I finished the program a few years ago, so I'll chime in here.
Most of the residents are US graduates. 2000 was the only year in the past 25 that the program didn't fill. That year, two FMGs were accepted into the program (one by scrambling), but they are the only FMGs that I am aware of in the last 10 years or so.
The faculty also mostly consists of US med school graduates. The few foreign graduate faculty members were all excellent.
The program tends to be a little more competitive than average because Utah is a strong draw for some people. There are a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities nearby. Med school graduates in Utah are more likely to be married and have children, so some try to stay close to family when they might be competitive at the more elite programs. Mormon applicants from all over the country often have ties in Utah. (Mormons made up about a quarter to a third of the residents in my years, if you care.)
Unfortunately, the cost of living is not as cheap as it used to be. Housing costs are still sky high. It won't be as expensive as NYC, but it isn't as cheap as most Midwest towns.
The training is pretty good. It definitely could be better. Surgical pathology rotations at the University in the 3rd and 4th years didn't really allow residents to take the lead in working up a case, dictating it, and presenting it for corrections at sign-out, so everyone opted for rotations at the community hospitals. These are excellent rotations, but they aren't the caliber of a rotation at a solid academic center. That is a shame because there is plenty of good material at the University.
Residents from Utah get good jobs and fellowships, but I think that is more a reflection of the caliber of residents coming into the program rather than the program making them into stars. I base this on the fact that when I went to Iowa for fellowships, The 3rd and 4th year residents there were more solid in surgical pathology than I was as a 5th year resident. It's my fault, of course, but there are programs (like Iowa) that just won't let residents get away with any half-assed learning. Residents leaving Utah may have to endure more stress in the first year of a job or fellowship, but, like I said, the graduates do really well despite what is probably a slow start.
CP is excellent, but it's CP, right?
