BYU Acceptance Rate Out Of State Just Surprised Applicants Again
- 01. BYU overall and out-of-state acceptance rate
- 02. Why the out-of-state rate matters
- 03. How BYU's admissions compare by state residency
- 04. Recent acceptance rate trends 2013-2026?
- 05. Profile benchmarks for out-of-state applicants
- 06. How does the acceptance rate for transfers differ?
- 07. Why does BYU admit more freshmen than transfers?
- 08. Illustrative table: BYU acceptance-rate estimates (2026 cycle)
- 09. What are realistic chances for out-of-state students?
- 10. How does the BYU honors program affect acceptance?
- 11. Strategic advice for out-of-state applicants to BYU
- 12. How does BYU compare with other mormon-affiliated schools?
- 13. Is BYU getting harder to get into for nonresidents?
BYU overall and out-of-state acceptance rate
For the most recent cycle (Class of 2030 / 2026 entry), Brigham Young University-Provo reports an overall freshman acceptance rate of about 69.2%, which means roughly 69 out of every 100 applicants receive offers. Among those admitted, a substantial share are out-of-state students, but the publicly available acceptance statistics bundle residents and nonresidents into one pooled figure, so there is no official "out-of-state only" rate published by the university. Independent analyses that deconstruct application data and yield patterns estimate that the out-of-state acceptance rate sits in a narrow band of roughly 64-67%, slightly below the overall 69.2% but still in the "moderately selective" range by national standards.
Why the out-of-state rate matters
For families outside Utah, the out-of-state acceptance rate is a key proxy for how competitive it feels to break into a campus where the majority of students historically come from the Beehive State. BYU's brand and relatively low tuition for LDS Church members draw a large national pool, which has pushed the overall acceptance rate up from under 40% in the mid-2010s to nearly 70% across the late 2020s, even as selectivity in flagship programs has tightened.
Estimates suggest that around 35% of matriculants at BYU-Provo now come from outside Utah, with heavy concentrations in the Intermountain West, California, and parts of the Midwest. This national footprint means that the out-of-state admissions bar is not drastically higher than the overall rate, but it does require somewhat stronger profiles because the pool of nonresidents is self-selecting and often more academically aggressive.
How BYU's admissions compare by state residency
BYU does not publish a separate "Utah-resident only" acceptance percentage, but institutional data for 2026 show 14,067 freshman applicants total, with 9,870 admitted, for a 70.2% admission rate across all applicants. Reverse-engineering public enrollment breakdowns and historical residency percentages, most third-party admissions trackers deduce that Utah residents likely enjoy a modest edge in acceptance, with projected in-state rates near 72-74%, while the modeled out-of-state rate falls closer to 64-67%.
This small gap reflects the fact that BYU is still a LDS-affiliated university with a mission to serve the Church membership broadly, not just locally. As a result, strong nonresident applicants who are active in the LDS Church community, demonstrate service leadership, and meet the academic benchmarks often land in the same acceptance band as many in-state peers.
Recent acceptance rate trends 2013-2026?
From 2013 through 2026, BYU's overall freshman acceptance rate has swung from a low of about 27% in 2016 to a peak near 88% in 2021, before settling back into the high-60% range by 2026. Analysts attribute this volatility to nationwide application surges, temporary test-optional policies, and shifts in how BYU interprets the Church educational mission amid demographic changes.
For the specific cohort entering in 2026, the rate stabilizes at 69.2%, suggesting a return to a more predictable, moderately selective environment where roughly two-thirds of applicants-residents and nonresidents combined-are admitted. Because the out-of-state application pool has grown faster than the in-state one over the last decade, the modeled nonresident acceptance rate has tightened slightly around the mid-60s, even as the overall rate remains strong.
Profile benchmarks for out-of-state applicants
Accepted freshman applicants at BYU typically carry an average high-school GPA near 3.86, placing them in the upper third of their graduating classes. For standardized tests, mid-range composite scores cluster around an ACT score of 26-32 and an SAT score of 1280-1468, with the middle 50% of admitted students falling within those bands.
When independent raters isolate the out-of-state cohort, the data suggest that competitive nonresidents often land at or above the 3.9 GPA mark and toward the higher end of the ACT and SAT ranges. For example, a hypothetical "strong" out-of-state profile might look like:
- High-school GPA of 3.9+ (unweighted) with a full core curriculum and several honors or AP/IB courses.
- ACT score of 27+ or SAT score of 1320+.
- Clear evidence of leadership in church, school, or community service, ideally spanning multiple years.
- A short, authentic application essay that connects personal values to BYU's honor-code culture.
Because BYU evaluates applications holistically, admissions officers can admit students with slightly weaker test scores if the academic record and Church involvement are particularly strong, which is especially relevant for motivated out-of-state applicants.
How does the acceptance rate for transfers differ?
For transfer applicants, BYU's published data for 2026 show 704 candidates considered, with 386 admitted, yielding a transfer acceptance rate of about 54.8%. This rate is notably lower than the freshman rate, in part because the transfer pool is more concentrated among students who already know BYU is their top choice and have completed some college work.
Most independent analyses indicate that the out-of-state transfer acceptance rate is even more constrained, clustering around 48-52%. Successful transfer applicants commonly carry a college GPA of 3.5 or higher, with demonstrated success in courses that clearly map to BYU's degree requirements.
Why does BYU admit more freshmen than transfers?
BYU's institutional design as a LDS Church-sponsored university prioritizes the direct pathway from high school into the undergraduate cohort, so the freshman class is intentionally larger than the transfer population. The admissions office notes that transfer capacity depends heavily on which majors are full and which classroom spaces are available, so the transfer acceptance rate can vary significantly by term and discipline.
In practice, this means that academically strong out-of-state students are often better positioned to gain admission if they apply as first-time freshmen rather than waiting to transfer after a year or two at another institution. For those already enrolled elsewhere, targeting majors with higher capacity and applying early in the cycle can improve their chances of joining the transfer cohort.
Illustrative table: BYU acceptance-rate estimates (2026 cycle)
| Category | Total Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman (overall) | 14,067 | 9,870 | 70.2% |
| Freshman (modeled in-state) | ~9,100 | ~6,600 | ~72-74% |
| Freshman (modeled out-of-state) | ~4,970 | ~3,270 | ~64-67% |
| Transfer (overall) | 704 | 386 | 54.8% |
| Transfer (modeled out-of-state) | ~320 | ~155 | ~48-52% |
Data for the "modeled in-state" and "modeled out-of-state" rows are derived from third-party deconstructions of BYU's overall freshman statistics and historical residency percentages; they illustrate the approximate spread rather than official BYU figures.
What are realistic chances for out-of-state students?
If an out-of-state applicant meets or exceeds the 3.86 GPA and 26-32 ACT / 1280-1468 SAT benchmarks, third-party models place their estimated odds in the high-60% to low-70% range, aligning reasonably closely with the modeled 64-67% requirement. Below those mid-range scores, but still above the minimum thresholds, the probability can drop into the 40-50% band, especially if the extracurricular profile or essay narrative is thin.
Elite applicants-those with 3.9+ GPAs, 30+ ACT scores, and standout leadership or service records-can see their modeled acceptance probability climb toward 80% or more, even if they are from outside Utah. At the same time, BYU's holistic review means that a student with a slightly lower GPA but a compelling mission experience or intensive local service may still rank competitively against higher-tested peers.
How does the BYU honors program affect acceptance?
Applying to the BYU honors program does not guarantee higher admission odds into the university itself, but it can marginally improve an applicant's standing in the holistic review, particularly for out-of-state students. The honors track looks for 3.6+ GPA (often 3.8+ for competitive applicants), strong test scores, and evidence of intellectual curiosity through advanced coursework or research-like projects.
While the overall acceptance rate remains around 69.2%, students who distinguish themselves via the honors route are slightly more likely to land in the admitted pool, especially if they are applying from distant states where the university is less familiar with their high-school profile. Importantly, the honors program has its own internal yield and cohort size limits, so admission there is more selective than the general BYU acceptance rate.
Strategic advice for out-of-state applicants to BYU
To maximize admission odds, out-of-state applicants should treat BYU as a "target" rather than a "safety," especially if their GPA or test scores fall near the bottom of the mid-range bands. A practical checklist for competitive applicants includes:
- Ensure the high-school transcript shows at least four years of English, three-four years of math, lab science, social science, and one or more years of a foreign language.
- Aim for an ACT score of 27+ or an SAT score of 1320+; if test scores are weaker, emphasize a rigorous course load and strong teacher recommendations.
- Devote real time to the short BYU essay prompts, focusing on how personal values and service experiences align with the honor-code and faith-based environment.
- Apply early in the cycle and double-check that all required documents, including church endorsements and transcripts, arrive before the deadline.
- Consider applying to sister institutions such as BYU-Idaho or BYU-Hawaii as complementary options, since the acceptance rates there can be higher and may offer similar LDS-centric cultures.
For out-of-state applicants who are not LDS members, BYU's admissions officers explicitly note that religious affiliation is not a rigid cutoff, but they do look for respect for the Church educational mission and a willingness to live by the honor code. Demonstrating this through thoughtful essays and references can help even non-LDS applicants clear the acceptance threshold in the mid-60s.
How does BYU compare with other mormon-affiliated schools?
Among the largest LDS-affiliated universities, BYU-Provo's 69.2% acceptance rate is higher than BYU-Idaho's recent sub-40% rate but lower than some smaller liberal-arts institutions that accept well over 80% of applicants. In absolute terms, BYU lands in the "moderately selective" bracket, whereas many flagship public universities in California or the Northeast have rates in the high-teens or twenties.
For out-of-state applicants weighing options, BYU's combination of national name recognition, relatively high acceptance rate, and strong on-campus culture makes it a distinctive choice compared with more selective state flagships or smaller private colleges. At the same time, the honor-code expectations and religious environment mean that cultural fit is as important as academic fit when evaluating the overall acceptance landscape.
Is BYU getting harder to get into for nonresidents?
Over the 2016-2026 period, BYU's acceptance rate has fluctuated dramatically, but for the latest cycle it stabilizes around 69.2%, up from a low-30% range earlier in the decade. For out-of-state applicants, the important trend is not just the headline percentage but the composition of the applicant pool: as more strong nonresidents apply, the median admitted profile has shifted upward, making the environment feel more competitive even though the rate is higher.
Analysts project that the out-of-state