Thank you for considering Utah Valley University as the university for you or your child to attend. To help you in this process, we’ve compiled the answers to some top questions to help you decide whether UVU is the place for you or your child. We hope to see you soon!
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Here is some must-have information about UVU’s campus, culture, degree offerings, and more, so you can feel confident that you or your child are making the right decision in attending UVU.
UVU has seven campus locations — Orem Campus, West Campus, Lehi Campus, Payson Campus, Vineyard Campus, Provo Airport Campus, and Wasatch Campus. Orem Campus is the main UVU campus where most classes, offices, and other resources are located.
Our campuses are carefully planned, with our Orem Campus featuring interconnected buildings that protect students from the heat of summer and the cold of winter as they navigate campus without having to step outside.
Elevators, ramps, and push buttons to open doors are located throughout campus to help make it accessible for users of wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
To see campus for yourself, we offer campus tours in three formats: guided in-person, self-guided in-person, and virtual. Visit the Explore Campus webpage for more information about these tours. Contact the Admissions office directly for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) tour accommodations.
UVU doesn’t have university-operated on-campus dorms, as this would significantly increase our tuition rate. Instead, we encourage students to find housing that works for them and their needs.
While we don’t endorse any particular housing complex, we do keep a running list of housing resources — including a housing map and housing booklet — to help students in their search. We also offer several housing scholarships.
To allow even more flexibility in housing and commuting options to campus, all UVU students, faculty, and staff are eligible to receive free UTA passes with their UVID cards. Dependents and spouses of UVU students and employees are also eligible to receive free UTA passes. Passes allow the use of:
See UTA’s Schedules and Maps webpage to plan your trip.
For even more flexibility, we also offer both hybrid and fully online course and degree options, in addition to our traditional in-person offerings.
For more information, visit the Housing webpage or contact our Department of Housing and Residence at [email protected] or (801) 863-8659.
At UVU, we truly mean it when we say it’s “A Place for You.” We strive to make the UVU experience as accessible as possible for every student from every background who chooses UVU for their education.
We have a wide range of events, activities, and clubs for students to attend and participate in.
Students can also gain leadership experience and get involved on campus by volunteering with the Utah Valley University Student Association (UVUSA), the Center for Social Impact, or other organizations on campus.
At UVU, one of our core values is student success. Combining this value with our dual-mission model and open-admissions policy, we understand that many different factors go into helping our students succeed.
We offer multiple resources to help students with:
View our Resources for Students and Parents directory for a list of resources we offer to help students.
As part of UVU’s dual mission to offer both the flexibility of a community college and the academic rigor of a teaching university, we offer four degree options: certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees.
These degree options are stackable and gradually increase in academic rigor, time commitment, and prestige. The higher the degree earned, the more career options and income increases available. Many courses and degrees are available in person, online, or hybrid.
To view the full catalog of degrees and courses that UVU offers, view the Academic Catalog.
In fall 2023, 28% of our students were adult learners (2023 Fact Book), and we have been hard at work developing programs and resources to help you be successful as you consider adding school to your list of responsibilities.
We have a growing list of online degrees and courses to offer you the flexibility you need for your busy schedule.
We also offer stackable credentials through Career Pathways to make your path through school as efficient and rewarding as possible.
And for degree-seeking parents with young children, we have a high-quality on-campus child care center.
After learning as much as you can about the college experience, degree offerings, and available support services, the next step is preparing to attend. Starting college is a huge decision, whether it’s for the first time ever or as a returning student, and there’s much to prepare before you even hit the “Apply” button. Here are some tips on how to start preparing for your UVU experience.
For students in grades 7-12 who may be low-income and/or first-generation students (the first in their family to graduate with a post-secondary degree), UVU has an Educational Talent Search (ETS) program offering academic, career, and financial counseling to help bridge the gap to college success. If you think your student may qualify, they can apply on the TRIO ETS webpage.
For students who aren’t interested in taking a full course to prepare for college, TRIO Support Student Services has developed a step-by-step for college admissions, scholarships, and ACT test prep.
UVU offers local students at participating high schools the option to attend their high school and UVU simultaneously. Our concurrent enrollment program provides students with access to, preparation for, and the experience of higher education at a steeply discounted price of $5 per credit hour.
Classes that students pass will automatically count as college credit, and students who are highly engaged in the program can even graduate high school with an associate degree in hand.
For information about admissions, registration, deadlines, available courses, and more, visit the Concurrent Enrollment webpage or contact the Concurrent Enrollment office at [email protected] or (801) 863-8376.
Many high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which are advanced, college-level courses provided by The College Board. This can be a good option for high school students to prepare for the academic rigor of college, but AP courses don’t directly translate into college credits the same way that concurrent enrollment courses do.
At the end of the course, students can pay to take the course’s AP exam for the opportunity to earn college credit. Scores are awarded on a 5-point scale, and each university has its own policy for which exams and scores they’ll accept.
View our Advanced Placement (AP) Transfer Table to see which AP courses UVU accepts.
At UVU, we have an open-admissions policy, meaning we don’t require an ACT or SAT score to apply. However, we do offer several academic-merit-based scholarships (including the four-year, full-tuition Presidential Scholarship) that are awarded based on GPA and submitted ACT or SAT scores. See the end of our We accept both ACT and SAT test scores, so students can take whichever test they prefer.
The ACT and SAT are standardized tests designed to show colleges how prepared students are for higher education by measuring their knowledge and skills in certain academic areas. The tests are offered multiple times throughout the year in a timed and proctored environment and require registration, often months in advance. High school students are encouraged to take one or both tests as juniors and seniors, but the tests are also available for older adults.
It can be difficult to tell which test to take, as the ACT and SAT are very similar in design, purpose, and time requirements. The best way to tell which test is best for your student is for them to take an official practice test from The College Board (the creators of the SAT) and The ACT. But for a quick overview of the key differences between the tests, see PrepScholar’s article ACT vs SAT: 11 Key Differences to Help You Pick the Right Test.
Starting or returning to college as an older student presents some unique challenges that can be difficult to prepare for. At UVU, our unique dual-mission model and open-admissions policy are in place to help students from all backgrounds succeed in their academic goals.
The first step to preparing for college as an older student is to secure your transcripts.
Next, you’ll want to brush up on the academic subjects you’ll be expected to know in college.
These other steps can help you prepare:
A college degree can be one of the most expensive investments we ever make. With thousands of dollars on the line, it can be hard to know how or if affording college is even possible for us. But thankfully, there are plenty of resources to help.
First and foremost, it’s important to determine how much a degree might cost. We’ve developed a Net Price Calculator to help you with exactly that. This calculator will help give you a realistic idea of what your total cost of attendance and financial assistance might be. We also have an up-to-date Tuition webpage with information about current tuition costs and fees; note that tuition differs for Utah and out-of-state residents, as well as for undergraduate and graduate programs.
Second, as you begin to look into financial aid programs, know that there are two main types of financial aid available: merit-based aid and need-based aid.
Merit-based aid is financial aid based on your academic performance, professional accomplishments, or other impressive skills. The most common form of merit-based aid is based on academic merit, using your GPA and SAT/ACT score to calculate your award. But certain programs (especially performance-based programs such as dance, athletics, and theatre) have Exceptional Performance scholarships as well. Visit our Scholarships webpage for a list of other available scholarships.
Need-based aid is financial aid based on your calculated financial need. Most need-based aid comes through completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA awards grants and subsidized loans based on the financial information you submit in your application, and many other need-based aid programs also use the FAFSA to determine need-based awards. Visit our Financial Aid webpage for more information about the FAFSA and available need-based aid.
For questions about affording college, contact the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office by making an appointment online or calling (801) 863-8888.
Once you’ve finished researching and have prepared as much as you can, the only thing left to do is apply! Here is a quick outline of the application process and a list of important deadlines to keep in mind.
The UVU admissions application is fully online and can be completed on the Apply to UVU webpage.
There are slightly different requirements depending on whether you are applying as an undergraduate student (pursuing your associate and/or bachelor’s degree), a graduate student (pursuing your master’s degree), an international student, or a non-degree seeking student, but many of the application sections are the same.
The UVU application has six sections:
The Office of Admissions has created an in-depth video guide, as well as a matching PDF guide, on how to complete each of these sections.
Make sure you have your Social Security number, your high school and/or college transcripts (if applicable), and your driver’s license or state ID number before you start your application. These will be needed to prove your identity, academic history, and state residency.
To be considered for academic-merit scholarship awards, you will also need to submit your SAT or ACT test scores. Visit Financial Aid and Scholarships for more information about available scholarship awards.
Each application includes an application fee, but students can receive an application fee waiver by participating in Utah College Application Week (UCAW) or by attending certain Admissions events. See the Admissions webpage for a list of Application Fee Waiver events.
There are four important dates that you’ll want to keep track of:
Each of these dates will shift around depending on the semester that you’re applying for, which scholarships you’re considering, and whether you’re applying for an undergraduate or a graduate program.
Visit the Admissions webpage for a current list of undergraduate application deadlines.
Visit the Graduate Studies webpage for a current list of master’s degree programs and their individual deadlines. Note that different graduate programs have different deadlines.
For the current academic calendar of registration deadlines and the first day of classes, bookmark our Student Dates and Deadlines webpage.
If you have any questions while applying, reach out to the Office of Admissions for
individualized support at:
(801) 863-8706
[email protected]
