Utah doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 11 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 11 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Orem came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Utah For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Utah's towns land among the best college towns in America.
For more reading, check out:
| Colleges | Utah Valley University, Careers Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 28,571 (29 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 97,182 |
| Median rent | $1,438 |
| Graduation rate | 75% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $14,765 |
Orem is home to Utah Valley University, Careers Unlimited. There are 29 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,438 a month, and the average cost to attend is $14,765 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 11 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Utah State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 20,272 (37 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 54,907 |
| Median rent | $1,149 |
| Graduation rate | 61% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,654 |
Logan is home to Utah State University. There are 37 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,149 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,654 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 11 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Utah, Ensign College, Nightingale College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 42,094 (20 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 208,007 |
| Median rent | $1,414 |
| Graduation rate | 63% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,802 |
Salt Lake City is home to University of Utah, Ensign College, Nightingale College. There are 20 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,414 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,802 a year. It ranks 11th for crime among the 11 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Snow College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,549 (60 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 5,949 |
| Median rent | $928 |
| Graduation rate | 45% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $12,514 |
Ephraim is home to Snow College. There are 60 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $928 a month, and the average cost to attend is $12,514 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 11 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Weber State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 16,360 (19 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 87,413 |
| Median rent | $1,216 |
| Graduation rate | 55% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $16,035 |
Ogden is home to Weber State University. There are 19 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,216 a month, and the average cost to attend is $16,035 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 11 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Brigham Young University, Provo College, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 33,621 (29 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 114,766 |
| Median rent | $1,193 |
| Graduation rate | 64% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $26,394 |
Provo is home to Brigham Young University, Provo College, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. There are 29 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,193 a month, and the average cost to attend is $26,394 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 11 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Southern Utah University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 9,289 (24 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 38,524 |
| Median rent | $1,054 |
| Graduation rate | 64% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $19,416 |
Cedar City is home to Southern Utah University. There are 24 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,054 a month, and the average cost to attend is $19,416 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 11 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Utah Tech University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 8,552 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 101,995 |
| Median rent | $1,545 |
| Graduation rate | 45% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $20,763 |
St. George is home to Utah Tech University. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,545 a month, and the average cost to attend is $20,763 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 11 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Eagle Gate College-Layton |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 226 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 83,286 |
| Median rent | $1,538 |
| Graduation rate | 52% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,518 |
Layton is home to Eagle Gate College-Layton. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,538 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,518 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 11 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,058 (4 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 50,278 |
| Median rent | $1,894 |
| Graduation rate | 49% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $30,016 |
Draper is home to Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences. There are 4 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,894 a month, and the average cost to attend is $30,016 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 11 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Utah
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 11 towns in Utah that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Utah.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Utah.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Utah
If you're looking for the best college towns in Utah, Orem is where to start.
The best college towns in Utah are Orem, Logan, Salt Lake City, Ephraim, Ogden, Provo, Cedar City, St. George, Layton, and Draper.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Utah for 2026?
Orem is the best college town in Utah for 2026, followed by Logan and Salt Lake City.
How did you rank the best college towns in Utah?
We looked at every town in Utah with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Utah?
Murray ranks last of the 11 college towns we ranked in Utah for 2026.
Best College Towns In Utah For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orem, UT | 97,182 | 28,571 | $1,438 |
| 2 | Logan, UT | 54,907 | 20,272 | $1,149 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City, UT | 208,007 | 42,094 | $1,414 |
| 4 | Ephraim, UT | 5,949 | 3,549 | $928 |
| 5 | Ogden, UT | 87,413 | 16,360 | $1,216 |
| 6 | Provo, UT | 114,766 | 33,621 | $1,193 |
| 7 | Cedar City, UT | 38,524 | 9,289 | $1,054 |
| 8 | St. George, UT | 101,995 | 8,552 | $1,545 |
| 9 | Layton, UT | 83,286 | 226 | $1,538 |
| 10 | Draper, UT | 50,278 | 2,058 | $1,894 |
| 11 | Murray, UT | 50,188 | 657 | $1,500 |
Best College Towns By State
Best College Towns In Arkansas
Best College Towns In California
Best College Towns In Colorado
Best College Towns In Connecticut
Best College Towns In Illinois
Best College Towns In Maryland
Best College Towns In Massachusetts
Best College Towns In Michigan
Best College Towns In Minnesota
Best College Towns In Mississippi
Best College Towns In Missouri
Best College Towns In Nebraska
Best College Towns In New Hampshire
Best College Towns In New Jersey
Best College Towns In New Mexico
Best College Towns In New York
Best College Towns In Oklahoma
Best College Towns In Pennsylvania
Best College Towns In Rhode Island
Best College Towns In South Carolina
Best College Towns In South Dakota
Best College Towns In Tennessee
Best College Towns In Virginia
Best College Towns In Washington