Utah Valley University Reviews

Kennedie

from Springville, UT

Current student

What tips can you share with prospective students?

Make sure you sign up for classes as early as possible, go to UVU events and socialize, make friends with other people in your major/college!

How would you describe the food and dining options?

There are so many options! They have a large variety of kinds of food, both healthy and not so healthy!

How does this institution support campus safety or mental health and wellness programs?

There are so many things that the student health and wellness center has to help students. They can shop both your physical and mental health! There are so many amazing resources!

JACOB

from Provo, UT

Current student

In which ways do you feel you are learning and growing?

I have developed so much as a person this past freshman year thanks to UVU! The investment put into students by the school has made me feel valued, respected, and intelligent. I especially love the effort put in by professors who are passionate about their subjects and strive to have meaningful connections with their students. I have had the opportunity to hold a position at the UVU student newspaper, volunteer at our university food pantry for low-income students, and explore multiple different career paths through my classes. All of this has built my confidence in my ability to succeed during and after college!

How would you describe the dorm life at this school?

There are some great places to live on/near campus. Most on-campus students live at Wolverine Crossing, Axis, or The Green. I would say Wolverine Crossing is the most popular for freshmen and students without cars. Everyone that I know who has lived there has said that it's very fun and social. It is also where a lot of UVU events and parties are.

How would you describe the food and dining options?

The food court has a lot of great dining options to choose from. UVU offers fast food, healthier restaurants, and even a food/salad bar. I would highly recommend signing up for the UVU GreenBucks program if you see yourself grabbing a meal from the food court often.

In your experience, what is there to do for fun at this college?

The University has a ton of events throughout the year! Some of my personal favorites were Midnight Madness (which celebrated the beginning of the basketball season), the Halloween "insomnia" party, and most recently the annual Wolverinefest to close off the academic year.

Julia

from Orem, UT

Current student

In which ways do you feel you are learning and growing?

Although every school has its clusters of helpful and less helpful teachers, the instructors I’ve encountered have been very helpful and have thoroughly broadened my knowledge of their subjects.

What tips can you share with prospective students?

Online classes are wonderful! There may be an extra assignment here or there for making sure you are interactive with your peers, but not a lot. For those of you who have weird schedules, other responsibilities or just detest in person classes, this is a great option. UVU has an easy way of going about it that’s not confusing or frustrating.

What qualities do you have that have best prepared you for success at this institution?

I think putting in the extra effort to ask questions, apply feedback and try to make each assignment 100% before submitting has helped the most. Also, researching professors and classes to know what to expect.

Sarah from Pleasant Grove, UT

a current student here

Categories	Comments
Am learning a lot	I LOVE going to school here! The Professors are fantastic! Every class I have had thus far has been taught by highly respected individuals; everyone has at least one Master's and they have all had experience working in their field! The class room sizes are fairly small; the largest I've had contained 25 students. The Professors are easy to talk to and Remember your name!!
Am enjoying being here	This campus is... unique :) It's made mostly out of concrete, glass and colorful pipes. It's incredibly easy to get around, and there are always some activity going on! If you don't have a date for the weekend, you can always expect to have a a good array of fun, alternative options.
Bang for the buck	First of all, this HAS to be one of the least expensive schools in the US! My tuition is usually around $2500 a semester, but that's for 19 credit hours... For 9, it's more like $1200. But think of it this way: Not only are you paying for an instructor, you're paying for a friend, and possibly a future reference/stepping stool into the career of your choice... It's not half bad.
Tips for prospective students	I say get in contact with the department you're interested in as soon as possible! Tell them a little about yourself, and what you're looking for in an education, the department counselors are EXTREMELY helpful and willing to work with you on a graduation schedule. And even if you're unsure of what you want to major in, or if you decide to CHANGE your major halfway through, there's no hassle, and they COMPLETELY understand!
Great for these types of students	This is a great school, for those students who FEEL unconventional... No matter your work schedule, or how (un)flexible you might be, this school is willing to work for you! There are a VARIETY of degrees available, in fact I would be seriously surprised if you didn't find what you're looking for! It's also a nice environment for LDS students or anyone interested in learning about religions. There's an institute of religion on campus, and the school is very open-minded about what goes on in the community!

Natasha from Orem, UT

a current student here

Categories	Comments
Am learning a lot	I have learned so much since I started school at UVU. Part of the reason is because the staff here is amazing! They welcome questions and are always ready to help you if you are having a hard time understanding anything. They're all very accessible and approachable. They also get to know each student individually and remember your names. I have a crazy schedule and miss a lot of school for illness, and I haven't yet had a teacher that hasn't been incredibly flexible and helpful to me.
Am enjoying being here	I love it here. It's really cold in the winter, but since I moved here to Orem, I have had so many wonderful experiences and opportunities that I wouldn't otherwise have had. There is so much going on all the time and because there are two universities within 15 minutes of eachother, there are lots of young adults to hang out with. :)
Bang for the buck	I ended up having to take a year off to get Utah residency because out of state tuition was so expensive, but after starting school here, I can tell you it was way worth it. I'm a full-time student and my tuition ends up around 2400 after my class and lab fees. And it's worth every dollar. I am learning more than I am paying.
Tips for prospective students	Talk to your advisors!!!! They'll help you figure out exactly what classes you should be taking and if you don't know what you want to study, they can help you look at all you different options and decide what classes to take to figure it out. They're very supportive and helpful. Also, take a little bit of everything. Enjoy the different class choices. Regardless of your major, take a dance class or a cooking class or a auto shop class. Try new things! College is a great chance to experience lots of different fields and learn about life. TAKE A PERSONAL FINANCE CLASS!!!
Great for these types of students	Students looking for a clean atmosphere with lots of fun things to do on and off campus, without the alcohol and other substances. Students with busy schedules trying to fit classes in between the craziness of life. Parents going back to school. People looking to continue learning with or without pursuing a degree.

Alyssa from Centerville, UT

a current student here

Categories	Comments
Am learning a lot	I am going into Early Childhood Education and the program is amazing. I loved the teachers and what they taught. I have learned a lot. I only wish they had a bachelors.
Am enjoying being here	Everyone is different. Everyone is very chill. People know what they want and I really enjoyed spending time there. The library is quite and open. A great place to study. The only bad thing is location.
Bang for the buck	College will always be expensive. But overall it was worth the money.
Tips for prospective students	If you want to do well in college you have to put 100% into the work. Don't procrastinate. There are always going to be fun things to do, always, so put your homework first. Talk to your teachers. You will hear it a lot but you have to put yourself out there. Keep a planner and write down all assignments from the syllubus. Always read all of the syllubus.
Great for these types of students	The cool thing is....any type of students would be good at Utah Valley University.

AnnAlysse from Santaquin, UT

researching this school

Categories	Comments
Will learn a lot	I have many friends attending UVU and they have told me how much they love the school. They say it is a great learning environment. I have been able to go and sit in on a class one of my friends was in just to get a feel for it and what an experience it was! I was able to understand what was being taught and I wasn't even apart of the class. The professors teach in a way that most students would understand.
Will enjoy being here	Although the campus seems huge as a soon to be freshman, the learning possibilities are just as big. There are many fun activities and event to be apart of. There is also all the resources need to succeed, including the professors who are willing to help you and are as friendly as can be.
Bang for the buck	This is definitely the a great school! You get more than what you pay for. If your living in Utah County this is a school that should be considered. The tuition is cheap and no matter where you live in Utah county it isn't that long of a drive if you wanted to live at home while attending.
Tips for prospective students	Go check out the school and meet with the counselors. There is no better way to find out if it is the school for you unless you get to know the school.
Great for these types of students	It is a great school for any type of student. Whether it be someone just trying to get generals done or wanting to finish up their schooling. It will fit to you.

Alexis from South Jordan, UT

accepted here and planning to attend soon

Categories	Comments
Will learn a lot	Just by going on a tour and seeing one classroom I know that I will be learning a lot, it is a teach based school, not research based, so the professors are focused on their students. The classrooms are small which means professors will actually get to know and help their students learn more!
Will enjoy being here	Even just the few people that I have met who attend this university were so unbelievably nice and welcoming, everyone has nothing but good things to say about this school and it makes me that much more excited to start attending in the fall!
Bang for the buck	Most universities cost above $4,000 a semester, UVU is only around $2,000 a semester, and there are a bunch of cheap on campus restaurants and activities for FREE!! Just the simple fact that I will be attending a university that has multiple masters degree programs for as little money possible is amazing!
Tips for prospective students	Apply early, UVU is one of the fastest growing universities in Utah! This means you will be exposed to numerous amounts of people and always have someone to do something with! I highly recommend coming to Utah Valley University, it's cheap, fun, and has a lot of programs, along with professors who actually care about how much their students learn!
Great for these types of students	Honestly, UVU has clubs for every type of person, from computer geniuses to dancers to xbox fans! If you are a social person and want a good education, I'd say UVU is the place for you!

Natalie from Spanish Fork, UT

a current student here

Categories	Comments
Am learning a lot	Most of the classes i took, i learned a lot from. I loved the teachers i had, and i believe they really wanted the best for their students. They found the most effective way of teaching and had so many ways to help students if they needed it. email, labs, personal attention etc. The education i received was excellent. Except in one elective class in which we did the exact same thing everyday, however this teacher was still willing to help her students, and was a great teacher.
Am enjoying being here	There are lots of fun activities that the UVUSA (Utah valley University student association) plans, They are open to ideas from all students, and do a variety for all age groups and personalities. There is a lot of cool clubs and they have an adventure center that helps you find fun things to do all year long. I am one who doesn't always like to mess around, and i believe this is not just a party college but it has exceptional learning, and leadership opportunities. They also have a cool library.
Bang for the buck	The education you may receive is great for the average price for tuition etc.
Tips for prospective students	Study at least 2 hours for every 1 credit hour you take, sit on the front row in class, answer the teacher's questions- even if your not sure if it is right, they like the input, and they will get to know you better (follow these steps and you should get a 4.0 :) ) and get involved! there is a lot of cool leadership opportunities and fun things to do always.
Great for these types of students	Not only is the social life great, but also the learning is quality, and therefore if you want quality education along with a good time, this university is great for you!

Kaitlin from Eagle Mountain, UT

a current student here

Categories	Comments
In three sentences	Utah Valley University is the perfect place to go for college if you are looking for high quality education, affordable tuition, and low competition. It is inviting, relaxing, engaging, and enjoyable in every sense of those words. The education I have received at UVU has been world-class, and I would not rather be anywhere else at this point in my career.
Tips for prospective students	Do not rule out UVU just because it is an open-enrollment school. The quality of education is outstanding, for all types of learners. The University in general does a great job at meeting you where your needs are at. If you were never really great at the whole school thing in high school, there's a place for you. If you were a straight-A student--likewise--our Honor's program is AMAZING!
Academic Rigor	On a scale of community college to Harvard, it probably lies somewhere on the lower end of the scale. But, as with anything, it depends on what classes you take, what professors you take, and how hard you apply yourself.
Dorm Life	There is no on-campus housing at UVU, but the student housing near campus is great. While there are always going to be the difficulties with parties, maintenance, and weird roommates, the dorm life is alive and thriving with fun people.
Food and Dining	We have amazing dining services at UVU, including a Panda Express, Chick-fil-A, Costa Vida, Pizza Hut, Subway, Jamba Juice, Cupbop, Fishbone, Sushi Burrito, Guru's cafe, Scoop's Ice Cream, and more. No matter what you like, there's something for everyone (all within a few steps of each other in the food court).
What to do for fun	Hiking, climbing in our indoor rock climbing gym, going to the UVU gym, visiting the canyon, ice skating, roller skating, penny arcade, movies, mall, shopping, etc.
Bang for the buck	Excellent bang considering the buck is relatively cheap (around $2500/semester for in-state students, and $7500 for out of state students).
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus	True Wolverine. On the first Wednesday of the school year, everyone goes into the courtyard and kisses someone in front of the big Wolverine sign. It's like initiation.
Great for these types of students	Anyone who wants a good education without feeling tons of pressure (aka: if I don't meet X, Y, and Z expectations, I might get kicked out of the school!)
Clubs and Activities	There is SERIOUSLY something for everyone. Whether you're into rock climbing, LGBT raves, Jazz music, yoga classes, skateboarding, managing stocks, doing media marketing... there's a club for you somewhere.
Campus Safety	I have never felt unsafe on campus. It's a very clean place (and I mean, come on, this is Utah we're talking about) and we have a full-time police force that serves UVU campus 24/7. It's extremely safe.

Rebecca from Sagamore Beach, MA

a current student here

Categories	Comments
In three sentences	Utah Valley is a fantastic university. This is a school I'd highly recommend to any one who wants a good education as well as have fun. The school diversity is wonderful and the staff and student body are all great.
Tips for prospective students	Keep in touch with your academic adviser if you want a straight shot to your major. If not then there are a lot of interesting fun classes to take there.
Academic Rigor	The academics of the university are great, they haven't been too hard. The professors teaching your class also helps decide if the class will be difficult. There are plenty of great professors at the university but there are some harder ones as well. I'd recommend doing some research about the professor of your selected course.
Dorm Life	UVU (Utah Valley) doesn't have there own housing. They have wolverine crossing but that's just an apartment complex that affiliates themselves with the school. Not to worry Orem and the towns surrounding it have plenty of apartments for rent. All for varying prices. But the local apartments are full of fun and friendly people. Its really easy to meet new people.
Food and Dining	There are plenty of places to eat at UVU. On campus there are several places as well as the campus cafeteria. The cafeteria has great food I highly recommend it. There are also plenty of places to eat that are right by the campus as well.Often throughout the semester there will be free food all over campus. I recommend taking advantage of this. No matter what your hungry for you'll be able to find something to satisfy yourself.
What to do for fun	There is always something going on on campus. Everyday UVU has the zone doing something. The zone is an activity stop that has a wide range of activities and on some days will give out food samples. A new student wellness center was just build too. This building has rock climbing, a track, workout rooms, a bowling alley, demonstration kitchen and a hang out area.
Bang for the buck	Everything is moderately priced on campus. The only overly priced store on campus would have to be the campus bookstore. Tuition is very good too even out of state. If you can get in state that would be best, the price lowers drastically.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus	UVU has many local groups come onto campus and talk to the students that roam the halls. Some of these visitors can be guests from other schools and anywhere in between.
Great for these types of students	No matter what your looking for you can find it at UVU. There is a wide range of people and personalities here and finding a crowd to fit into is rather easy.
Clubs and Activities	There are so many clubs at UVU! Once a semester all the clubs come out and make themselves known at an event called club rush. It lasts for 3 days and offers the students a chance to view the many clubs that UVU has to offer. No matter what kind of club your looking for UVU probably has it.
Greek Life	There is no Greek life at UVU
Campus Safety	The campus security is amazing. The campus police are excellent as well. They are very kind and willing to help you immediately. They are very quick at getting things done as well.

Kalli from Arlington, VA

a past student here

Categories	Comments
In three sentences	Utah Valley University has given me the confidence I needed in myself to stand out amongst the thousands of students around me. I moved from Utah just recently to go to school on the East Coast, and with the education that I received from UVU, I have surpassed my peers in all areas of academics. They gave me the tools necessary to expand my mind, and believe that I can accomplish any task, whether it be a short homework assignment, or a final on the anatomy of a human body. With this education, I have no doubts of the successes I will see in my future!
Tips for prospective students	While attending school, it is a given, you must STUDY! I spent most of my days in the library studying, which was great because it is brand new! It even has the new carpet smell. There are many places on campus other than the library that offer perfect arrangements for study. I loved that I could walk down a hall and see so many others in my same position, studying as hard as possible to become a success story. For any prospective students, I would utilize all of the places there are to study. Some of my favorite places are as follows: the Losee Center, the Library, the Computer Science Building, the Hall of Flags, and the LA Hall. Not only can you study in these places, but you can also people watch, and who doesn't love that?!
Academic Rigor	I loved UVU because the professors are there for your success. Even though this school is growing to be one of the largest in the state, the professors still care about your individual success. I was in the sciences for most of my time at UVU, and the courses I took were some of the hardest classes I have yet to face, but because they were hard, and a lot was expected of me, I was able to actually learn and retain the knowledge that was given me, even now!
Dorm Life	UVU doesn't have any on-campus housing, BUT it is in a city that has over 50,000 students living within a 15 mile radius. There are TONS of awesome apartments and condos in the Orem and Provo area that have fantastic social scenes.
Food and Dining	Orem, and neighbor Provo, have every type of food imaginable. I had some visitors come and spend some time with me there and they were in love with all of the cute quaint restaurant that these cities have all through out. They also have chain restaurants that we all know and love.
What to do for fun	There are SOO many fun things to do in this area. As I mentioned before, there are over 50,000 students all in the same situation, and all looking to have some fun outside of studying. Every night of the week you will be able to find something to do, ranging from block parties (a whole block is shut down and massive amounts of people are dancing together), house parties, hiking, swimming, watching sporting events, university events/dances, clubs, amazing restaurants, camping, golfing, boating on Utah Lake, and many other awesome activities!
Bang for the buck	I loved UVU, and my prerequisite for any new school I attend is that it has to be compared to my experiences at UVU. I loved the sense of community it brought, the friendships I made, and the education I received. What more could be worth your time and money?
Clubs and Activities	TONS of clubs and activities to get involved in. They have recruiting in the Hall of Flags at the beginning of each semester, and it gives new students and current students the chance to mingle with each other and find where they belong.
Campus Safety	I always felt extremely safe at UVU. Never once did I doubt my security.

Rachel from Provo, UT

a current student here

Categories	Comments
In three sentences	Utah Valley University is a great student friendly school in which the teachers truly care about their students' success. Everything is connected indoors so you don't have to walk outside in the winter! Classes are smaller so that you get more one-on-one time with the teacher; it's one to 30 instead of one to 130.
Tips for prospective students	It's always helpful to check out your professors on ratemyprofessors.com, because despite UVU having a lot of caring professors, sometimes you can get a difficult teacher. Be sure you check with your counselor a lot, because they will help you reach your goals in a timely manner!!!
Academic Rigor	You can learn a lot, especially once you get into your intended major.
Dorm Life	OF course, it always depends on where you're living, but dorm life is fun, and it's easy to meet new people.
Food and Dining	There might be some traveling involved when it comes to having good food, but it's not bad. UVU even has a fairly decent dining area inside, although it can end up being expensive, so sometimes it's best to just bring food.
What to do for fun	I've found it hard to balance work, school, friends, and fun, but usually apartments have organized activities you can go to, and usually there's some party going on somewhere in the apartment complex. :) There are lots of movie theaters, and there's lots of room for creativity. :)
Bang for the buck	UVU is one of the cheapest colleges, but has a lot of the best programs, like the Dentist and Nursing programs, and even the Education programs, are best in the state.
Great for these types of students	UVU is great for those students who need more one-on-one time with the professor. Class sizes are smaller, so it allows for the professor to have more personal time and get to know their students better. It's also a smaller campus (although it's continually growing!), so it's great for all students to be able to get to their classes efficiently. ALSO, the library is amazing!!!! Great place to study, lots of study areas, and they have an amazing variety of supplementary materials. The building is gorgeous and has some really awesome views from the top floors, and is one of the most energy efficient buildings in the state!
Clubs and Activities	They offer a huge variety of clubs. Lots can be helpful for future careers, and others are just for fun. At the beginning of every semester, the clubs set up in the Hall of Flags and you can check out a lot of the available clubs.
Greek Life	They have both sororities and fraternities.
Campus Safety	Pretty safe environment. They have EMT (I think they have a different, special name on campus) on standby all through out the day. People are nice; it's just a safe feeling environment.