Brigham Young University facts for kids
 |
|
|
Former name
|
Brigham Young Academy (1875–1903) |
|---|---|
| Motto | No official motto Unofficial mottoes include:
|
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | October 16, 1875 |
|
Parent institution
|
Church Educational System |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
|
Religious affiliation
|
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
|
Academic affiliations
|
Space-grant |
| Endowment | $3.08 billion (2023) |
| President | C. Shane Reese |
|
Academic staff
|
1,264 full-time, 486 part-time |
|
Administrative staff
|
1,200 full-time, 900 part-time |
| Students | 35,743 (fall 2024) |
| Undergraduates | 32,823 (fall 2024) |
| Postgraduates | 2,920 (fall 2024) |
| Location |
,
,
United States
40°15′00″N 111°38′56″W / 40.250°N 111.649°W |
| Campus | Midsize city, 560 acres (2.3 km2) |
| Other campuses |
|
| Newspaper | The Universe |
| Colors | Navy and white |
| Nickname | Cougars |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
|
| Mascot | Cosmo the Cougar |
 |
|
Brigham Young University (BYU) is a private university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by Brigham Young, a famous religious leader. The university is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church). It is the main university in the church's Church Educational System.
BYU offers classes in many subjects, like arts, engineering, business, science, nursing, and law. The main campus in Provo has 11 different colleges and schools. The university also has smaller campuses in other cities, including Jerusalem and London.
Almost all students at BYU are members of the LDS Church. All students agree to follow an Honor Code. This code includes rules for honest schoolwork, how to dress, and living a healthy lifestyle. Students also take religion classes to graduate.
Many BYU students learn a second language. This is partly because the church encourages young members to serve as missionaries around the world. Because of this, about 65% of students speak another language.
The university's sports teams are called the BYU Cougars. They compete in NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of college sports. The teams have won 14 national championships.
Contents
History
How BYU Started
The school that became BYU started in 1862. A man named Warren Dusenberry opened a small school in Provo. After some money problems, the school had to close and reopen a few times.
On October 16, 1875, Brigham Young set aside property to create a new school called Brigham Young Academy. This is the date BYU celebrates as its birthday. Young wanted a school where students could get a good education based on the teachings of the LDS Church.
Classes at the new academy began on January 3, 1876. A German teacher named Karl G. Maeser became the principal. Under his leadership, the school became known for its excellent students.
In 1903, the academy was split into two schools: Brigham Young High School and Brigham Young University. The name change to "university" was a big step. Some people thought the school was too small, but the name stuck.
A Time of Growth
In 1921, Franklin S. Harris became BYU's president. He was the first president to have a doctorate degree. He helped organize the school into a true university. By the time he left, BYU was recognized by all major educational groups.
After World War II, many new students came to BYU. The university grew very quickly under President Ernest L. Wilkinson. He led a major building program, and over 80 new buildings were built on campus. The number of students grew from about 5,000 to almost 25,000.
Later presidents continued to help the university grow. Dallin H. Oaks added a law school. Jeffrey R. Holland opened a campus in Jerusalem. Rex E. Lee helped build the science building and art museum.
C. Shane Reese became the 14th president of BYU on May 1, 2023. In 2024, the university announced plans to create a medical school.
In 2025, the university was declared an undesirable organization in Russia.
Campus
The main campus in Provo covers about 560 acres. It is located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. The campus has 295 buildings and is known for its beautiful, well-kept grounds.
The Harold B. Lee Library is one of the top college libraries in the country. It has about 8.5 million items in its collection. The Marriott Center is a large arena used for basketball games and other events. It can hold over 19,000 people.
Museums on Campus
BYU has several museums that students and visitors can enjoy.
- The Museum of Art is one of the largest art museums in the region.
- The Museum of Peoples and Cultures focuses on ancient cultures from around the world.
- The BYU Museum of Paleontology displays fossils from the time of the dinosaurs. It has one of the best collections of Jurassic fossils in the world.
- The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum shows different kinds of plants and animals.
Student Housing
BYU offers on-campus housing for students. Freshmen can live in places like Heritage Halls and Helaman Halls. There are also apartments for older students and married couples. Some students live in the Foreign Language Student Residence. In these apartments, students promise to only speak a foreign language to practice their skills.
Academics
Who Attends BYU?
BYU is a popular university. In 2017, it accepted about 53 percent of students who applied. The average student had a high GPA and good scores on college entrance exams.
Students come from all 50 states and many other countries. About 98 percent of the students are members of the LDS Church.
Rankings and Reputation
BYU is often recognized as a top university.
- U.S. News & World Report ranked BYU as tied for #109 among national universities in 2025.
- The Wall Street Journal and Forbes have called BYU one of the best value colleges in America. This means students get a great education for the cost.
- The business, law, and accounting schools at BYU are also highly ranked.
Famous Research
BYU is known for its high level of research. Scientists connected to BYU have made important discoveries.
- Philo T. Farnsworth, who helped invent the electronic television, studied at BYU.
- Harvey Fletcher, the inventor of stereo sound, was a BYU graduate.
- H. Tracy Hall, who invented the first man-made diamonds, was a professor at BYU.
- Students in the BYU Ad Lab (a student advertising agency) have won national competitions.
Student Life
Religious Life
Religion is an important part of life at BYU. The university's mission is to help students grow both academically and spiritually. Many people call BYU "The Lord's University." This nickname shows the school's goal to be a positive example to the world.
Students who are members of the LDS Church are expected to attend church services. There are over 150 congregations that meet on campus every Sunday.
The Honor Code
All students and teachers at BYU agree to follow the Honor Code. This code includes standards for living a good and moral life. The main points of the Honor Code are:
- Be honest.
- Live a chaste and virtuous life. This includes rules about romantic relationships.
- Use clean language.
- Obey the law.
- Do not use alcohol, tobacco, coffee, or tea.
- Observe dress and grooming standards.
- Encourage others to follow the code.
The Honor Code has been a part of the school since its early days. It helps create a unique and safe environment on campus.
Fun Activities
BYU is known for having happy students and a high quality of life. Because of the Honor Code, it has been ranked the #1 "stone-cold sober school" for over 20 years. The city of Provo is also very safe.
There are no fraternities and sororities at BYU. Instead, student activities are organized by the student association, called BYUSA. There are many clubs and events for students to join. The student center has a bowling alley, a movie theater, and places to eat.
Performing Arts
BYU has a large and talented performing arts program.
Dance
The BYU Ballroom Dance Company is one of the best in the world. They have won the U.S. National Championship every year since 1982. BYU also has teams for ballet, modern dance, and folk dance. The Living Legends group performs dances from Native American, Polynesian, and Latin American cultures.
Music
BYU has many famous music groups. The Young Ambassadors is a song and dance group that has traveled to over 50 countries.
The university has several choirs, including the BYU Singers and the BYU Men's Chorus. The Men's Chorus is the largest all-male college choir in the United States. BYU also has two popular a cappella groups, Vocal Point (all-male) and Noteworthy (all-female).
Athletics
BYU has 21 teams that compete in NCAA Division I sports. The teams are called the Cougars, and the mascot is Cosmo the Cougar.
The teams compete in the Big 12 Conference. BYU teams have won 14 NCAA national championships. The football team won the national championship in 1984.
A unique thing about BYU sports is that many athletes take a two-year break to serve as missionaries for the LDS Church. Because of this, BYU players are often older than athletes at other schools. The teams do not play games on Sundays.
Famous BYU athletes include football players Steve Young and Ty Detmer, and basketball players Danny Ainge and Jimmer Fredette.
Famous Alumni
Many famous people have graduated from BYU.
- Government: Mitt Romney, a U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate, and Ezra Taft Benson, a former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture who also became president of the LDS Church.
- Business: Kevin Rollins, former CEO of Dell computers, and Ryan Smith, co-founder of Qualtrics.
- Authors: Stephenie Meyer, who wrote the Twilight books, and Brandon Sanderson, a popular fantasy author.
- Entertainment: Ken Jennings, the famous Jeopardy! champion and host; Jon Heder, the actor who played Napoleon Dynamite; and Mark Rober, a popular YouTuber and former NASA engineer.
- Sports: Steve Young, a Hall of Fame football quarterback, and Jimmer Fredette, a national college basketball player of the year.
- Religious Leaders: Many leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including former presidents Thomas S. Monson and Ezra Taft Benson.
_(May2021_crop).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Brigham Young para niños
- List of colleges and universities in Utah
Images for kids
-
A view looking over the north side of campus.
-
The Foreign Language Student Residence, where students speak only their language of study.
-
BYU campus with Y mountain and Kyhv Peak in the background.
-
The Eyring Science Center houses a planetarium and other science labs.
-
The Maeser Building, built in 1911, is home to BYU's Honors Program.
-
The BYU Broadcasting building, where the university's TV and radio stations are located.
