Brigham Young University facts for kids
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Former name
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Brigham Young Academy (1875–1903) |
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| Motto | No official motto Unofficial mottoes include: "The glory of God is intelligence" "Enter to learn, go forth to serve" "The world is our campus" |
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | October 16, 1875 |
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Parent institution
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Church Educational System |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
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Religious affiliation
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $2.78 billion (2022) |
| President | C. Shane Reese |
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Academic staff
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1,264 full-time, 486 part-time |
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Administrative staff
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1,200 full-time, 900 part-time |
| Students | 34,390 (Fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 31,389 (Fall 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 3,001 (Fall 2022) |
| Location |
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United States
40°15′00″N 111°38′56″W / 40.250°N 111.649°W |
| Campus | Midsize city, 560 acres (2.3 km2) |
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| Newspaper | The Universe |
| Colors | Navy and white |
| Nickname | Cougars |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Cosmo the Cougar |
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Brigham Young University (BYU) is a private research university. It is located in Provo, Utah, in the United States. Brigham Young, a religious leader, started the university in 1875. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) supports the school.
BYU offers many different school programs. These include arts, engineering, and science. There are 186 programs for undergraduate students. There are also 64 master's programs and 26 doctoral programs. The main campus in Provo has 11 colleges or schools. BYU also has four smaller campuses. These are in Jerusalem, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., and London. The university is officially recognized by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Most BYU students are members of the LDS Church. Students agree to follow an honor code. This code asks them to act in ways that match the church's teachings. This includes being honest and following rules for how to dress. Undergraduate students also take classes about LDS religious education.
Many BYU students have lived outside the United States. This is because the church encourages missionary service. About 65% of students speak a second language. The university teaches 63 different languages.
BYU's sports teams are called the BYU Cougars. They compete in Division I of the NCAA. Most teams play in the Big 12 Conference. The men's volleyball team is part of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. BYU teams have won 12 NCAA championships. They have also won 26 other championships. In 2021, BYU joined the Big 12 Conference. They started playing in this conference in the 2023–24 school year.
Contents
BYU History: How It Started
Early Days of BYU
BYU's story began in 1862. Warren Newton Dusenberry started a school in Provo, Utah. Later, Brigham Young, the president of the LDS Church, decided to create a new school. On October 16, 1875, he gave land to start Brigham Young Academy. This is why October 16, 1875, is known as BYU's founding date.
Brigham Young wanted a school where students could get a good education. He wanted it to be free from influences that went against their beliefs. Classes at Brigham Young Academy started on January 3, 1876. Karl G. Maeser, a German immigrant, became the principal.
The school became a university later. This happened at the end of Benjamin Cluff's time as leader. In 1903, Brigham Young Academy split into two schools. These were Brigham Young High School (BY High) and BYU. The students from BY High in 1907 created the giant "Y" on the mountain near campus.
George H. Brimhall became the new president of BYU. In 1904, BYU bought 17 acres of land in Provo. Construction began in 1909 on the first building, the Karl G. Maeser Memorial. During this time, there was a discussion about teaching the theory of evolution. The church president, Joseph F. Smith, asked that it not be taught for a while. Over time, students and teachers learned to connect science with their faith.
How BYU Grew Over Time
In 1921, Franklin S. Harris became BYU's president. He was the first president with a doctoral degree. Harris made big changes, making BYU a true university. By the end of his time, the school was recognized by all major groups.
Howard S. McDonald became president after World War II. Many students came to BYU then. The school grew almost five times to 5,440 students. BYU did not have enough buildings. So, he bought part of an Air Force Base to house some students.
The next president, Ernest L. Wilkinson, also saw huge growth. He built over eighty buildings on campus. Many of these buildings are still used today. The number of students grew six times during his time. This made BYU the largest private school back then.
Dallin H. Oaks became president in 1971. He continued to expand the university. He added a law school and planned a new School of Management. A new library was also built, making the library space twice as big.
Jeffrey R. Holland followed as president in 1980. He wanted the school to be excellent in both education and faith. During his time, BYU opened a campus in Jerusalem. This is now called the BYU Jerusalem Center.
In 1989, Rex E. Lee became president. He oversaw the building of the Benson Science Building and the Museum of Art. He is remembered each year at a cancer fundraiser called the Rex Lee Run.
Merrill J. Bateman became president in 1995. He was in charge of building 36 new buildings. This included making the Harold B. Lee Library bigger. He also helped create the Mountain West Conference for BYU's sports teams. A satellite TV network, BYUtv, started in 2000.
Cecil O. Samuelson became president in 2003. Then Kevin J Worthen took over in 2014. C. Shane Reese became BYU's 14th president on May 1, 2023.
BYU Campus: What It Looks Like
The main campus is in Provo, Utah. It covers about 560 acres (2.3 km2) at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. There are 295 buildings on campus. Each building has a different style from when it was built. The campus has beautiful grass, trees, and flowers. You can see the Wasatch Mountains, including Mount Timpanogos, from campus.
BYU's Harold B. Lee Library is very large. It has about 8.5 million items. It has 98 miles (158 km) of shelves and can seat 4,600 people. The Princeton Review called it the No. 1 "Great College Library" in 2004. The Spencer W. Kimball Tower holds many university departments. The Marriott Center is a basketball arena. It can seat over 19,000 people. On Sundays, almost all campus buildings are used for church services.
BYU Museums
Several museums on campus show different types of exhibits. The Brigham Young University Museum of Art is one of the biggest art museums in the Mountain West. It offers chances for students to study art. It also has educational programs for everyone.
The Brigham Young University Museum of Peoples and Cultures focuses on old cultures. It has artifacts and photos from different parts of the world. The BYU Museum of Paleontology was built in 1976. It shows many fossils found by BYU's James A. Jensen. It has one of the top five fossil collections from the Jurassic period in the world. About 25,000 people visit this museum each year. The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum opened in 1978. It displays plants and animals for students and researchers.
Performing Arts at BYU
The campus has several places for performing arts. The de Jong Concert Hall seats 1282 people. The Pardoe Theatre seats 500 people. Students use its stage for different plays. The Margetts Theatre is a smaller, flexible theater. It seats 125 people. The Nelke Theatre is used for experimental theater. It seats 280.
Student Housing
BYU has places for students to live on campus. Freshmen students have four choices: Heritage Halls, Helaman Halls, Riviera Apartments, and the Foreign Language Student Residence (FLSR). Older single students can live in Wyview Park, Heritage Halls, and the FLSR. Married students live in Wymount Terrace or Wyview Park.
BYU Creamery
The BYU Creamery sells food and groceries to students living on campus. The Cannon Center is a cafeteria that serves Helaman Halls. The Creamery on Ninth East opened in 2000. It replaced Kent's Market. Students sometimes call it CONE.
The creamery started in 1949 to provide milk for the campus. Soon, it also sold ice cream and cheese. It has become a BYU tradition. Visitors and local people also enjoy it. It was the first full-service grocery store on a college campus in the country.
BYU Dining Services says that over 191,000 gallons of Creamery ice cream are served each year. In 2018, BYU Creamery made a new mint brownie chocolate milk. This was to celebrate being named the most "Stone Cold Sober" school for 21 years.
BYU's Green Efforts
BYU cares about being environmentally friendly. They focus on saving energy, recycling, and planning buildings well. They also want students to get involved. The university says they have a duty to care for the earth.
BYU is making its buildings use less energy. They are changing lights to be more efficient. They are also improving roof insulation to save heat. BYU Recycles helped start a campaign to recycle plastics on campus.
How BYU Is Organized
| Academic Schools and Colleges: | |
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| Name | Year founded |
| Business (Marriott) | 1891 |
| Education (McKay) | 1913 |
| Engineering and Technology (Fulton) | 1953 |
| Family, Home, and Social Sciences | 1969 |
| Fine Arts and Communications | 1925 |
| Humanities | 1965 |
| David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies | 1983 |
| Law (Clark) | 1973 |
| Life Sciences | 1954 |
| Nursing | 1953 |
| Physical and Mathematical Sciences | 1949 |
| Religious Education | 1959 |
BYU is part of the Church Educational System (CES). A board of trustees runs the university. The president of the church, currently Russell M. Nelson, is the chairman. The president of BYU, C. Shane Reese, reports to this board.
The university has 11 colleges or schools. They offer 194 bachelor's degree programs. They also have 68 master's programs and 25 PhD programs. BYU's Winter semester ends earlier than most universities. This lets students start internships sooner. The school year has two main semesters: Fall (September–December) and Winter (January–April). There are also two shorter summer terms.
BYU Academics: Learning and Research
How to Get In and Who Attends
In 2017, BYU accepted 53.4% of students who applied. The average GPA for accepted students was 3.86. Their average ACT score was 29.5, and their SAT score was 1300. A study in 2004 showed BYU was the 6th most-preferred college in its region.
Students from all U.S. states and many other countries attend BYU. In 2005–06, about 8% of students were from other countries. More than 98% of students are active members of the Latter-day Saint church. In 2006, about 12.6% of students were from minority groups.
BYU Rankings
| ARWU World | 501–600 |
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| THES World | Unranked |
| USNWR National University | 115 (tie) |
| Washington Monthly National University | 25 |
| Forbes | 35 |
U.S. News & World Report ranked BYU as No. 115 among National Universities in 2024.
In 2019, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranked BYU tied for No. 1 "Worth the Cost" college. Forbes also rated BYU No. 1 on its list of "America's Best Value Colleges 2019".
BYU is known as a doctoral research university. This means it does a lot of research. Forbes magazine called it the No. 1 "Top University to Work For in 2014". It was also named the best college in Utah in 2016.
The university's Marriott School of Management has highly ranked programs. Its undergraduate programs were ranked No. 18 by Bloomberg Businessweek in 2016. The MBA program was ranked No. 25 by Bloomberg Businessweek in 2018. It was also No. 19 by Forbes in 2017. The BYU School of Accountancy was ranked No. 4 for its graduate programs in 2020.
The BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School was ranked No. 22 nationally in 2024. This ranking comes from U.S. News & World Report.
Graduation Awards
Undergraduate students can earn special honors when they graduate. University Honors is the highest award. Students must complete special classes and a thesis. They also need to show their learning experiences.
The university also gives out Latin honors. These are summa cum laude (top 1%), magna cum laude (top 5%), and cum laude (top 10%).
Important Research and Awards
BYU is known for its research. In 2018, BYU spent $40.7 million on research. Scientists from BYU have created important inventions. Philo T. Farnsworth, who invented the electronic television, studied at BYU. Harvey Fletcher, who invented stereophonic sound, was also a BYU graduate. H. Tracy Hall, who invented the man-made diamond, became a professor at BYU.
BYU students have also achieved a lot. BYU Ad Lab teams won the L'Oréal National Brandstorm Competition in 2007 and 2008. Students also helped create the Magnetic Lasso tool in Adobe Photoshop. BYU has produced 10 Rhodes Scholars. They have also had 4 Gates Scholars and 41 Fulbright scholars.
Devotionals and Forums
BYU holds weekly meetings called devotionals and forums. These help students learn about spiritual and intellectual topics. Devotionals usually talk about religious subjects. Speakers are often from BYU or the LDS Church.
Forums happen a few times a year. They usually cover non-religious topics. Speakers might be politicians, scientists, or historians. These meetings are broadcast on BYUtv.
International Focus
More than three-quarters of BYU students can speak a second language. This is because 45% of students have served as Latter-day Saint missionaries. Many learned a foreign language during their mission. About one-third of students take foreign language classes each semester. This is four times the national average.
BYU offers classes in over 60 different languages. Many of these are advanced courses not often found elsewhere. The U.S. Department of Education chose BYU as the location for the national Middle East Language Resource Center. This makes BYU a center for experts on that region.
BYU also has a large study abroad program. They have centers in London, Jerusalem, and Paris. Nearly 2,000 students study abroad each year. In 2001, BYU was ranked the number one university for study abroad opportunities.
BYU's International Cinema shows foreign films. It is the largest and longest-running foreign film program at a university. BYU also has a Foreign Language Student Residence. Students living there agree to speak only their chosen foreign language. Each apartment has a native speaker to help.
BYU Performing Arts
Dance at BYU
The BYU Ballroom Dance Company is one of the best in the world. They have won the U.S. National Formation Dance Championship every year since 1982. They were the first U.S. team to win at the British Championships in Blackpool, England, in 1972. BYU offers many ballroom dance classes. It has the largest college ballroom dance program in the world.
BYU also has other dance teams. These include the Theatre Ballet, Contemporary Dance Theatre, Living Legends, and International Folk Dance Ensemble. The Living Legends perform Latin, Native American, and Polynesian dances. BYU has one of the largest dance departments in the nation.
Music at BYU
The Young Ambassadors are a singing and dancing group. They have been performing for over 50 years. They have performed in more than 56 countries. They have performed for royalty and leaders around the world.
BYU's Wind Symphony and Chamber Orchestra have toured many countries. These include Denmark, Hong Kong, and Russia. The Symphonic Band also helps musicians grow. BYU also has a marching band called the Cougar Marching Band.
BYU has a large choral program with over 500 members. There are four auditioned choirs: the BYU Singers, BYU Concert Choir, BYU Men's Chorus, and BYU Women's Chorus. The Men's Chorus is the largest male college choir in the U.S. Both the Men's Chorus and BYU Singers have toured globally.
BYU's a cappella groups are Vocal Point and Noteworthy. Both have won the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. They release music videos and are managed by BYU's Performing Arts Management. BYU also has a Balinese gamelan ensemble.
BYU Athletics: Sports and Teams
BYU has 21 athletic teams that compete in Division I. They also have 6 teams in other competitions and over 50 intramural activities. All sports teams compete in the Big 12 Conference. The men's volleyball team is part of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. BYU teams have won 12 NCAA championships and 26 other championships. In 2021, BYU joined the Big 12 Conference. They started playing in the 2023–24 school year.
BYU's athletic teams are called the "Cougars." Cosmo the Cougar has been the school's mascot since 1953. The school's fight song is the Cougar Fight Song. Many BYU athletes are older than other college players. This is because they often serve full-time missions for two years. The NCAA allows this time without it counting against their playing eligibility. BYU also does not play games on Sunday.
BYU's teams and players have won many awards. Their football team has had seven players in the College Football Hall of Fame. They also had one Heisman Trophy winner. The team won the National Championship in 1984. In basketball, BYU has had great players like Jimmer Fredette and Danny Ainge.
BYU Student Life
Religious Environment
BYU's goal is to help students grow spiritually and personally. Leaders see BYU as a religious school. They believe religious and school learning should be connected. Brigham Young himself said that teachers should teach with "the Spirit of God."
Some people call BYU "The Lord's university." This means the school represents the Church of Jesus Christ to the world. School leaders say this is a goal for the university. They encourage students and teachers to help reach this goal. They do this by following their religion and serving others.
BYU requires its Latter-day Saint students to be active in their religion. All applicants need a recommendation from a religious leader. Over 900 rooms on campus are used for church meetings. More than 150 church groups meet on campus every Sunday. About 24,000 people attend church services there.
About 97% of male BYU graduates and 32% of female graduates have served as Latter-day Saint missionaries. In 2012, the church announced that young men could serve missions at age 18. Many young men now go on missions before starting BYU. Missionary service lasts up to two years for young men and 18 months for young women.
Honor Code
All students and teachers must agree to follow an honor code. This code has been around since BYU's early days. It was first used for cheating and academic honesty.
President Wilkinson expanded the Honor Code in 1957. It now includes other school standards. Students and teachers agree to live by the code when they apply. If they break the rules, they might meet with the Honor Council. In some cases, students can be expelled. All students need an annual recommendation from a religious leader to stay at the university.
Campus Culture and Activities
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 81% |
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| Hispanic | 7% |
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| Other | 5% |
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| Foreign national | 3% |
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| Asian | 2% |
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| Pacific Islander | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 14% |
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| Affluent | 86% |
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The Princeton Review ranked BYU as having happy students and a high quality of life in 2008. In 2016, Business Insider called BYU the #1 safest college campus.
BYU does not allow Fraternities and sororities. Most student activities are organized by the BYU Student Service Association (BYU SA). This is the university's official student group. Other groups are sponsored by school departments. BYU also had a question-answering service called the "100 Hour Board."
BYU's Ernest L. Wilkinson Student Center is a fun place on campus. It has a bowling alley, a movie theater, and places to eat. BYU's Outdoors Unlimited service rents out equipment for outdoor activities. Students can enjoy mountain biking, rafting, and skiing nearby.
BYU Media
The BYU Broadcasting Technical Operations Center is a large production facility. It is home to local TV station KBYU-TV and classical music station KBYU-FM. It also houses BYU Radio, BYUtv, and BYU Television International. BYUtv is available through cable in some parts of the U.S. The center has TV and radio studios.
The university publishes a weekly newspaper called The Universe. It also has an online news site called The Digital Universe. A daily news program is broadcast on KBYU-TV. The university has a music label called Tantara Records. It releases music by student groups and teachers.
Y Magazine is the university's magazine for former students. It is sent out four times a year to over 200,000 addresses. The magazine covers student life, alumni news, sports, and research. "BYU Today" is the magazine's email newsletter.
Famous BYU Alumni
As of 2022, BYU has 443,426 living former students. The Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center helps connect these alumni.
Many BYU graduates have become important leaders. Over 21 have served in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. These include Reed Smoot and Orrin Hatch. George Sutherland was a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Cabinet members include Ezra Taft Benson. Mitt Romney, a U.S. Senator and former Governor, also graduated from BYU.
BYU alumni in education include Kim B. Clark from Harvard Business School. Michael K. Young was president of the University of Washington. Paul D. Boyer won a Nobel Prize. Philo Farnsworth, the TV inventor, received an honorary degree. Harvey Fletcher, the hearing aid inventor, also graduated from BYU.
In writing and journalism, BYU has produced best-selling authors. These include Orson Scott Card, Brandon Sanderson, Stephenie Meyer, and Tara Westover. Elizabeth Smart-Gilmour, an activist, is also an alumna. Other media personalities include Sharlene Wells Hawkes from ESPN and Jane Clayson Johnson from CBS.
In entertainment, BYU alumni include actors Johnny Whitaker and Jon Heder. Mark Rober, a YouTuber and former NASA engineer, also graduated from BYU. Aaron Eckhart, a Golden Globe-nominated actor, is an alumnus. Ken Jennings, a Jeopardy! champion, also attended BYU. In music, alumni include Dan Reynolds from Imagine Dragons and Lindsey Stirling.
Many BYU alumni have become religious leaders. These include two Church Presidents: Ezra Taft Benson and Thomas S. Monson. Six Apostles, including Neil L. Andersen and Dallin H. Oaks, are also alumni.
BYU alumni have also found success in professional sports. They have played in 7 MLB World Series and 5 NBA Finals. They have also played in 25 NFL Super Bowls. Baseball players include Rick Aguilera and Wally Joyner. Basketball players include Danny Ainge and Jimmer Fredette. Football players include Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young and Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer. In golf, Johnny Miller and Mike Weir have won major championships.
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See also
- List of colleges and universities in Utah
