Students at Brigham Young University achieve exceptional earnings outcomes that place the institution among the very best in the country, particularly for low-income students who see remarkable economic advancement.
The combination of top-tier graduate earnings and unusually affordable private university pricing creates one of the strongest value propositions in higher education.
Brigham Young University delivers exceptional value through a rare combination of strong academic outcomes and relatively affordable private education pricing. The university consistently produces graduates who achieve top-tier earnings, with median 10-year earnings of $75,790 placing BYU in the 93rd percentile nationally among all institutions. What makes this performance particularly impressive is the breadth of students who benefit—nearly one-third receive Pell Grants, yet low-income graduates earn $76,900 at the 10-year mark, ranking in the top 4% nationally for low-income student outcomes.
BYU's strength spans multiple dimensions of student success. The university maintains an 82% six-year graduation rate while keeping net prices manageable across income levels—low-income students pay about $9,531 annually, middle-income families around $12,374, and even higher-income students see net costs of roughly $20,042. This pricing structure, combined with consistently strong employment outcomes, creates a compelling value proposition that few private universities can match.
As a large private research university in Utah, BYU offers the academic breadth and resources of a major institution while maintaining the focused mission and community feel that characterizes many successful private colleges. The combination of accessible pricing, strong graduation rates, and exceptional long-term earnings makes BYU a standout option for families seeking both educational quality and financial security.
Brigham Young University's program portfolio combines broad academic offerings with particular strength in fields that lead directly to high-paying, stable careers. Computer Engineering represents one of the university's highest-earning programs, with graduates earning around $87,604 early in their careers and benefiting from strong demand in technology sectors. The Accounting program serves as a key economic engine, graduating about 278 students annually with median earnings around $65,524, reflecting both the program's scale and the consistent employer demand for BYU business graduates.
The university's diverse academic offerings span from technical fields like engineering and computer science to professional programs in business, education, and health sciences. Even programs with more moderate early earnings benefit from BYU's extensive alumni networks and employer relationships that support long-term career advancement. The combination of rigorous academic preparation and strong institutional connections helps graduates across disciplines achieve earnings that consistently exceed national averages.
BYU's large program scale creates meaningful industry presence and alumni network density that benefits students across all fields of study. The university's reputation for producing well-prepared, reliable graduates has established strong employer recruitment patterns that provide students with access to competitive internships and job opportunities. This institutional strength, combined with the university's commitment to practical career preparation, helps explain why BYU graduates achieve such consistently strong financial outcomes regardless of their chosen field of study.
Brigham Young University graduates achieve exceptional long-term financial outcomes that place the institution among the top performers nationally. With median 10-year earnings of $75,790, BYU ranks in the 93rd percentile for graduate earnings, reflecting consistently strong employment outcomes across a wide range of academic programs. Bottom-quartile graduates typically earn solid middle-class incomes, while top-quartile performers often exceed $100,000 annually, demonstrating the broad-based nature of BYU's career preparation and alumni network strength.
The university's program mix drives much of this success, with particular strength in business and technical fields that lead directly to high-demand careers. Computer Engineering graduates earn around $87,604 early in their careers, representing some of the highest starting salaries among BYU programs. Accounting programs, which graduate about 278 students annually, combine strong enrollment with solid earnings around $65,524, making them a key economic engine for the university. Even programs with more moderate early earnings, such as those in health sciences and education, benefit from BYU's extensive alumni networks and employer relationships that support long-term career advancement.
BYU's graduates enter a moderate cost-of-living region where earnings provide strong purchasing power, enhancing the real value of their post-graduation income. The university's consistent ability to place students in stable, well-paying careers reflects both the quality of academic preparation and the strength of institutional relationships with employers across multiple industries.
Brigham Young University offers exceptional affordability for a private research university, with net prices that make quality higher education accessible across income levels. Low-income students pay approximately $9,531 per year, well below what most private institutions charge and competitive with many public universities. Middle-income families see annual costs around $12,374, while higher-income students pay about $20,042—still significantly less than typical private university pricing. This pricing structure reflects BYU's institutional commitment to educational accessibility and its unique funding model.
Debt levels remain remarkably manageable for most BYU students. Typical graduates leave with about $11,069 in federal student loan debt, among the lowest levels seen at comparable research universities. Parent PLUS borrowing averages roughly $10,532, also well below national norms for private institutions. The combination of affordable net prices and modest borrowing means most families can finance a BYU education without taking on excessive debt burdens that might compromise post-graduation financial flexibility.
What makes BYU's affordability particularly sustainable is how comfortably graduates can manage their debt obligations. With median earnings of $75,790 ten years after enrollment, most borrowers can handle standard loan repayment without financial strain. The university's 0% federal loan default rate reflects this financial sustainability, indicating that virtually all graduates successfully manage their educational investments. This combination of affordable pricing, modest debt levels, and strong earning outcomes creates one of the most favorable financial profiles among private research universities.
Brigham Young University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
