USU has seven colleges and offers associate, bachelor's, master's, education specialist, and doctoral degrees, including hybrid and online programs through its statewide campuses .[16] In U.S. News & World Report's 2026 graduate rankings, its Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences ranked 40th among schools of education, and its rehabilitation counseling program tied for 7th nationally.[16] Its Huntsman School of Business, founded in 1889, is the oldest continuously operating business college in the western United States. USU also houses Utah's first four-year college of veterinary medicine.[17][18]
Old Main, completed in 1890, is the university's oldest building and houses administrative offices and parts of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Utah leaders viewed the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act as an opportunity to advance scientific and agricultural education within the territory, aligning with a broader national movement toward practical, research-based instruction in the mechanical arts.[24] Following a visit to Denmark, territorial legislator Anthon H. Lund advocated for an agricultural college modeled after European land-grant institutions.[25] Under the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, USU's original mission was to provide education in agriculture, mechanical arts, science, classical studies, military science, later expanding to include degree programs in liberal arts, business, fine arts, education, human services, humanities, veterinary medicine and engineering.[26]
After a period of political debate in which Salt Lake City retained the territorial university, citizens of Logan successfully lobbied the legislature to locate the agricultural college in Cache Valley.[26][27] On March 8, 1888, the Agricultural College of Utah was chartered as the state's land-grant institution.[2][28] The college opened its doors on September 2, 1890, with 14-year-old Vendla Berntson enrolled as its first student.[29][30]
The Agricultural College of Utah in 1892.
The new college was chartered to provide instruction in "agriculture, domestic science, and the mechanic arts."[31] Early expansion under President William J. Kerr drew opposition from some legislators who feared competition with the University of Utah. Efforts in 1907 sought to consolidate the two institutions, resulting in a compromise that restricted the Agricultural College's curriculum to agriculture, domestic science, and mechanical arts.[32] The legislature gradually lifted these restrictions, and by the 1920s the college had regained broad academic autonomy.[26][27]
Growth and wartime (1914–1945)
Military personnel with an 8-inch howitzer drill on the Quad, c. 1922.
The college launched its statewide Extension Service in 1914 and awarded its first master's degrees the following year.[33][34][29] During World War I, Utah Agricultural College became a training site for the Student Army Training Corps, which prepared students for military service while continuing their studies.[35]
Under President Elmer George Peterson, the college expanded significantly, and its Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program achieved national prominence — earning the nickname "West Point of the West."[36][37][38]
During World War II, Utah State hosted one of six United States Navy Primary Schools for the Electronics Training Program, graduating more than 2,700 Navy students between 1942 and 1944.[39][40] Utah State's technical and military training programs during World War II helped position the university for later federal research partnerships in electronics and defense, relationships that eventually led to the establishment of the Space Dynamics Laboratory.[41]
Post-war expansion (1946–1980)
After the war, enrollment surged as returning veterans were supported by the GI Bill.[42] The college expanded its academic offerings, established new schools, and modernized its campus infrastructure. In 1957, the institution was renamed Utah State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, soon shortened to Utah State University.[29]
The university's research enterprise grew rapidly, and its influence spread statewide through satellite campuses and extension programs, reflecting the broader modernization of Utah's economy and education in the twentieth century.[33][34] During the late 1970s, Utah State University enrolled one of the nation's largest groups of Iranian students, reflecting decades of educational and cultural exchange between the United States and Iran.[43]
Statewide growth (1980–2010)
The earliest roots of USU's distance education go back to 1904, when USU professors traveled by train from Logan to Burley, Idaho to deliver dairy lectures.[44] In the 1950s, professors regularly drove around the state to teach courses and advise students. The Utah State Legislature designated the first Statewide Campus, Uintah Basin in 1967.[45] The following year, "flying professors" traveled weekly to teach at USU's various campuses and centers.[46] Traveling from the centers was necessary until Utah State installed satellite systems in 1996.[47] In 2005, University President Stan Albrecht moved Utah State University's Continuing Education unit to the Provost's Office and established the USU Regional Campuses and Distance Education organization. The system grew in 2010 with the addition of USU Eastern to nearly one-half of USU's enrollment.[48]
Recent history (2010–present)
Today, the USU system includes USU Blanding, USU Eastern,[49] multiple regional campuses, several extension and field site locations, 14 statewide research farms, and 29 additional statewide extension offices.[50][51] In 2012, RCDE completed construction of the Regional Campuses Distance Education (RCDE) Building which houses broadcast classrooms, RCDE offices, and the Utah Education Network.[52]
By the late 20th century, Utah State sought to broaden its national reach beyond its regional mission. Under President George H. Emert (1992–2000), the university's endowment grew from $7 million to $80 million, and research funding reached new highs.[29]
Under President Stan L. Albrecht, Utah State expanded its research partnerships and global collaborations, including initiatives in China, Saudi Arabia, and Peru.[53][54] The Merrill-Cazier Library opened in 2005, followed by several new research and classroom facilities. In 2010, USU acquired both the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter near Park City and the College of Eastern Utah, extending its statewide reach.[55] In 2012, USU concluded a $400 million fundraising campaign—the largest in its history.[56]
From 2017 to 2023, President Noelle E. Cockett became USU's first female president, expanding statewide programs and research capacity while addressing campus safety and inclusion.[57] She was succeeded by Elizabeth R. Cantwell (2023–2025), whose tenure was marked by fiscal and administrative controversy prior to her departure to lead Washington State University.[58]
Following an interim term under Alan L. Smith, the Utah Board of Higher Education appointed Brad L. Mortensen, former president of Weber State University, as Utah State's 18th president on October 30, 2025. Mortensen's administration, beginning November 10, 2025, has emphasized fiscal accountability, academic restructuring, and statewide access initiatives.[59]
Campus and locations
In addition to its Main Campus in Logan, Utah State University operates a system of 13 separate state-wide campuses (including 3 residential campuses);[60][61] Utah State Extension offices in all 29 counties, 14 separate research farms, and seven (7) additional field site locations throughout Utah.[62] USU's campuses, research farms and field sites total 6,896 acres.[60]
USU has submitted, and the Utah Legislature has approved, a strategy for the university, growth and expansion plans for each of its statewide campuses, and additional future campus locations throughout the state.[63]
Utah State University's main academic, research, residential, athletic, and innovation campus is located in Logan, Utah, spanning over 600 acres at the mouth of Logan Canyon.[64] The campus sits on a "bench," a shelf-like foothill overlooking Cache Valley to the west, with Mount Logan and the Bear River Range rising sharply to the east.[65]
The Logan City Cemetery divides much of the campus, with the main academic buildings to the south and the innovation and research facilities to the north.[72] The campus also includes residential, recreational, and athletic buildings. To the west and north are located the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum[68] and Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.[73]
Students have full access to the HPER (pronounced "hyper"), Nelson Fieldhouse, and the 117,000-sq-ft ARC (Aggie Recreation Center) exercise facilities, which include basketball courts, indoor rock climbing, gymnastics equipment, two swimming pools, racquetball, squash, and outdoor field space for lacrosse, rugby, soccer, ultimate, and other sports.[74][75]
With more than 30 of Utah's largest tree species and more than 7,000 trees, Utah State University's Logan campus has earned international recognition as an arboretum, accredited by ArbNet.[76]
USU's main campus in Logan, Utah, and the city of Logan have received several accolades, including being named the "Best College Town" for the 2019–2020 school year[77] and "Most Beautiful Campus in Utah."[78]
Adjacent to the campus are Logan Canyon and the Cache National Forest, which offer opportunities for hiking, camping, and skiing.[79] Logan Canyon also serves as the main route to Beaver Mountain Ski Resort and Bear Lake.[80][81] Students often visit these nearby areas for recreational activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and skiing. The USU Outdoor Recreation Program supports these activities by renting equipment for camping, water sports, mountain sports, and winter sports, as well as providing trail maps and local expertise.[82]
Several notable sites are located on or near campus property. First Dam is a small research reservoir at the mouth of Logan Canyon, where students can paddleboard, kayak, and fish.[83] The Logan Country Club, adjacent to the campus, is home to the university's men's golf team.[84] Additionally, the Utah Water Research Laboratory is a key research facility near Logan Canyon.[85]
Regional Campuses and Distance Education (RCDE) work to fulfill USU's land-grant mission to increase access to high-quality education throughout Utah.[91]
Logan is one of many cities and towns hosting a statewide campus for Utah State.[92] Additional campus sites are located as:
Main Campus: Logan
Other Residential Campuses: USU Eastern (Price), USU Blanding
Other Regional Campuses: Brigham City, Kaysville, Moab, Monument Valley, Orem, Roosevelt, Salt Lake City, St. George, Tooele, Tremonton, Vernal
Utah State University has conducted studies and proposed long-term development master plans to the state of Utah, which have been approved in concept to create residential and research campuses at each of its additional campuses throughout the State.[93]
In addition to its main campus in Logan, Utah State operates two separate residential campuses: one in Price (USU Eastern) and another in Blanding.[60]
Located in Price, Utah, the former College of Eastern Utah joined the USU system in 2010 and became Utah State University College of Eastern Utah (USU Eastern).[94] In 2013, the official name was shortened to Utah State University Eastern, as was officially designated as a campus of Utah State University.[95] USU Eastern is the only campus besides Logan to have an athletics program; and, competes as the Utah State Eastern Utah Golden Eagles.[96]
USU also operates a residential satellite campus, known as the Blanding campus, in Blanding, Utah.[97]
USU operates several centers and field sites statewide, including 14 research farms.[62] Its larger field sites include:
Thanksgiving Point (Lehi). Botanical gardens, arboretum, museums, research, and education classes as an extension of USU.
Ogden Botanical Gardens (Ogden). Botanical Gardens, and education classes as an extension of USU.
Bastian Agricultural Center (South Jordan). Equestrian, agricultural education, and event facilities, including equestrian competition events.[107]
USU Botanical Center (Kaysville). Teaching gardens, extension classrooms, amphitheater, wetlands, and outreach sites.[108][109]
Sam Skaggs Family Equine Education Center (Wellsville). Instructional and research facilities for equine sciences.[110]
Logan-Cache Airport. Houses USU's off-site aircraft and hangars and supports USU's aviation and flight technology programs, as well as USU flight technology and community outreach programs.
Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter (Park City). A 1,200-acre (4.9km2) land trust and a 10,000-square-foot (930m2) education center focused on wetlands, wildlife, and sustainability; LEED Platinum certified.[111][112][113]
The university signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment in 2007, pledging carbon neutrality by 2050.[114] In 2019, the Faculty Senate passed a non-binding resolution calling for deeper emissions reductions, and the university formed a greenhouse gas reduction committe in response.[115][116] USU's Office of Sustainability was elevated under the Office of the President in 2023[117]
The Decarbonization Master Plan (2022) established a roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions on the Logan campus by 2040.[118] The plan recommends converting the campus's central steam system to low-temperature hydronic heating, installing domestic-water heat pumps in 75 buildings, and expanding solar generation to 8.4 MW by 2040. As of FY 2024, USU issued a request for proposals for 3 MW of distributed solar co-located with battery storage, expected to reduce emissions by about 2,900 metric tons CO₂e annually.[117][119] According to the FY 2023 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, USU's total emissions were 106,126 metric tons CO₂e, a 3 percent decline from 2008.[117] USU's Policy 5310 – Energy Conservation requires all new construction to meet LEED Silver or higher standards. As of 2025, the university operates 22 LEED-certified buildings emphasizing energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and water conservation.[120]
Initiatives under its 2020 Landscape Resiliency and Drought Plan and Stormwater Management Plan include drought-tolerant plantings, irrigation audits, bioswales, and stormwater capture systems across the Logan campus.[121][122] Irrigation is managed via a weather-responsive central control system that draws primarily from the Cache Highline Water Association canal.[121] USU Extension's Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping (CWEL) extends these practices statewide through workshops, design research, and the Water Check residential efficiency program.[123][124]
Organization and administration
Utah State University (USU) is a public land-grant research university within the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE). The institution operates under the supervision of the Utah Board of Higher Education, which sets statewide policy, approves presidential appointments, and oversees budgetary and strategic priorities for Utah's public colleges and universities.[125] USU's local governing body is the Board of Trustees, which provides institutional oversight, approves significant policies and transactions, conducts presidential evaluations, and advises the statewide board on campus matters.[126] Trustees include the university president, appointed members representing the state and community, and ex officio participants as defined by state policy.[127]
The Utah Board of Higher Education appoints the university president. On October 30, 2025, the board named Brad L. Mortensen the 18th president of Utah State University; he began his tenure on November 10, 2025.[128][129] Day-to-day academic administration is headed by the provost and executive vice president, who oversees the deans of the colleges and schools, graduate education, and statewide academic operations.[130]
Utah State University is organized into academic colleges and schools that offer undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. In 2025, the university announced plans to merge five existing colleges into two new colleges as part of a strategic reinvestment plan required under Utah House Bill 265. The proposal combines the Caine College of the Arts, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the College of Science into a new college aligned with national arts and sciences models, to be led by Dean Joe Ward, current dean of CHaSS. A second merger joined the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources with the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences on July 1, 2025. According to Interim President Alan Smith, these mergers aim to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and academic efficiency.[131] In addition to these merged units, the university continues to operate the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, and the College of Engineering.[132] In keeping with its land-grant mission, USU also administers a statewide system of regional campuses, centers, and online programs in coordination with the Office of Statewide Campuses and USU Extension.[133]
USU's operating budget totaled approximately $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2025, reflecting a mix of state appropriations, tuition and fees, research grants and contracts, auxiliaries, and philanthropic support.[4] The university's endowment was valued at approximately $616.7 million as of June 30, 2025, according to NACUBO's annual survey.[134]
Academics
Utah State University offers more than 270 degree programs across its main campus in Logan and statewide campuses, awarding associate, bachelor's, master's, education specialist, and doctoral degrees as well as certificates, including hybrid and online programs through its statewide campuses.[16] Students can pursue 137 undergraduate, 95 master's, and 39 doctoral programs, along with study abroad in more than 90 countries.[135] As of fall 2026, total enrollment was 32,286 students, including 29,046 undergraduates and 3,240 graduate students.[8] The university has a 19-to-1 student–faculty ratio, with nearly half of its classes enrolling fewer than 20 students.[136]
USU has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1924, and the commission most recently reaffirmed its accreditation in 2025.[16][137] Several programs hold specialized accreditations, including from the American Psychological Association, ABET, and AACSB.[138] USU's academic programs span liberal arts, sciences, engineering, business, education, and agriculture. Students can pursue 137 undergraduate, 95 master's, and 39 doctoral programs, along with extensive opportunities for study abroad in more than 90 countries.[139]
As of July 1, 2025, Utah State University is organized into seven academic colleges and schools, plus the Graduate School, that collectively oversee the university's teaching, research, and statewide outreach missions.[145]
S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Formed July 1, 2025, from the College of Agriculture & Applied Sciences and the Quinney College of Natural Resources
School of Graduate Studies
Coordinates graduate programs across all colleges
Historical development
In 1903, the Agricultural College of Utah (now Utah State University) organized six schools: Agriculture, Military Science, Agricultural Engineering and Mechanical Arts, Home Economics, General Science, and Commerce.[29] By 1923, the institution had expanded to seven academic colleges—Agriculture, Home Economics, Military Science, Agricultural Engineering, Commerce and Business Administration, Mechanic Arts, and General Science.[29] A School of Education was created in 1924, and the School of General Science was reorganized into the School of Basic Arts and Sciences.[29]
Recent restructuring (2025)
In April 2025, USU announced a major academic reorganization in response to state-mandated budget reductions and Utah House Bill 265. The plan merged five existing colleges into two new colleges and reduced administrative overhead, with program adjustments to follow.[146][147] The new colleges became official on July 1, 2025, with Joe Ward named dean of Arts & Sciences and Grant Cardon serving as interim dean of Agriculture & Natural Resources.[148] Implementation of the new structure took effect July 1, 2025, and the reorganized colleges are reflected below.[149] Prior to July 1, 2025, USU's colleges included the Caine College of the Arts, the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, the College of Science, the College of Agriculture & Applied Sciences, and the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources as separate entities.[147]
College of Arts & Sciences
The College of Arts & Sciences integrates programs from the former Caine College of the Arts, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHaSS), and College of Science, aligning with "Letters and Science" models at peer institutions.[147] It comprises departments for (a) the humanities, social sciences, and social work; (b) the natural, physical, and mathematical sciences; and (c) music, theatre, and art and design.[132] The college hosts Western American Literature the official journal of the Western Literature Association.[150][151][152][153] It also includes the USU Museum of Anthropology in Old Main.[154]
College of Engineering
The David G. Sant Engineering Innovation Building
The College of Engineering grants undergraduate degrees in six engineering disciplines—biological, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, and mechanical—and graduate degrees in aerospace, composites/structures, space systems, and engineering education.[155] The college has close ties to the Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), which employs about 130 students on technical projects.[156] Research facilities and outreach in the college include the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL), one of the oldest and largest university-based water research facilities in the United States.[157][158] The college also sponsors an annual trebuchet pumpkin-toss and Engineers Without Borders chapter activities.[159][160]
College of Veterinary Medicine
Established in 2022 as Utah's first four-year veterinary college (building on the prior WIMU regional partnership with Washington State University), the college offers the DVM and allied veterinary programs.[161][162]
Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Emma Eccles Jones Early Childhood Education and Research Center (ECERC)
USU's Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (founded 1924) enrolls approximately 5,700 students and offers programs in psychology, special education, human development and family studies, communicative disorders and deaf education, kinesiology, and rehabilitation.[163] The college includes the APA-accredited Department of Psychology and the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM).[164][165] The college also houses the USU Family Life Center which provides housing and financial counseling and includes a marriage and family therapy clinic.[166][167]
The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business north-facing entrances
Founded in 1889 (renamed in 2007 after a $26M gift from Jon Huntsman Sr.), the Huntsman School is the oldest continuously operating business college in the Western U.S. and the first in Utah.[168][169] It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in management, accounting, economics, finance, and management information systems (MIS), among others, and houses the Shingo Institute (home of the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence).[170][171]
S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Created by merging the former College of Agriculture & Applied Sciences (CAAS) with the Quinney College of Natural Resources (QCNR), the college advances land-grant missions in agricultural production, food systems, natural resources stewardship, ecology, and environmental science.[147] The College also houses USU's Aviation and Flight Technology programs and operates a fleet of aircraft at the nearby Logan-Cache Airport, in addition to being one of the few public colleges in the nation to own and operate its own jet simulators.[172][173]
School of Graduate Studies
The School of Graduate Studies coordinates master's and doctoral programs across all colleges.[174]
In fall 2022, Utah State received 16,069 applications for first-time freshman enrollment; 15,061 (93.7%) were accepted, and 4,625 freshmen enrolled, yielding a yield rate of 30.7%. The freshman retention rate is 74.5%, with 52.5% graduating within six years (fall 2018 cohort).[177] Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Utah State. If test scores are submitted, they will be considered, but they are not mandatory.[178]
In 2021, the Council on Undergraduate Research recognized Utah State for excellence in undergraduate research programs.[188][189]
In 2026, Washington Monthly, which ranks colleges on their contribution to the public good using access, affordability, outcomes, and public service promotion, placed Utah State 102nd among 1,504 four-year colleges nationally, 34th in the West, and highest among Utah's public universities.[182][190][191]
In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked USU 32nd nationally for "Best Online Bachelor's Programs" out of 360+ reviewed institutions.[192]
Forbes ranked the university No. 140 in Public Colleges, No. 177 in Research Universities, and No. 74 in the West (2023).[193]
The Merrill–Cazier Library opened in September 2005. The building integrated the Cazier Science and Technology Library with a 189,000-square-foot (17,600m2) expansion, replacing the 74-year-old Merrill Library.[194] The library is named for Milton R. Merrill, former Utah State University vice president, and Stanford Cazier, former Utah State University president.[29] The original Merrill Library was built in 1930 by the Whitmeyer Company of Ogden, Utah and expanded in 1967.[195]
An automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) is integral to the building and supports many years of collection development.[196] The BARN (Borrower's Automated Retrieval Network) was named after Utah State University's status as an agricultural school. The BARN stores all of the Merrill–Cazier Library's bound journals, over 200,000 less frequently used books, and most of the microform.[197]
Merrill-Cazier Library's "Borrower's Automated Retrieval Network" (BARN) as viewed from the basement
Research
Utah State University is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".[198] USU is listed in the top 80 universities and the top 50 public universities in the nation for total research and development expenditures with over $494 million in 2024 and a reported $517 million in research development and expenditures in 2025.[19][199]
Utah State has more than 50 research institutes and centers. Notable research centers based at USU include the Space Dynamics Laboratory,[200] Bingham Energy Research Center,[201] Center for Integrated BioSystems,[202] Center for Growth and Opportunity,[203] Center for Anticipatory Intelligence,[204] Energy Dynamics Laboratory, The Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center, Utah Water Research Laboratory, Center for High Performance Computing, Ecology Center, Utah Climate Center, Center for Advanced Nutrition, Thanksgiving Point, Center for the School of the Future, National Aquatic Monitoring Center, Ogden Botanical Center, Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter,[205] Intermountain Center for River Rehabilitation and Restoration, Bastian Agricultural Center (South Jordan),[107] Mountain West Center for Regional Studies, National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, The Shingo Institute, Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air, and Utah Botanical Center.[206][207]
Observatory built in 2009 on top of the SER building. For the Department of Physics and public use, it houses a 20-inch (510mm)reflecting telescope.
As of 2011[update], Utah State had sent more student experiments into space than any other university.[208] In 2024, Utah State became a member of the U.S. Space Command Academic Engagement Enterprise.[209]
In 2021, Utah State received a $1 billion contract for aerospace research, including "space and nuclear advanced prototypes, experiments and technology," from the Air Force Research Laboratory, the largest contract ever awarded by AFRL.[216][217]
GASPACS moments after deployment from the International Space Station. GASPACS was developed entirely by USU undergraduate student researchers in programs funded through USU and in collaboration with NASA.
GASPACS (Get Away Special Passive Attitude Control Satellite)[218] was a NASA-sponsored 1U CubeSat developed entirely by undergraduate members of Utah State University's Get Away Special (GAS) team. The primary mission objective of GASPACS was to deploy a 1-meter inflatable aerodynamic boom to passively stabilize its attitude.[219][220] GASPACS was the world's first CubeSat to be developed entirely by undergraduate students, and was also the world's first CubeSat to utilize a Raspberry Pi Zero as its flight computer.[221][222][223][224]
The Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL) is a research institution at Utah State. It is the oldest and one of the largest water research facilities in the United States.[225] The UWRL has completed more than 100 major projects around the world and operates with more than $400 million in international funding.[226]
USTAR
USU's USTAR BioInnovations Center
Along with the University of Utah, Utah State is an anchor in the Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) program, which is aimed at optimizing the region's most marketable strengths to bolster Utah's high-tech economy.[227] Eight USTAR teams currently perform research at Utah State as follows:[228]
USTAR research teams
Description of research and markets
Arrhythmia Consortium
Electrolyte imbalance in blood, coronary artery disease
Applied Nutrition
Obesity, cardiovascular, diabetes, Alzheimer's
Intuitive Building
Task-adaptive lighting solutions
Synthetic Bio-Manufacturing
Pharmaceuticals, fuels, plastics
STORM
Accurate weather prediction
Veterinary Diagnostics and Infectious Disease (VDID)
Diagnostics and infectious disease
Space Weather
Telecommunications, aviation, space
Wireless Power Transfer
Wireless energy and power conversion
Undergraduate research
USU's undergraduate research program was founded in 1975, making it the second program of its kind in the nation (after MIT).[223] In 2021, it was named the "Best Undergraduate Research Program in the Nation" by the Council on Undergraduate Research.[188][189]
Animal and veterinary sciences
Since 2022, Utah State has been home to the only college of veterinary medicine operating in Utah.[229]
USU researchers made headlines in 2011 after breeding transgenic goats.[232] Utah State University professor Randy Lewis' "spider goats," the milk of which contains spider silk, are being studied for uses including human muscle tissue and lightweight bulletproof vests.[233]
Research farms
Utah State owns and operates 14 research farms, along with several equestrian, agricultural, ecological, and botanical centers statewide.[62]
Open Courseware
Utah State University promotes the OpenCourseWare (OCW) Project (open and free university courses) and developed an open content management system for OCW called eduCommons.[234] This open source content management system is one of the technology projects in the MIT OpenCourseWare Initiative. Several universities have adopted eduCommons to create OCW sites.[235]
The Living Learning Community on-campus housing complexStudents have access to Aggie Legacy Fields, which are equipped with durable astroturf and lighting for after-dark activities.
Housing and dining
Utah State University describes its Logan Campus as Utah's largest public residential campus and reports that about 84 percent of its students live away from home.[237] As of 2023, about a quarter of USU's roughly 20,000 students lived on campus.[238]
Twenty-one widely varying on-campus buildings house single students, and 39 buildings on the north side of campus offer married housing.[239] Many more students live in the multitude of off-campus housing options nearby. "Students on campus may dine in on-campus venues such as The Marketplace and The Junction dining halls, the Forum Café at Merrill-Cazier Library, as well as the full-service Skyroom restaurant and The Hub food court with multiple dining options."[240] On the east edge of campus, Aggie Ice Cream has produced ice cream, cheese products, sandwiches, and soups since 1888.[241]
Since its founding in 1888, USU has had a creamery, with its first location in Old Main.[242] Students studying dairying and domestic arts applied to learn how to make both ice cream and cheeses. In 1921, Gustav Wilster began working with the College of Agriculture. By 1922, students studied dairy technology, fluid milk processing, ice cream manufacture, dairy engineering, cheese manufacture, butter making, dairy facility inspection, and dairy product judging.[243] Wilster's students would go on to create Casper's Ice Cream, Farr's Ice Cream, and Snelgrove's Ice Cream. In 1975, the Nutrition and Food Sciences building was built, where Aggie Ice Cream is housed today; a second location opened in USU's Blue Square student housing in 2023.[244]
Along with Aggie Ice Cream, USU owns and operates its chocolate factory, The Aggie Chocolate Factory, through the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.[245] The Aggie Chocolate Factory has shops on both the academic and residential campuses in Logan and the athletic stadiums. In winter, the Aggie Chocolate Factory also sells its own hot cocoa; on hot days, it sells "Frozen As"— an iced cocoa drink.[246]
Organizations and student government
USU students are also involved in more than 200 clubs,[247] a student government, seven fraternities and three sororities, multiple intramural and club sports, and a student-run radio station.[248]
Utah State University's Aggie Recreation Center was completed in 2015
The Utah State University Student Association (USUSA) represents the university's student body. USUSA is composed of 17 elected student officers and five appointed student officers.[249] These officers typically oversee a specific area of responsibility outlined in each officer's charter. The duties of USUSA officers can range from managing campus events and activities to promoting and advocating for particular initiatives at the Utah State Legislature.[250] Officers are elected each spring.
The USUSA received significant attention during the 2016–2017 school year when the organization declared a mental health crisis at Utah State University.[251] The legislation (written by USUSA Student Body President Ashley Waddoups, USUSA Student Advocate Vice President Matthew Clewett, and USUSA Graduate Studies Senator Ty Aller) sought to raise awareness of significant wait times for students to utilize CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) at Utah State as well as the increasing number of students who were suffering from mental health-related illnesses.[252] After a successful lobbying campaign, the USUSA was able to influence the Utah State Legislature to pass a resolution declaring a mental health crisis at all Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institutions.[253] The resolution was subsequently signed by Utah Governor Gary Herbert in March 2017.[254][255]
In 1970, Utah State student Sue Brown and Director of Student Activities Val R. Christensen created one of the nation's first service organizations.[256] VOICE, Volunteer Organization for Involvement in the Community and Environment, worked to improve the environment and social issues in Cache Valley. VOICE became The Val R. Christensen Service Center in 1999 in honor of Dr. Christensen's efforts and support of the organization.[257] Today, students are involved in more than 20 service organizations including Aggie Special Olympics, Aggies for Africa, Alternative Breaks, and Senior University.[258]
Traditions
Well-known student traditions include the rite of passage of becoming a True Aggie, which requires a student to kiss someone who is already a True Aggie on top of the Block "A."[259] Two students may also become True Aggies together on Homecoming night or A-Day.[260] In 2011, USU broke the record in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most couples kissing at the same place at the same time.[261] Nearby the Block "A" is the lighted "A" atop the Old Main tower, which shines white throughout the entire valley and blue on nights when a varsity sport has picked up a victory, or other special events have occurred on campus.[262]
Utah State has a history of various traditions, including its two fight songs ("Hail the Utah Aggies" and "The Scotsman") and a range of chants, such as "I Believe."[263][264] The Scotsman is particularly notable for the unified standing and hand motions performed by students and fans.[263] Other traditions and events for students are sponsored by USU, the HURD, and the Student Association and held throughout the year and include Homecoming and "The Howl," a Halloween celebration.[265] Other annual student events include the Luminary Processional, which welcomes new students each fall,[266] and The End of Year Bash, a concert on campus that culminates at the end of the academic year each April.[267]
Given USU's history and traditions as a land-grant school with an original charter for, in part, military sciences, Utah State supports a ROTC program for the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force. ROTC members wear uniforms or field attire as the color guard at home athletic events. ROTC members also attend every home football game on the field and in the stadium. Wearing field attire, ROTC members perform push-ups and fire a 75mm howitzer cannon at the initial kickoff and after each Aggies score. ROTC members also fire the cannon at the end of the game after every home team victory.[268] Utah State ROTC cadet activity and presence both on and off the field is especially present at events surrounding Veteran's Day and during athletic events when the Aggies compete against fellow Mountain West Conference rivals, the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons. During certain home and away games, USU's mascot, Big Blue, will also don military field attire. Utah State's ROTC cadets also participate in other opportunities and events both on and off campus, including at the annual USU homecoming parade in Logan.[269][270]
USU's Big Blue mascot appears at home and away games, as well as in the greater Logan and Utah communities. Big Blue is almost always seen as an athletic, acrobatic member and leader of the Spirit Squad, in costume, performing dance moves and stunts. Historically, Big Blue was a real-life, rodeo-trained white bull dusted with animal-safe, animal-friendly blue color chalk. However, when the new Spectrum was built, concerns about a real-life bull scuffing up the basketball court led to the student version of the mascot becoming Big Blue's more visible, public avatar. Big Blue most often performs dance and acrobatic feats with the Spirit Squad and at home athletic events in the stadiums. At home football games, the student version of Big Blue leads the Aggie Football team onto the field between twin pillars of fire while riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.[271] Around Veterans Day and when USU competes against the Air Force Academy, Big Blue will also wear military field attire. Tryouts are held for the role; once selected, the student's identity is kept confidential until a formal "de-masking."[272]
In October 2026, Utah State unveiled a new live mascot named Thistle, a shaggy-coated Highland steer. Two steer siblings born in April 2026, Thistle 1 and Thistle 2, will begin attending university events beginning in fall 2027.[273][274]
The Utah Statesman (The Statesman) is the primary news outlet serving the student body. It is student-run with a faculty adviser and is funded by a student fee of $2 per semester[277] and advertising revenue. The Statesman is published weekly and distributed free on campus and in downtown Logan. It won the Society for Professional Journalists' Best Column Writing (2002) and Best Non-Daily Student Paper (2005) awards.[278][279] The paper was known as Student Life before 1979.[280]
Aggie Radio 92.3 KBLU-LP is an entirely student-run radio station broadcasting to Cache Valley and online. Programming emphasizes local, alternative, and independent music, with live sports via its Learfield IMG College affiliation covering Utah State football and men's and women's basketball throughout the season.[281]
Utah Public Radio (UPR), a service of Utah State University, broadcasts news, information, public affairs, and cultural programming 24/7 across Utah and southern Idaho via six stations and 30 translators. UPR began in 1953 as KVSC, became KUSU-FM in 1961, and is affiliated with National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and American Public Media.[282]
Aggie TV is a free cable lineup (≈110 channels) for on-campus residents. It also produces Crossroads (bulletins/announcements) and Aggie Advantage (local and student video programming).[283]
One of two official logos for the Utah State Aggies—the "UState" logo, widely used on uniforms and facilities.Maverik Stadium during an Aggie football game
Utah State University supports organized athletics within the varsity intercollegiate, club intercollegiate, and intramural categories. Since its founding in 1888, USU programs and athletes have won six individual national championships.[284][285][286][287]
Varsity athletics
USU competes in the NCAADivision IMountain West Conference (MWC), which it joined in 2013.[288][289] Aggie teams have won 37 conference championships and three national collegiate titles (women's volleyball; softball twice).[290] Golfer Jay Don Blake won the 1980 NCAA individual championship and was NCAA Player of the Year in 1981.[291] USU lists 90 All-Americans who have earned 134 All-America honors.[292]
Varsity sports
Men: football; basketball; cross country; golf; tennis; track & field (indoor and outdoor).
Women: basketball; cross country; gymnastics; soccer; softball; tennis; track & field (indoor and outdoor); volleyball.
Aggie fans at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum
The men's basketball team plays in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, long regarded as one of college basketball's toughest venues.[293] USU's student section, The HURD, has also drawn national attention.[294] During 2008–09, USU rose to #17 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.[295] Under Stew Morrill, USU went 193–13 (.937) at home, made six NCAA tournaments between 2000 and 2010, and amassed one of the nation's top win totals in that span.[296] USU captured the Mountain West regular-season title in 2018–19 and back-to-back tournament titles in 2019 and 2020,[297][298] and has appeared in five of the last six NCAA tournaments (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026).[299][300][301]
Utah State women's volleyball at the Wayne Estes Center
USU football competes in the FBS.[302] Under head coach Gary Andersen, USU posted its first 10-win regular season in 2012,[303] won its first Western Athletic Conference football title,[304] and finished ranked in all three major polls.[305] Athletics director Scott Barnes emphasized recruiting, TV coverage, fundraising, facilities, and reorganization during a resource-constrained period—efforts recognized by the 2009 Excellence in Management Cup.[306][307]Matt Wells succeeded Andersen before the 2013–14 season,[308] and in December 2020, athletics director John Hartwell hired Blake Anderson as USU's 29th head coach.[309] Anderson led USU for three seasons before interim head coach Nate Dreiling guided the program in 2024,[310] and Bronco Mendenhall was named head coach for 2025.[311]
USU was in the WAC from 2005 to 2012; men's teams won WAC titles in football (2012), basketball (2008–2011), indoor track (2008, 2010, 2011), outdoor track (2007, 2009–2011), and cross country (2005–2009, 2011). Women's teams won WAC titles in volleyball (2012), soccer (2008, 2010–2012), cross country (2006, 2008), and track (indoor/outdoor 2012). National collegiate titles include women's volleyball (1978) and softball (1980, 1981).[290]
As MWC members, the Aggies claimed a football division crown and played in the inaugural MWC Championship Game (2013); men's tennis won the MWC regular season in 2016; regular season and tournament titles in 2017; the tournament in 2018; and another regular season crown in 2024; men's cross country won the league in 2019; volleyball won the regular season in 2021; and men's basketball won the 2019–20 MWC tournament.[312][313][314][315]
Club and intramural sports
USU club teams have won fifteen national titles. Baseball club titles came in 2012 and 2014;[284] rodeo has produced two individual national champions (Garrett Thurston, Trevor Merrill);[287] the handball club has claimed nine national titles among its roster;[285][286][316] and the Cycling Club has two individual national championships.[317]
Utah State's Logan campus supports a broad slate of competitive club sports, including cycling, esports, figure skating, handball, jump rope, men's ice hockey, men's baseball, men's lacrosse, men's rodeo, men's and women's rugby, men's soccer, men's and women's ultimate frisbee, men's and women's volleyball (including beach volleyball), men's and women's water polo, pickleball, qudditch, racquetball, rock climbing, swimming and diving, tennis, women's lacrosse, women's western equestrian.[318]
Aggie Recreation offers intramural sports to students, faculty, and staff using campus and community facilities.[319]
Utah State alumni include accomplished artists, writers, athletes, and executives. They have led major corporations and nonprofit organizations worldwide, and several have held senior ecclesiastical positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Ezra Taft Benson, who attended Utah State, was former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and later President of the Church.[328]
Faculty Carnegie Professor of the Year, State of Utah
On June 13, 1899, graduates of the Agricultural College of Utah met to create the Alumni Association.[338] Today, the association is housed in the historic David B. Haight Alumni Center, dedicated July 11, 1991.[339] Alumni chapters exist in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Washington, D.C.[340] USU has more than 187,000 living alumni in all 50 states and 116 countries.[60]
12Fitzgerald, Joseph (February 4, 2026). Utah State University Budget Introduction(PDF) (Report). Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, Utah State Legislature. p.7. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
↑Watson, Raymond C., Jr. (2007). Solving the Naval Radar Crisis. Trafford Publishing, pp. 213–215.
↑Finchum, W. Arnold, Doran Baker, and Darwin L. Salisbury (1996). "The Navy Training Station at Utah State Agricultural College During World War II," Archive Document, Utah State University Library.
↑Lemon, Douglas K. (2016). Journey to the Stars: A History of Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Research Foundation. pp.12–15. ISBN978-1-4118-1806-4.
↑Peterson, F. Ross (1994). "Utah State University". Utah History Encyclopedia. Utah Education Network. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
12"Western American Literature". University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Department of English. University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
↑BARN FAQ, archived from the original on September 25, 2006, retrieved November 29, 2008
↑"Utah State University". Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
↑"Jordan Love". packers.com. Green Bay Packers. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
Further reading
Garlitz, Richard (2018). A Mission for Development: Utah Universities and the Point Four Program in Iran. Logan: Utah State University Press.
Hansen, Gary B.; Arrington, Leonard J. (June 15, 2010). A History of the Utah State University Economics Department, 1888–2008 (Report). Logan: Utah State University.
Shaver, James P. (2011). It's About People: Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, Utah State University, 1990–2009. Logan: Utah State University Press.
Simmonds, A. J. (1988). Pictures Past: A Centennial Celebration of Utah State University. Logan: Utah State University Press. ISBN0-87421-134-4.
Turner, R. Eyre (1989). History of College of Education, Utah State University, 1888–1990. Logan: Utah State University.
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