Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah · Private Nonprofit · 67.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 94/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Brigham Young University scores 94 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale. The combination that produces this rating is exceptional: $6,688 tuition (heavily subsidized by the LDS Church), $15,564 net price, 81.0% completion rate, $46,600 average 6-year earnings, and a 5-year payback period. Median debt of just $11,069 against $46,600 average earnings produces a 0.238 debt-to-earnings ratio. The repayment rate of 87.0% at three years confirms graduates are managing debt effectively. The Scorecard data here is somewhat understated because median earnings reflect the full cross-section of majors including those in missions, social services, and lower-wage vocations. At the program level, the numbers are impressive: Computer Science (183 graduates, $90,625 year one, $142,800 at four years, A-grade ROI); Finance (216 graduates, $83,876 year one, $129,879 at four years, A-grade ROI); Computer Engineering (81 graduates, $88,785 year one, $133,111 at four years); Accounting (256 graduates, $68,393 year one, $96,632 at four years). The LDS institution context is relevant: nearly all undergraduates are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and many interrupt their education for a two-year mission, which affects how Scorecard timing metrics are interpreted.
At 0.24, median debt is less than a quarter of average earnings six years after entry. A ratio of 1.0 would mean owing a full year of those earnings.
Brigham Young University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,688/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $6,688/yr |
| Average net price | $15,564/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $62,256 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $75,790 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $46,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,069 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $117 |
| Estimated payback period | 5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 81.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 32,952 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $6,688/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $15,564/year, or roughly $62,256 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $10,444/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,542/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $11,069, which works out to about $117 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($46,600) and comes to 0.24, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,444 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,112 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,062 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,378 |
| $110,001+ | $20,542 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $10,444 per year at BYU. Four-year cost of roughly $41,776 against $46,600 average earnings and a 5-year payback period makes BYU an exceptional access-to-outcomes story for low-income LDS students. Pell-eligible students who gain admission and complete their degree face a strong cost-outcome profile.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $13,062 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $16,378. The ROI case is strong across all middle-income bands. Students in high-earning programs like CS, finance, or engineering face a payback period well under five years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $20,542 per year - roughly $82,168 over four years. The payback period is 5 years, with CS/finance/engineering graduates earning $80,000+ year one. LDS families who qualify for admission at any income level are making a financially rational choice.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Brigham Young University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $68,321 | C+ |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $28,906 | B |
| Accounting | $96,632 | A |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $118,606 | A |
| Finance and Financial Management | $129,879 | A |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $80,841 | A |
| Teacher Education | $50,251 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $142,800 | A |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,634 | A |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $49,272 | A |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (183 graduates) is BYU's highest-earning program with A-grade ROI: $90,625 year one, $142,800 at four years, debt-to-earnings 0.132, median debt $12,000. These are strong outcomes at a net price of $15,564. BYU CS graduates are competitive for roles at major tech employers and frequently enter the Utah technology corridor (Silicon Slopes). The four-year trajectory to $142,800 combined with $12,000 median debt is a strong cost-to-outcome ratio.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (216 graduates) earns $83,876 year one and $129,879 at four years - A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.140, median debt $11,750). BYU finance graduates are recruited by investment banks, private equity firms, and corporate finance departments in Salt Lake City, New York, and beyond. The combination of language skills (many students speak a second language from mission experience), quantitative preparation, and low debt produces strong outcomes.
Computer/Information Technology Administration
Computer/IT Administration (222 graduates) earns $83,533 year one and $118,606 at four years - A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.108, median debt $9,000). The lowest median debt in this program list combined with strong earnings reflects BYU's institutional pricing. At 222 graduates this is a high-volume program with consistent outcomes. Graduates enter technology management, systems administration, and IT consulting roles.
Accounting
Accounting (256 graduates) is BYU's largest single program and earns $68,393 year one and $96,632 at four years - A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.128, median debt $8,727). Median debt of $8,727 is the lowest in BYU's program list and reflects both the low tuition and strong scholarship support. BYU's accounting program has national placement recognition, particularly at Big Four public accounting firms. The four-year trajectory to $96k reflects promotion to senior associate levels.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (179 graduates) earns $67,668 year one and $90,634 at four years - A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.155, median debt $10,500). BYU engineering graduates enter aerospace, manufacturing, and technology sectors in Utah and nationally. At $10,500 median debt and $67,668 year-one earnings, the debt service is trivial relative to income.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 88.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Brigham Young University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 67.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 630-730 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 640-730 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 28-32 |
| Enrollment | 32,952 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 32.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,370 |
At 67.8%, BYU is selective. The SAT 630-730 Math range and ACT 28-32 composite reflect a student body with solid academic preparation. Church membership and standing is effectively a prerequisite - the application process includes a bishop's endorsement for LDS applicants. Non-LDS students can apply but face structural barriers.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The Church subsidy is the primary explanation.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University (this school) | 94 | $15,564 | $75,790 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 93 | $36,228 | $102,051 |
| Drexel University | 82 | $38,509 | $84,648 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | 75 | $34,906 | $76,571 |
| Western Governors University | 75 | $12,548 | $60,615 |
| Westminster University | 70 | $27,094 | $66,215 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Brigham Young University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
BYU admits 67.8% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 630-730 Math and 640-730 Reading; ACT composite 28-32. Pell rate of 32.1% reflects the broad economic diversity of LDS families nationally and internationally. Nearly all students are LDS members; prospective students who are not members of the church have limited access to BYU's enrollment. Students who fit within that community gain access to an extraordinary cost-value ratio.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Brigham Young University is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $62,256 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $75,790 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 5 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 81.0% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $11,069 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $46,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Brigham Young University: Common Questions
Is Brigham Young University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Brigham Young University pays off. It scores 94/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $15,564 a year after aid ($62,256 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $75,790 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5 years to earn back.
How much does Brigham Young University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $15,564 a year, or roughly $62,256 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Brigham Young University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $75,790 ten years after enrolling, roughly $33,990 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Brigham Young University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5 years for Brigham Young University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Brigham Young University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $11,069, against average earnings of $46,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Brigham Young University?
The six-year graduation rate is 81.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.