seeking flexible learning options. They are most well-known for their highly-ranked online master’s programs, which include their MAcc in accountancy, MS in cyber security and information assurance, and MM in music technology with an emphasis in either performance technology or studio technology. The school is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.