Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Brigham Young University at a Glance
Brigham Young University (BYU) is a private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System (CES) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
1875
151 years old
$3.7B
$3.71 billion ( FY 2025)
37,205
34,224 undergrad · 2,981 grad
1,264
560 acres
Identity
Is Brigham Young University Worth It?
Brigham Young University is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $15,564/year net price and $75,790 median earnings, graduates earn 4.9× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 82% graduation rate means roughly 18% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Median student debt of $11,069 is manageable at just 15% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Brigham Young University delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Brigham Young University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 4 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Brigham Young University | 99 | $15,564 | $75,790 |
| #2 | Drexel University | 43 | $38,509 | $84,648 |
| #3 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 39 | $34,906 | $76,571 |
| #4 | DePaul University | 38 | $30,902 | $68,751 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Brigham Young University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Brigham Young University
The highest-earning program at Brigham Young University is Management Information Systems and Services at $81,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $17,600/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Management Information Systems and Services graduate from Brigham Young University earns $81,600, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $17,600. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Management Information Systems and Services graduates carry $10,352 in median debt vs. $15,750 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $15,564/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management Information Systems and Services | $81,600 | $81,600 | $10,352 |
| Computer Engineering | $81,500 | $81,500 | N/A |
| Computer Science | $77,700 | $77,700 | $10,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $72,800 | $72,800 | $9,698 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $70,000 | $70,000 | $13,495 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,600 | $67,600 | N/A |
| Mechanical Engineering | $66,200 | $66,200 | $11,000 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | $64,100 | $64,100 | $13,451 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $63,300 | $63,300 | N/A |
| Statistics | $61,600 | $61,600 | $12,435 |
| Construction Management | $61,200 | $61,200 | N/A |
| Accounting and Related Services | $60,700 | $60,700 | $12,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $60,700 | $60,700 | $11,200 |
| Housing and Human Environments | $59,200 | $59,200 | N/A |
| Marketing | $59,200 | $59,200 | $5,687 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $56,800 | $56,800 | $11,914 |
| Civil Engineering | $55,900 | $55,900 | $11,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $53,700 | $53,700 | N/A |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $51,800 | $51,800 | N/A |
| Economics | $50,300 | $50,300 | $12,500 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $49,400 | $49,400 | N/A |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $48,800 | $48,800 | $14,107 |
| Graphic Communications | $45,300 | $45,300 | N/A |
| Mathematics | $42,800 | $42,800 | N/A |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $40,300 | $40,300 | $10,648 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $39,500 | $39,500 | $13,129 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $39,000 | $39,000 | N/A |
| Political Science and Government | $39,000 | $39,000 | $11,000 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $38,500 | $38,500 | N/A |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $37,000 | $37,000 | $12,551 |
| Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $36,800 | $36,800 | N/A |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $36,600 | $36,600 | N/A |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $35,300 | $35,300 | $9,152 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $34,000 | $34,000 | $10,974 |
| Geography and Cartography | $33,900 | $33,900 | $10,442 |
| Area Studies | $33,400 | $33,400 | $10,015 |
| Sociology | $31,000 | $31,000 | $11,500 |
| History | $30,600 | $30,600 | $15,500 |
| Journalism | $30,000 | $30,000 | $10,770 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $29,900 | $29,900 | $15,198 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $29,500 | $29,500 | $14,625 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $29,300 | $29,300 | N/A |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $28,900 | $28,900 | $10,000 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $28,900 | $28,900 | $11,200 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $28,500 | $28,500 | $14,124 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $27,600 | $27,600 | $10,123 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $27,100 | $27,100 | $11,645 |
| Psychology, General | $26,700 | $26,700 | $10,950 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $26,100 | $26,100 | N/A |
| Public Health | $25,200 | $25,200 | $13,000 |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $24,900 | $24,900 | N/A |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $24,900 | $24,900 | $15,105 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $22,000 | $22,000 | $9,025 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $21,800 | $21,800 | $12,600 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $21,600 | $21,600 | $8,300 |
| Music | $21,200 | $21,200 | $12,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $21,000 | $21,000 | $11,000 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $20,500 | $20,500 | $15,250 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $20,400 | $20,400 | $12,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $17,600 | $17,600 | $15,750 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Provo, UT
- Student Body
- 32,952 students
- Admission Rate
- 68%
- Graduation Rate
- 82%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $15,564
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $75,790
- Median Student Debt
- $11,069