Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · founded 1875 · 34,000 students · religious · Big 12

Known for: Brigham Young University is a large private university owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, renowned for its strong academic programs, honor code, and vibrant campus culture rooted in religious values.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #115
QS World: #811
Times Higher Education: #401
Forbes: #169

Top programmes

Business
Law
Engineering
Education
Communications
Computer Science

Notable alumni

Mitt Romney — U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate
Stephenie Meyer — Author of the 'Twilight' series
Jon Heder — Actor known for 'Napoleon Dynamite'
Clayton Christensen — Harvard Business School professor and innovation theorist
Jimmer Fredette — Professional basketball player and college national player of the year

Traditions

BYU Homecoming
Lighting of the Y
Devotionals and Forums
True Blue Football Games
Y Days

If Brigham Young University were…

As a food: Funeral potatoes — Quintessentially Mormon, comforting, wholesome, and served at every church gathering. BYU is the institutional version—familiar, community-centered, unapologetically itself, and exactly what you expect when you show up.
As an athlete: Steve Young — BYU legend, clean-cut, supremely talented, played by the rules, and became a Hall of Famer without compromising his values. The university produces that same brand of high-achieving, mission-driven success—no shortcuts,
As a person alive today: Mitt Romney — Polished, principled, squeaky-clean, and represents a particular brand of American conservatism rooted in faith and family. BYU students embody that same earnest ambition and moral clarity, for better or worse in a compl
As a historical figure: Brigham Young — The school's literal namesake, pioneer leader who built an empire in the desert through discipline, organization, and unwavering conviction. BYU students are taught to channel that same pioneering spirit—build, serve, le
As a movie or TV show: The Book of Mormon (musical) — Hear me out—it's the most famous pop culture representation of LDS mission culture, mixing earnestness with strict rules and good intentions. BYU is the sincere, unironic version of what that musical satirizes, and stude
As a US president: Gerald Ford — Decent, straightforward, Eagle Scout energy, stepped in to steady the ship without flash or controversy. BYU produces leaders with that same steady, service-oriented competence—not the most exciting, but you trust them t
As a city: Salt Lake City — Obviously—but specifically because it's clean, organized, mountain-backed, and runs on a different cultural operating system than most American cities. BYU is the university version: beautiful, efficient, and operating b
As an element: Titanium — Strong, lightweight, resistant to corrosion, and used in aerospace and medical implants—high-performance applications requiring reliability. BYU produces graduates with that same durable excellence: they don't tarnish un
As a car: 2019 Honda Odyssey Elite — Wholesome, family-hauling excellence with unexpectedly strong academics under the hood. Practical, affordable, squeaky-clean, and engineered to carry multiple kids to multiple activities—the ultimate Mormon family value

Campus life

BYU offers a unique, faith-based campus life with a strong sense of community, adherence to an honor code, and emphasis on service and wholesome recreation. The environment is active with religious activities, academic pursuits, and family-oriented social events.