Best Utah Universities for Tech Degrees in 2026, and What It Means for Utah Real Estate

Utah just put three schools on a national list of the best places to earn a technology degree. In a study by Ajelix, reported by KSL on October 19, 2026, Brigham Young University ranked No. 3, Utah Valley University No. 11 and the University of Utah No. 22 out of 514 colleges in the country. That makes them the best Utah universities for tech degrees by this measure, and it puts all three within about 45 miles of each other along Interstate 15.

A ranking is a headline. What it sets in motion is the story. Every spring these schools send thousands of tech graduates into Utah's job market, and most of them need somewhere to live. At Red Sign, we work with buyers, parents and investors along this corridor every week, so we dug past the ranking into the state wage data, graduate records and rental reports to see what it really means for Utah real estate.

WHICH UTAH UNIVERSITIES ARE BEST FOR TECH DEGREES?

BYU, UVU and the University of Utah each made the national top 25, and each got there differently. BYU led on earnings and low debt. UVU won on price. The U produced the most tech graduates of the three and is betting early on artificial intelligence.

Where the top tech schools are

Utah placed three schools in the national top 25, more than any other state in the public coverage. Tap a numbered badge to see each state's schools and their numbers.

3

Utah

3 schools in the top 25

No. 3Brigham Young UniversityProvo

545

tech degrees, 7 programs

$130,543

grad earnings, 4 years out

$11,178

median federal debt

Only Illinois and MIT scored higher. Index score 75.9.

No. 11Utah Valley UniversityOrem

314

tech degrees, 8 programs

$111,038

grad earnings, 4 years out

$6,376

average annual net price

The lowest net price of any school in the national top 25. Index score 71.6.

No. 22University of UtahSalt Lake City

576

tech degrees, 6 programs

$124,517

grad earnings, 4 years out

1st

AI bachelor's degree in Utah

The most tech degrees of Utah's three. Index score 68.0.

1

Illinois

1 school

Top 2University of IllinoisIllinois

One of the two schools ranked ahead of BYU. Ajelix hasn't published its full scores.

1

Massachusetts

1 school

Top 2MITCambridge

$11,077

median federal debt

Ranked ahead of BYU, but BYU grads carried only $101 more in median federal debt.

Source: Ajelix tech degree index of 514 U.S. colleges, as reported by KSL, October 19, 2026. Earnings and debt are from U.S. Department of Education data. Ajelix has not published its full top 25, so the map shows the five schools named publicly.

One detail tends to surprise people: UVU, an open enrollment university, finished ahead of the University of Utah. The index rewards value as much as prestige, and UVU's net price of $6,376 a year was the lowest of any school in the top 25.

WHAT THE TECH DEGREE INDEX ACTUALLY MEASURES

Ajelix, a European software company, compared 514 colleges on six measures drawn from U.S. Department of Education data:

• Earnings of tech graduates
• Student loan debt
• Average net price
• First year retention
• Computing program accreditation
• Number of tech programs with graduates

Read it as one useful lens, not the final word. A 2024 analysis of College Scorecard data by the University of Utah's Marriner S. Eccles Institute found that the major a student picks usually matters more for future pay than the school. Computer science grads earned a median of $114,046 four years out at BYU and $99,562 at the U, well above most other majors at either school.

WHY UTAH TECH DEGREES MATTER FOR HOUSING

Tech pay sets the ceiling on what many Utah buyers can afford. Utah's software and IT industry employed about 78,200 people in 2024 at an average wage of $133,540, the highest of the state's targeted industries, according to the Utah Department of Workforce Services. The state also estimates each core tech job supports more than three jobs across the wider economy.

Here's the part most people miss: four years after graduation, BYU tech grads are already earning within a few thousand dollars of the statewide tech average. That's buying power, and it shows up early in a career.

And a lot of it stays here. The Utah System of Higher Education tracked public college graduates and found about 70% were working in Utah a year after graduating and about 59% after five years. UVU grads stayed at slightly higher rates than the system average.

Hiring has cooled, though. Utah added 21,800 jobs over the year heading into 2026, a 1.2% gain against 0.3% nationally, but entry level tech roles have become more competitive as employers lean toward experienced hires. Steady, not frantic, is the right way to think about demand.

WHAT THE UTAH HOUSING MARKET LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW

If you're a new grad or a relocating tech hire, the timing is better than it was a few years ago. Prices are rising slowly, more homes are on the market, and fewer buyers are competing for them.

Months of supply measures how long current listings would last at today's pace of sales. At 4.7 months, Utah sits close to a balanced market, which usually means more room to negotiate on price, repairs and closing costs.

WHERE UTAH TECH GRADS LIVE AND COMMUTE

Most Utah tech jobs cluster along one line: Provo to Lehi to Salt Lake City. FrontRunner commuter rail runs right through it, so many buyers choose a home by station first and neighborhood second.

Orem and Provo put you near BYU and UVU, often with more space for the money. Salt Lake City puts you near the U and downtown employers. If you'd rather start fresh, Red Sign works with partner builders Valor Homes, Green Tech Construction and Amundsen Construction on new construction across Utah County.

BUYING NEAR BYU, UVU OR THE U FOR A STUDENT

Four years of rent adds up, so some parents buy a condo or townhome near campus, let their student live there, and rent the extra rooms to roommates to help cover the payment. It can work well. But four rules decide whether it does, and most of them catch people off guard.

1. BYU's first two semesters

Under BYU student housing policy, single undergraduates must spend their first two semesters in BYU housing, BYU contracted off campus housing or with qualifying family members. A home you buy only works for a new freshman if an exception is approved in writing.

2. Provo's rental license

Provo requires a rental dwelling license whenever anyone other than the owner lives in the home, even a relative who pays nothing. Most Provo properties also allow only one family or three singles, so your roommate plan depends on the zoning of the exact address.

3. How the IRS sees it

According to the IRS, a relative's use of your property counts as personal use unless it's their main home and they pay a fair rental price. Charging fair rent can let you treat the home as a rental, while below market rent limits your deductions. A CPA can tell you which way fits your situation.

4. How the loan is classified

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac generally treat the home as owner occupied only when your student is also a borrower on the loan. Otherwise, lenders classify it as a second home or an investment property, which can change the rate and down payment. Ask your lender before you write an offer.

INVESTING NEAR UTAH UNIVERSITIES: THE REALITY CHECK

The common pitch is simple: a college town means endless renters. The numbers say it's more complicated right now. Provo Orem's rental vacancy rate nearly doubled between 2020 and 2024 as new apartments opened, and Wasatch Front landlords are competing hard for tenants.

That's the short term. The longer view is more encouraging. Multifamily permitting has dropped below its 10 year average, and Northmarq expects the market to tighten in 2027 as fewer new projects open. For investors, the opportunity may be in buying during the soft stretch, as long as the numbers work with real vacancy and concessions built in.

• Underwrite with summer vacancy and a realistic concession, not the best case
• Confirm the occupancy limit and licensing for the exact address
• Compare rents on the same street, not the city average
• Check HOA rental caps before you fall in love with a condo

NEXT STEPS

1. Pick your priority: commute, campus or cash flow.
2. Get preapproved so you know your real budget and how your loan will be classified. Our Utah financing guide walks through it.
3. Talk to Red Sign. We're a 20 agent Keller Williams team at KW Westfield in Orem, minutes from both BYU and UVU. Since 2008 we've helped with about 3,500 transactions and earned 1,950+ five star reviews, and we can pull current rents and sales for any street near campus.

The best Utah universities for tech degrees are drawing talent, paychecks and buyers into the same stretch of Interstate 15. Whether you're starting a career, supporting a student or building a portfolio, knowing the rules and the real numbers is what turns that headline into a smart move.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Ready to start? Connect with a Red Sign agent today, or if you already own a home, ask us for a free home value report.