Utah State University
Utah State University is a public land-grant university and research university in Logan, Utah, United States. Founded in 1888 under the Morrill Land-Grant Acts as Utah’s federal land-grant institution, USU is one of the state’s two flagship universities. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". As of fall 2025, USU enrolled 29,831 students across its statewide system, making its Logan campus the largest public residential campus in Utah, with more than 84 percent of students living away from home.
USU was founded to provide education in agriculture, mechanical arts, science, classical studies, and military training, later expanding to include liberal arts, business, and engineering. Today, the university operates over 30 statewide campuses and over 50 research centers, having the most degree offerings of any institution in the state of Utah.
Utah State is recognized nationally for its academics and research in engineering, space science, aviation, flight technology, agriculture, energy, natural resources, business, anticipatory intelligence, and education. Since both World War I and World War II, Utah State's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program has achieved national prominence — earning USU the nickname “West Point of the West.” Through its Space Dynamics Laboratory—a University Affiliated Research Center serving the Missile Defense Agency, United States Space Force, and United States Department of Defense—USU has launched more experiments and payloads into space than any other university in the world. In 2023, the National Science Foundation ranked Utah State 80th nationally and among the top 50 public universities for research expenditures, reporting $401.5 million in 2023 and $497.4 million in 2024. The university hosts the second-oldest undergraduate research program in the United States, and houses Utah’s only colleges of veterinary medicine and agriculture.
Utah State’s athletic teams, known as the Utah State Aggies, compete in NCAA Division I athletics. The Aggies currently participate in the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference as a full member beginning July 1, 2026.
History
Background and founding (1862–1890)
The Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1862, created a system of publicly funded institutions devoted to agriculture and the mechanical arts. 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. Following a visit to Denmark, territorial legislator Anthon H. Lund advocated for an agricultural college modeled after European land-grant institutions.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. On March 8, 1888, the Agricultural College of Utah was chartered as the state’s land-grant institution. The college opened its doors on September 2, 1890, with 14-year-old Vendla Berntson enrolled as its first student.
Growth and curricular controversies (1890–1916)
The new college was chartered to provide instruction in “agriculture, domestic science, and the mechanic arts.” 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. The legislature gradually lifted these restrictions, and by the 1920s the college had regained broad academic autonomy.Expansion and wartime contributions (1914–1945)
The college launched its statewide Extension Service in 1914 and awarded its first master’s degrees the following year. 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.Under President Elmer George Peterson, the college expanded significantly, and its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program achieved national prominence — earning the nickname “West Point of the West.”
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. 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.
Post-war growth and university status (1946–1970s)
After the war, enrollment surged with returning veterans supported by the GI Bill. The college expanded 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.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. 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.
Modernization and expansion (1980–2000)
By the late 20th century, Utah State sought to broaden its national reach beyond its regional mission. Under President George H. Emert, the university’s endowment grew from $7 million to $80 million, and research funding reached new highs. During this period, USU strengthened its statewide distance education system and began transitioning to digital research and online learning technologies.Twenty-first century and present day (2000–present)
Under President Stan L. Albrecht, Utah State expanded its research partnerships and global collaborations, including initiatives in China, Saudi Arabia, and Peru. 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. In 2012, USU concluded a $400 million fundraising campaign—the largest in its history.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. She was succeeded by Elizabeth R. Cantwell, whose tenure was marked by fiscal and administrative controversy prior to her departure to lead Washington State University.
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.
Campus and locations
Utah State University operates a system of campuses throughout Utah, with Utah State Extension offices in all 29 counties.Utah State also owns, manages, or operates within several agricultural, equestrian, botanical, and ecological sites across Utah, including the Bastian Agricultural Center, the USU Botanical Center, the Ogden Botanical Gardens, the Sam Skaggs Family Equine Education Center, and the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter.
Affiliated centers and field sites
- Bastian Agricultural Center. Equestrian, agricultural education, and event facilities.
- USU Botanical Center and Ogden Botanical Gardens. Teaching gardens, wetlands, and outreach sites.
- Sam Skaggs Family Equine Education Center. Instructional and research facilities for equine sciences.
- Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter. A land trust and a education center focused on wetlands, wildlife, and sustainability; LEED Platinum certified.
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.
Logan campus
Utah State University's main academic, research, residential, and innovation campus is located in Logan, Utah, spanning 600 acres at the mouth of Logan Canyon. 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.The campus is home to more than 100 buildings. Key facilities include Maverik Stadium, the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, Old Main, the Merrill-Cazier Library, and the Manon Caine Russell-Kathryn Caine Wanlass Performance Hall.
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. The campus also includes residential, recreational, and athletic buildings. To the west and north are located the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum and Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.