Head-to-head comparison
Brigham Young University vs University of Utah: which has better ROI?
Option A Provo, UT
Brigham Young University
- Net price / year
- $15,564
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,790
- Payback
- 2.3 yrs
Option B Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah
- Net price / year
- $16,200
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,170
- Payback
- 3.4 yrs
Brigham Young University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,256 in 2.3 years versus 3.4 years at University of Utah, on median earnings of $75,790 vs $67,170 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Brigham Young University | University of Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,564 | $16,200 |
| Total net cost | $62,256 | $64,800 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,790 | $67,170 |
| Median debt | $11,069 | $19,000 |
| Payback | 2.3 yrs | 3.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $486,344 | $311,400 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Brigham Young University or University of Utah?
Brigham Young University, at $15,564 a year after aid versus $16,200 — a gap of $636 a year, or $2,544 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Brigham Young University or University of Utah graduates earn more?
Brigham Young University graduates report a median $75,790 ten years after entry, $8,620 more than the $67,170 at University of Utah. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Brigham Young University or University of Utah?
Brigham Young University: its completers carry a median $11,069 in federal loans versus $19,000 at University of Utah, a difference of $7,931. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at Brigham Young University, against 65% at University of Utah. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.