BYU Acceptance Rate 2024 Isn't What Most Expect

BYU Acceptance Rate 2024: What the Numbers Actually Mean

For the 2024 application cycle (Class of 2028), Brigham Young University reported an overall acceptance rate of approximately 67.8%, meaning just under seven out of every ten applicants received an offer of admission. Historically, this figure represents a slight tightening from the 69.2% rate recorded in 2023, but still sits above the 66.7% observed in 2022, indicating that BYU admissions remain moderately selective rather than highly competitive on a national scale.

How the 2024 Acceptance Rate Compares to Past Years

In 2023, the overall acceptance rate stood at about 69.2%, with more than 11,000 applicants and roughly two-thirds admitted. By 2024, the number of applicants edged higher-from around 11,000 to 11,698-while the number of students admitted increased to 7,929, keeping the BYU acceptance rate at roughly 67.8%. This small dip reflects a modest rise in selectivity as the university managed a growing application volume without dramatically expanding its incoming class size.

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Application Volume and Class Size Context

For the 2024-25 cycle, BYU received roughly 11,698 freshman applications and admitted 7,929 students, yielding a 67.8% acceptance rate. Transfer applicants tell a different story: about 2,049 applied and 1,274 were accepted, translating to a transfer acceptance rate of 60.6%. Aggregated data from external education platforms generally corroborate these figures, with one estimate listing the 2024 BYU acceptance rate at 67-68%, aligning with the university's own reported statistics.

How Selective Is BYU in 2024?

An acceptance rate near 68% places BYU in the "moderately selective" range, comparable to many flagship public universities but less restrictive than elite private institutions regularly below 20%. By contrast, many top-tier research universities cap their overall acceptance rates at 5-15%, which means competitively qualifying students often stand a better statistical chance at BYU than at these hyper-selective peers. Within that context, BYU's 2024 rate signals that while the BYU admissions process is competitive, it remains accessible to a broad pool of well-prepared applicants.

Key BYU Admissions Statistics for 2024

For the 2024 entering class, BYU's published entrance statistics included a mix of quantitative and qualitative factors. The average high school GPA for admitted incoming freshmen hovered around 3.8-3.9 on a 4.0 scale, placing most enrollees in the top 10-15% of their high school classes. SAT scores among admitted students typically ranged from about 1190-1420, with ACT composite scores clustering between 26 and 32, reflecting a strong but not elite national percentile band.

• Overall acceptance rate: ~67.8% for first-year applicants in 2024.
• Transfer acceptance rate: ~60.6% for 2024.
• Approximate freshman applicant pool: 11,698 students.
• Admitted freshman enrollees: about 7,929 students.
• Domestic acceptance rate: ~67.9%.
• International acceptance rate: ~58.9%.

Comparing BYU to Other Universities

When benchmarked against other institutions, BYU's 67.8% 2024 acceptance rate is significantly higher than research universities such as Stanford, Harvard, or Caltech, where acceptance rates often fall below 5%. However, it is lower than many open-enrollment or regional public universities that routinely accept 80-90% of applicants. This positioning suggests that BYU functions as a selective but still accessible option for students who meet or exceed its academic profile benchmarks.

BYU Acceptance Rate by Student Type

By student category, BYU's 2024 admissions data reveal subtle differences in how selective the admissions office was for different pools. Domestic applicants enjoyed a slightly higher acceptance rate of about 67.9%, reflecting the university's primary focus on U.S. residents and its institutional mission. International applicants, by contrast, faced a lower rate of roughly 58.9%, signaling somewhat tighter competition for the limited number of international seats available each year.

1. First-year domestic applicants: ~67.9% acceptance rate.
2. First-year international applicants: ~58.9% acceptance rate.
3. Transfer applicants (domestic): ~60.6% acceptance rate.
4. Transfer applicants (international): Data not fully disaggregated publicly, but embedded in the 60.6% aggregate.

In practical terms, an international student applying to BYU in 2024 had to clear a higher de facto threshold than a domestic peer, while transfer-level competition sat slightly below the first-year rate.

Illustrative Table: BYU Acceptance Rate Snapshot (2024)

What Does the Falling Rate Mean for Applicants?

A downward trend in the BYU acceptance rate-from 69.2% in 2023 to 67.8% in 2024-suggests that the bar for admission is rising incrementally, but not drastically. For a prospective student, this means that maintaining or exceeding the typical BYU GPA and testing profile (around 3.8-3.9 GPA and mid-1200s SAT) becomes more important than ever. At the same time, BYU's rate still accommodates a majority of academically qualified applicants, so a drop of roughly 1-1.5 percentage points should not deter strong students who meet the core admissions criteria.

Should You Still Apply to BYU in 2024?

Despite the modest dip in the BYU acceptance rate, many admissions experts argue that BYU remains a worthwhile target for academically strong students who align with its mission and community. A 67.8% acceptance rate means that, statistically, well-prepared applicants still enjoy favorable odds compared with more selective institutions. Applicants should weigh factors such as faith alignment, campus culture, and program strength alongside the numeric odds when deciding whether to include BYU in their application list.

"Students and their families want to gather in a place that deepens faith," said a Church Educational System commissioner in early 2025, as BYU recorded nearly 13,500 applications for the 2024-25 academic year-a 15% jump since 2023.

What are the most effective strategies to improve your odds at BYU?

• Aim for a GPA at or above 3.8 on a 4.0 scale, with a rigorous course load that includes honors, AP, or IB if available.
• Submit test scores in the 1190-1420 SAT or 26-32 ACT range if your testing profile is strong relative to your GPA.
• Align your application narrative with BYU's