Brigham Young University–Provo

Brigham Young University (also known as BYU or ‘The Y’) is a private research university located in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by Brigham Young, a religious leader and politician, and was named after him. Instituted as the Brigham Young Academy, the school aimed to train teachers for public schools.

In 1903, the academy was dissolved and two institutions emerged:  Brigham Young High School (BY High) and BYU. However, BYU had not received accreditation from any accrediting associations. This changed nearly two decades later in 1921 when Franklin S. Harris took over as the fifth president of BYU. Harris was instrumental in transforming the institution into a full-fledged university.  During his tenure–which lasted 24 years–BYU was accredited by all prominent accrediting organisations of the time. 

BYU’s main campus, which spans 560 acres is situated at the base of the Wasatch Mountains,  a mountain range in the western US. It houses over 300 buildings that accommodate academic facilities, administrative buildings, athletic and outdoor recreation facilities, auxiliary buildings, and museums, among others. BYU has two branch campuses: Laie, Hawaii, and Rexburg, Idaho. In addition to this, the university also administers two satellite campuses: Jerusalem, Israel, and Salt Lake City, Utah. 

The university has been ranked consistently among the best universities in the US by reputed international publications. For example, the US News & World Report 2022 placed BYU 89th on its list of ‘Best National Universities’. The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2022 ranked BYU 107-127 in the country. Let us learn more about the university in this article. 

Courses and Faculty

Brigham Young University offers 190 majors and 110 minors at the undergraduate level. It also provides 98 master’s and 30 doctoral programmes. Accountancy, arts, business, communications, dance, engineering, linguistics, life sciences, music, social sciences, and theatre, among others, are some of the fields in which these degrees are offered. The programmes are provided by BYU’s 11 constituent colleges and schools. They are: 

BYU Religious Education College of Family, Home and Social Sciences College of Fine Arts and Communications College of Humanities College of Life Sciences

College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences David O. McKay School of Education Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering J. Reuben Clark Law School  Marriott School of Business College of Nursing

In addition to these divisions, BYU also manages the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies and other departments such as Undergraduate Education, Graduate Studies, Independent Study, Continuing Education, and the Honors Program, among others. 

Not only does BYU offer an extensive list of courses, but some of these courses also find a place in popular rankings. It is placed in the 3rd position for its Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program (Entrepreneur/Princeton Review). It was ranked fourth among  ‘Best University for Technology Transfer’ by the Milken Institute. BYU also has one of the best law schools and a full-time MBA program, according to the US News & World Report. 

Admissions at Brigham Young University

Nearly 35,000 students (undergraduate and graduate) are currently enroled at Brigham Young University. They represent all 50 states in the US and over 100 countries. BYU has an acceptance rate of 59%. Also, the university has a student-to-faculty ratio of 21:1, with around 46 percent of its classes having a strength of 20 students or fewer. In this section, the enrolment requisites and procedures for undergraduate and graduate programmes will be discussed.

Undergraduate Admissions

Students seeking admission to undergraduate programmes at BYU must apply directly through the university’s official website. Some of the enrolment requirements for  international students are: 

• Applicants must be 18 years old or older and have graduated from high school or earned their General Education Diploma (GED)
• Provide ACT or SAT scores.
• Submit a personal statement and letters of recommendation.
• Submit a resume 
• Present proof of English proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS)
• Submit Academic Credentials Evaluation
• Provide financial requirements
• Remit application fee (US$ 35) 

Graduate Admissions

Depending on the programme that a student is applying to, the admission criteria vary. This is because the requisites are specific to the department and college offering the course. However, some of the general requirements for international applicants are: 

• A  bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution 
• Submission of GRE/GMAT scores
• Letters of recommendation 
• Personal statement/essay 
• Resume/CV 

Students can visit the university’s official website to learn more about college/school-specific enrolment prerequisites, the application process, and deadlines. They can apply directly to the college offering their chosen degree through the website. 

Fees and Scholarships

Prospective students can rejoice about the fact that the cost of attendance at Brigham Young University – Provo is quite affordable. It varies for different programmes. The tuition fee (per semester) for undergraduate and  graduate students are US$ 6,304 and US$ 7,932, respectively. Other costs include books and supplies, room and board, and transportation, among others. In addition to an inexpensive tuition fee, BYU provides students with many options for financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans. 

Furthermore,  the university has a unique ‘Financial Fitness Centre’ that offers a variety of services that can help students manage their finances. The Financial Fitness Centre conducts workshops on budgeting, credit cards, and student loans from time to time. Students can visit BYU’s official website to know more about the detailed fee structures for different courses and the various financial aid options available to them. 

So, if you seek to pursue your education in the US at an institution that is known for its courses across diverse fields, then Brigham Young University is the right place for you. We hope this article has provided you with the insights required to make an informed decision about  applying to this institution. All the best!