Life in Utah

The University of Utah’s College of Engineering is a premier research and educational institution that is developing cutting-edge technologies for the future. From biosensors, neural engineering, computer visualization, advanced graphics and one of the world’s top video game development programs to robotics and renewable energy, the College is continually pushing the limits of what can be developed and commercialized. It’s also an institution run by award-winning faculty members dedicated to each student’s educational progress.

The College is committed to turning ideas into products that change the world. The College of Engineering is the largest contributor of new startups at the University of Utah. Since 2006, the college’s faculty and students have founded more than 60 startup companies from university research. Thanks in large part to our contributions, the University of Utah itself was ranked as the top research university in the nation in commercializing technology innovations, according to the Milken Institute’s 2017 ranking of Best Universities for Technology Transfer.

We’re constantly meeting the needs of a growing Utah economy that is increasingly looking for engineers to power the state’s robust technology sector. Through fall 2017, we have awarded 995 degrees, more than doubling our output of graduates in the last 15 years. Meanwhile, the College continues to invest tens of millions of dollars in research, reporting $79.4 million in research funding in 2016, a 217 percent increase since 2002. The number of our faculty has also skyrocketed with 213 world-renowned tenure-track faculty members in multiple engineering disciplines, nearly double the size just 15 years ago.

Thanks to one of the healthiest economies and fastest-growing tech sectors in the country, Utah and Salt Lake City have become a hotbed of activity. In recent years, Utah and Salt Lake City have received countless accolades for their economic prosperity.

Utah is widely praised for its scenic beauty. Recreational activities like mountain biking, fishing, snowboarding, and skiing at eight world-class resorts are just a short drive from the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City. Utah also boasts five national parks and more than 40 state parks that provide opportunities like hiking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting and camping. Meanwhile, Salt Lake City is home to professional sports teams such as Real Salt Lake and the Utah Jazz as well as the University of Utah’s nationally-ranked football, basketball and gymnastic teams. There also are cultural gems to experience such as the celebrated Sundance Film Festival, Ballet West, the Utah Symphony, and one of the nation’s largest and most successful Comic Con gatherings. And our reputation is only growing.