
Ogden, UTpublicweber.edu
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Weber State University is a large, open-access public university in Ogden, Utah, defined by its practical, career-focused mission and its role as a gateway to higher education for the region. With an acceptance rate of 100%, it operates as a true engine of opportunity, offering over 250 certificate and degree programs, heavily weighted toward in-demand fields like health professions and business. The campus vibe is commuter-heavy and utilitarian, with most students living off-campus, but it's backed by a robust support system aimed at student success and a strikingly low net price.
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Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Weber State's admissions policy is the polar opposite of selective: it's an open-access institution with a 100% . The university does not require standardized test scores for admission, though they can be submitted to help with course placement. This open-door philosophy means the primary barrier to entry is simply applying. The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is reported at 38% for a recent cycle, and another source cites a 23% yield, indicating that a significant majority of admitted students choose other options. Demonstrated interest is not a factor in admissions decisions, as it is not considered per the . The process is straightforward, with no Early Decision program to complicate timelines.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
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Weber State's academic identity is built on breadth, practicality, and teaching. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and areas of emphasis, spanning over 250 certificate and degree programs, including 20 graduate programs. The curriculum is heavily oriented toward direct career pathways. For the class of 2024, the most popular majors were overwhelmingly in applied fields:
This focus on professional foundations is central to the institution's mission. Students can explore a comprehensive range of programs in business, healthcare, STEM, and the arts through the university's online portal.
Weber State is overwhelmingly a commuter campus. Only 5% of students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, with 97% living off campus. The university provides a range of programs and services through its Student Access & Success Division designed to help students get involved, find support, and succeed both inside and outside the classroom. The campus environment is described as beautiful, cozy, and easy to navigate, with modern buildings and plenty of study spaces. These services extend to its WSU Davis campus location as well, offering access to college resources and involvement opportunities.
Weber State's graduation rate stands at 46%, a figure the university notes has increased significantly from 31% over the past decade. The institution confers a high volume of credentials—over 4,500 in a recent academic year—with a notable mix: 36.9% of those credentials were bachelor's degrees, while 46.8% were associate degrees, reflecting its role in both two-year and four-year education. Early-career earnings for graduates are reported to be about $40,000 on average. The university celebrates the achievements of thousands of graduates each year at commencement.
Weber State's defining financial characteristic is its low . The average net price after aid is $10,258. The university awards over $90 million in aid each year through scholarships and grants. Financial aid packages are based on individual financial need as determined by the FAFSA. The university offers federal grants, such as the Pell Grant, where students can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year depending on need, application timing, and funding levels. While the university promotes graduating with "little to no debt," its materials do not describe a formal no-loan policy where 100% of need is met without loans. Graduate students are eligible for up to $20,500 annually in federal loans.
Weber State stands out as a pure accessibility play in higher education. It rejects the gatekeeping of selective admissions entirely, offering a 100% and a low-cost path to a degree. Its strength lies not in exclusivity, but in volume and practical focus: it graduates thousands each year, with a curriculum heavily tilted toward immediate job-market needs like healthcare and business. The dramatic improvement in its graduation rate—from 31% to 44% in a decade—suggests a concerted, successful effort to support students through to completion. For a student seeking a no-frills, career-oriented education with minimal debt and no admissions anxiety, Weber State is a compelling and straightforward option.