Understanding BYU Tuition Costs: A Comprehensive Guide

Brigham Young University (BYU) offers a comparatively affordable education. This article breaks down the various aspects of BYU tuition costs, including tuition rates, fees, payment options, refund policies, financial aid, and student loan information. Understanding these elements can help students and their families effectively plan and manage the expenses associated with attending BYU.

Tuition and Fees: The Sticker Price

Brigham Young University's tuition is $6,888, significantly lower than the national average cost of tuition of $46,950. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. Fees cover library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources, and campus health centers.

Total Cost of Attendance

While the sticker price provides a baseline, understanding the total cost of attendance is crucial for budgeting. At Brigham Young University, the total cost is $21,940, encompassing tuition and fees, the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

Payment Options

BYU provides several convenient payment options for tuition and fees, including charges such as tuition, class fees, tuition reassessments, Study Abroad fees, and health plan charges. These options include:

eCheck: BYU's preferred payment method, eCheck, is a free electronic check option that securely withdraws funds directly from a payer's checking or savings account. The payer must provide their bank routing and account number. Payments from mutual fund, money market, line of credit, or brokerage accounts are not accepted.
Credit Card: BYU accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express for all charges, including tuition payments. However, a nonrefundable processing fee is charged when making a payment towards tuition and fees, program fees, and short-term loans.
Debit Cards: Debit cards are considered credit cards for tuition and loan payment purposes and are subject to the same restrictions and service charges.
In-Person Payments: Payments can be made throughout the year in person at 3326 WSC using check, money order, or cash. Credit cards cannot be used to pay tuition or fees at BYU cashiering locations.

Payments may be made online by logging into myBYU and selecting the My Financial Center link under the School heading, or by typing mfc.byu.edu into your web browser. Please make checks payable to Brigham Young University or BYU. Include with your check the student's BYU ID number and the amount to apply to each category.

Understanding Refunds for Dropped Classes

If a student drops a class, a pro-rata charge will be applied. The recalculation of tuition and fee charges may result in a refund. If the student has elected direct deposit for student account refunds, the refund will be deposited into the student's bank. Payments originally paid by credit card will be returned to the credit card. Unpaid university charges may be deducted from the refund amount.

Refunds will not be paid to students whose tuition has been paid by a loan, scholarship, or benefit. If a student with federal financial aid drops below half-time enrollment (for tuition assessment purposes: undergraduate, 6 hours per semester or 3 hours per term; graduate, 4.5 hours per semester or 2.5 hours per term), the federal program or lender may require that a portion of the refund be returned.

A petition for exception to the refund schedule will be considered for students forced to withdraw because of circumstances that are beyond their control, such as death in the immediate family, life-threatening situations, medical incapacitation, a university error, or military leave. Students should not submit petitions based on ignorance of university policies and procedures, as these will be denied. Petition forms are available in 3326 WSC (Enrollment Services).

Pro-Rata Charges Schedule

The pro-rata charge for dropped classes varies depending on when the class is dropped:

Fall Semester

September 1: 15%
September 23: 25%
October 21: 50%
November 4: 100%

Winter Semester

January 15: 15%
January 28: 25%
February 26: 50%
March 12: 100%

Spring Term

May 6: 15%
May 12: 25%
May 22: 50%
May 30: 100%

Summer Term

June 30: 15%
July 7: 25%
July 17: 50%
July 24: 100%

Spring-Summer

May 6: 15%
May 18: 25%
June 16: 50%
July 2: 100%

Class Fees and Material/Service Fees

Class fee refunds are based on the same schedule as listed for tuition refunds. Those with asterisks (*) are exceptions to this schedule and must be requested at the respective academic department.

Read also: UMN Cost of Attendance

The following courses charge fees based on materials consumed or services provided. Contact the individual department or professor to determine the appropriate payment procedure.

ART 104, 105, 133, 155, 216, 217, 330, 350, 351, 356R, 358, 359.

CM 105, 155, 210.

EC En 212, 301.

IT 101, 443, 447.

TEE 200, 229, 490R, 593R.

TMA 285, 475R.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial aid can significantly reduce the out-of-pocket cost of attending BYU. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Brigham Young University was $3,832. Additionally, 34% of first-year students received need-based financial aid in fall 2023.

Need-based self-help aid includes federal loans and work-study. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $3,869.

Merit-based aid, also called non-need-based aid, is awarded for a specific talent or academic achievement. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Brigham Young University - excluding any athletic scholarships, if applicable - was $2,525.

BYU met 41% of its students’ financial aid need.

Scholarships are a type of funding that you don’t need to pay back. Need-based scholarships take a student’s financial status into account. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation.

Some students receive enough in scholarship money to cover their tuition and living expenses.

Student Loans and Debt

How much student loan debt you accumulate can affect your financial life long after college ends. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate.

At Brigham Young University, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $11,069. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $117.

Additionally, 1% of graduating students at Brigham Young University took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $10,628 in private loan debt at graduation.

Average Total Indebtedness of 2024 Graduating Class: $12,839

Graduating students who have borrowed (any loan type, 2024): 18%

Short-Term Loans

BYU offers short-term loans for students needing temporary financial assistance. These loans are intended for short-duration financing needs. Short-term loans are due as follows:

Fall Registration Period: Due November 1
Winter Registration Period: Due March 1
Spring Registration Period: Due June 1
Summer Registration Period: Due August 1

A $20 processing fee is charged for each short-term loan. No interest is charged if the loans are paid by the due date. Short-term loans outstanding after the due date bear interest at the rate of 12 percent per annum.

Holds on registration for future semesters or spring-summer(s) are placed on all student accounts the day the short-term loan is disbursed and are not released until the loan is paid in full. This may affect the ability of some students to take advantage of priority registration.

Health Insurance Requirements

All participants in groups on tour, Study Abroad, or internships are required to carry adequate medical insurance.

To satisfy the health coverage requirement, students have several options:

Enroll in the Student Health Plan
Enroll in a group medical plan provided by the parents', the student's, or the student's spouse's employer
Purchase an individual Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant health plan

If the student chooses any medical plan other than the Student Health Plan, he/she must provide verification of adequate coverage at the beginning of his/her first semester or term and annually at the beginning of fall semester. Students should carefully review any medical plan they're considering to make sure it will provide sufficient coverage for current and future health care needs. Coverage must be effective by the first day of class.

Effective fall semester 2014, BYU requires all ELC students and F-1 and J-1 visa students to be enrolled in the BYU Student Health Plan or an ACA compliant plan offered by a United States-based insurance company. This plan must provide comprehensive medical coverage for the student while he/she is on campus. Insurance plans from companies outside the United States will not be accepted.

All students enrolled at least 3/4 time (9 credit hours per semester or 4.5 credit hours per term) and all F-1 and J-1 visa students who don't submit proof of other coverage before the deadline each year will be enrolled automatically for individual coverage and assessed the appropriate premium (single or married rate) for the Student Health Plan. Students who are actively working towards a degree and have at least 0.5 on-campus credits will not be automatically enrolled in the Student Health Plan, but they can contact the Student Health Plan Office via YMessage or in person to enroll. Graduate students who have at least 2 credits during fall semester and were enrolled in the Student Health Plan for summer term will be automatically enrolled for fall semester in the same plan they had during summer term. Appeal forms may be obtained at the Enrollment Services office at 3326 WSC.

Collection of Unpaid Tuition and Fees

BYU retains all legal remedies to collect unpaid tuition, fees, and other amounts due to the university for housing, traffic fines, etc. BYU uses a variety of methods to keep students informed of amounts due the university, including financial Web sites, statements, and various forms of correspondence. It is the student's responsibility to remain aware of obligations to the university and to make payment on a timely basis.

If BYU is unable to collect amounts due the university within a reasonable time, the debt may be referred to an outside collection agency and/or attorney for collection. All collection costs, including collection agency fees, attorney fees, and court costs will be charged to the student's account.

Failure to pay all amounts due BYU, including collection fees, may also result in various actions, including but not limited to withholding services and restricting the student's ability to register for class, participate in graduation, receive a transcript or diploma, or be considered for readmission to the university. The university also reserves the right to report both positive and negative payment histories to credit-reporting agencies.

BYU-Pathway Worldwide Tuition

One of the best benefits of a BYU-Pathway Worldwide education is its low pricing, with tuition rates that are significantly lower than most other colleges and universities.

Tuition rate for the preferred path to a degree (starts with PathwayConnect): Tuition rates shown are for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other students pay 25% more. Tuition pricing is updated annually.
Tuition rate for the advanced path to a degree, if you did not complete PathwayConnect: $147 USD per credit. Tuition rates shown are for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other students pay 25% more. Tuition pricing is updated annually.

Student Teaching/Practicum Fees

Students in teacher education must be fingerprinted and pass a background check prior to starting practicum experiences with K-12 students. Fees for licensure are due with the student teaching application. This applies the entire time a student has continuing status, including students taking a semester or term off.

Jobs

Working while in school can help lessen the burden of your student loans. Schools offer work-study programs to those who qualify and campus jobs to students looking to earn money in their free time. Some institutions match students with work-study positions, while others require them apply to the positions, like they would for any other job.

Begin your job search by checking whether your college has in-person or online job boards.

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