Brigham Young University

What is the history of Brigham Young University?

Brigham Young University (BYU) began in 1875 as Brigham Young Academy, a school established in Provo by Brigham Young. Its early development under principal Karl G. Maeser helped establish the combination of academic and religious instruction that remains central to the university.

The institution became Brigham Young University in 1903. It expanded from an academy into a university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, while retaining its affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That history matters to applicants because BYU's religious mission shapes both its curriculum and its expectations for campus conduct.

What are the faculties and departments at Brigham Young University?

BYU offers bachelor's degrees across the humanities, sciences, engineering, business, education, fine arts, and health-related fields, as well as selected graduate and professional degrees. Its academic organization includes the Marriott School of Business, the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, the David O. McKay School of Education, the College of Nursing, and the J. Reuben Clark Law School.

Other major academic units include the colleges of Humanities; Life Sciences; Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Family, Home, and Social Sciences; and Fine Arts and Communications. Religious Education provides coursework connected to BYU's faith-based mission. Students can find programs ranging from computer science and accounting to biology, languages, music, and teacher education.

Admission to the university does not necessarily mean admission to every major. Some programs have separate applications, prerequisites, auditions, portfolios, or capacity limits. Prospective students should check the current catalog for the requirements of a particular major and distinguish a bachelor's program from a graduate or professional program with the same subject name.

What is the location of Brigham Young University?

BYU's principal campus is in Provo, Utah, near the Wasatch Mountains and roughly 45 miles south of Salt Lake City. Provo is part of a larger Utah County metropolitan area, so students have access to local housing, employers, and transit beyond campus.

Utah Transit Authority services, including the UVX bus route and FrontRunner commuter rail connections, can help students travel within the region. Salt Lake City International Airport is the principal airport for longer-distance trips. A student deciding whether to bring a car should consider the location of their housing and job, transit schedules, and campus parking rules; first-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus.

What is the mission and vision of Brigham Young University?

BYU states that its educational mission joins academic study with the religious purposes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which sponsors the university. Its stated approach emphasizes intellectual development alongside character, service, and spiritual growth; these are institutional aims, not independently measured outcomes.

Applicants of different faiths may attend, but BYU is not a religiously neutral campus. Students are expected to meet ecclesiastical endorsement requirements and follow the university's Honor Code, including its conduct and dress and grooming standards. Required religion courses are also part of the undergraduate experience. Applicants should read the current policies themselves, particularly if the religious curriculum or conduct expectations would affect their decision to enroll.