Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at BYU vary significantly by field of study, with earnings ranging from $24,823 to $114,046 across different majors. The rankings below evaluate programs based on graduate earnings, debt levels, and return on investment rather than reputation or prestige.
Use this data to understand how different academic paths perform in the labor market and job placement outcomes.
Analyzing 72 programs with available earnings data.
These highlights surface programs that excel across earnings potential, national rankings, and substantial enrollment sizes.
#8 nationally
$67K median earnings
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by median earnings, national rank, cohort size, and value scores.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Brigham Young University.
Technology programs show strong earnings potential led by Computer Science (#54 nationally, $114,046) and Computer Support Specialist (#5 nationally, $83,533). Mechanical Engineering (#49 nationally) produces graduates earning $87,666.
These programs offer solid career preparation with above-average national rankings. Students pursuing technical fields can expect strong post-graduation outcomes, though program sizes vary considerably across different engineering disciplines within BYU's portfolio.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science. | #8 |
Program rankings reflect actual labor market outcomes rather than institutional reputation or resource allocation. Different programs at the same institution produce varying earnings because career fields have different compensation structures, educational requirements, and market demands. Computer Science typically outearns Education because technology careers command higher market premiums than public service roles. These rankings use Department of Education College Scorecard data tracking graduates 10 years after enrollment, requiring minimum cohort sizes for statistical reliability. Value scores incorporate both earnings and debt levels to assess return on investment. Students should consider these outcomes alongside personal interests, career goals, and the broader context of their chosen field when making academic decisions.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
recent graduates
| — |
| 135 |
| Computer Engineering. | #8 | $133,111 | — | 97 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | #1 🏆 | $118,606 | — | 209 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | #15 | $113,338 | — | 43 |
| Chemical Engineering. | #16 | $101,726 | — | 68 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | #31 | $99,774 | — | 30 |
| Manufacturing Engineering. | #2 | $92,122 | — | 31 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | #29 | $90,634 | — | 158 |
| Civil Engineering. | #29 | $81,928 | — | 77 |
Business programs at BYU deliver exceptional outcomes with multiple programs ranking among the top nationally. Banking and Financial Support Services (#21 nationally) produces graduates earning $96,161, while Accounting Technology (#14 nationally) generates $84,993 median earnings.
Applied Economics ranks #51 nationally with $81,529 outcomes. These programs combine strong national recognition with substantial enrollment, making them flagship offerings that demonstrate consistent high-value career preparation for students seeking business careers.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | #2 | $129,879★ | — | 198 |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | #1 🏆 | $117,015 | — | 45 |
| Marketing. | #1 🏆 | $112,596 | — | 97 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | #3 | $105,544 | — | 107 |
| Construction Management. | — | $98,073 | — | 62 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. | #1 🏆 | $97,085 | — | 43 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | #6 | $96,632 | — | 269 |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | #1 🏆 | $96,354 | — | 46 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | #13 | $64,990 | — | 21 |
Health programs center around Behavioral Aspects of Health (#43 nationally) with graduates earning $44,870. This program serves 167 graduates annually and ranks #2 in Utah, demonstrating regional leadership in health education.
Exercise Science shows more modest outcomes at $25,700, reflecting the varied career trajectories within health-related fields. Students should consider program-specific outcomes when evaluating health career pathways at BYU.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | #6 | $60,265★ | — | 28 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | #31 | $59,080 | — | 127 |
| Public Health. | #18 | $51,996 | — | 141 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. | #5 | $18,314 | — | 44 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | #18 | $17,139 | — | 91 |
Mathematics programs demonstrate solid outcomes with Mathematical Statistics ranking #13 nationally and producing graduates earning $89,001. Aerospace Physiology and Medicine (#2 nationally) serves as a distinctive program with substantial enrollment of 314 graduates earning $60,978.
These specialized programs reflect BYU's research strengths and provide pathways for students interested in quantitative fields and health-related sciences with strong career prospects.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics. | #11 | $96,164★ | — | 122 |
| Physics. | #18 | $73,747 | — | 46 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. | — | $71,015 | — | 39 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences. | #2 | $68,321 | — | 306 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. | #3 | $66,603 | — | 97 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | #11 | $63,291 | — | 84 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. | #1 🏆 | $61,078 | — | 115 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | #5 | $60,065 | — | 113 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology. | #1 🏆 | $57,020 | — | 27 |
| Mathematics. | #33 | $52,107 | — | 42 |
| Biotechnology. | #6 | $25,194 | — | 32 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.Small sample | #23 | $24,035 | — | 14 |
Social science programs show diverse outcomes led by American Government and Politics (#35 nationally, $67,496) and Psychology (#78 nationally, $44,664). Applied Economics, while categorized separately, complements this group with $81,529 outcomes.
Psychology serves as one of BYU's largest programs with 305 graduates, indicating strong student demand. These programs provide solid preparation for careers in public service, graduate school, and related fields.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | #11 | $95,227★ | — | 145 |
| Political Science and Government. | #5 | $83,209 | — | 115 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies. | #5 | $71,622 | — | 32 |
| Geography and Cartography. | #8 | $64,875 | — | 32 |
| Psychology, General. | #3 | $62,106 | — | 193 |
| Sociology. | #11 | $60,277 | — | 85 |
Communications programs are led by Advertising (#16 nationally) with graduates earning $58,056 and serving 243 students annually. This program ranks #1 in Utah and demonstrates strong regional leadership in communications education.
The program offers solid career preparation for marketing and media careers, with outcomes reflecting the competitive communications industry landscape and diverse career pathway options.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | #3 | $80,841★ | — | 185 |
| Graphic Communications. | #1 🏆 | $73,941 | — | 32 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | #13 | $68,843 | — | 94 |
| Journalism. | #18 | $50,338 | — | 62 |
Language programs show strong outcomes with Catalan Language and Literature (#4 nationally) producing exceptional earnings of $61,951 for a specialized language program. This program demonstrates how focused language study can translate into valuable career outcomes.
The program serves 162 graduates annually and ranks #1 in Utah, indicating institutional strength in specialized language education and international career preparation.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | #4 | $63,189★ | — | 117 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. | #3 | $60,469 | — | 57 |
| History. | #25 | $54,457 | — | 81 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | #11 | $54,290 | — | 126 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | #7 | $53,695 | — | 54 |
| Design and Applied Arts. | #14 | $52,929 | — | 72 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | #22 | $48,410 | — | 34 |
| Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | — | $39,153 | — | 33 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | #6 | $39,153 | — | 28 |
| Music. | #30 | $29,483 | — | 55 |
| Philosophy. | #30 | $27,439 | — | 21 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | #29 | $26,782 | — | 41 |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | — | $26,353 | — | 37 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other.Small sample | #3 | $25,194 | — | 12 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | #33 | $22,192 | — | 55 |
| Dance. | #16 | $8,000 | — | 24 |
Education programs reflect typical outcomes for teacher preparation fields. Adult and Continuing Education produces graduates earning $36,968 (#149 nationally), while Agricultural Teacher Education generates $41,473 (#104 nationally).
Adult Development and Aging shows lower outcomes at $24,823. These programs serve substantial cohorts and prepare graduates for education careers, though earnings align with typical public service compensation levels rather than private sector outcomes.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | #9 | $50,251★ | — | 173 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | #8 | $49,272 | — | 173 |
| Special Education and Teaching. | #6 | $39,325 | — | 46 |
Agriculture & Environment graduates earn 73K on average, with 1 program ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Science and Technology.Small sample | #4 | $73,994★ | — | 11 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services. | — | $71,066 | — | 22 |
Other & Interdisciplinary graduates earn 45K on average, with 3 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area Studies. | #1 🏆 | $67,310★ | — | 61 |
| Housing and Human Environments.Small sample | — | $63,855 | — | 8 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies. | #2 | $63,080 | — | 105 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | #27 | $30,791 | — | 134 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | #12 | $28,906 | — | 300 |
| Nutrition Sciences. | #9 | $17,162 | — | 28 |
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
