Each year the Wall Street Journal publishes a list of the Best Colleges in the U.S. For its 2026 Best Colleges list, BYU-Idaho claimed the top spot in Idaho for best value and the top spot in comparison to colleges in Utah. BYU-Idaho ranks #32 overall in the U.S. for best value.
While the rankings themselves are exciting for BYU-Idaho, the true story of BYU-Idaho’s success is in its mission to provide a quality, affordable education, where graduates “become leaders in their homes, communities, and the Church.”
How WSJ Ranked Best Value
The Wall Street Journal based its ranking score on the number of “years to pay off net price” of education. This combined the average net price of attending the college and the value added to graduates’ median salary that is attributable to attending the college. The number of years it takes for students to pay off their education based on the median salary determined the overall value.
Average Net Price measured the average annual overall cost of attending, including tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, grants, scholarships, and federal financial aid.
Value Added to Graduate Salary means the inherent value added to graduates’ median salaries that is attributable to attending BYU-Idaho. It was estimated on the basis of the median earnings of BYU-Idaho graduates compared with the median earnings of high school graduates in Idaho and across the U.S., in proportion to the ratio of in-state and out-of-state students.
Years to Pay Off Net Price means the number of years expected for BYU-Idaho graduates to pay off the net price of their education.
Low Tuition and Better ROI
BYU-Idaho frequently charts the top spot for best value and cost for state and national ranking surveys. The university has integrated into its institutional strategy to make education more affordable with low tuition, better scholarships, and clear financial aid options.
Recent adjustments to the returned missionary scholarship and automatic academic scholarship have given significant benefits for degree-seeking students. How to pay for school is a major concern for most students and the ready option for financial aid is greatly appreciated.
As one BYU-Idaho student who recently returned from a mission expressed, “[The returned missionary scholarship] made it possible for me to be here.” Another student added, “It made me decide to come to BYU-Idaho in the first place.”
Across the country, many current and prospective college students question whether to attend college, due to rising tuition costs. BYU-Idaho’s scholarship initiative, combined with lower tuition and cost of attendance, have changed the lives of many students to fulfill their dreams of a quality college education.
“I can just come here, do school, and have a peace of mind about finances,” said another student.
BYU-Idaho offers a tuition that is about 60 percent less than the average tuition of other Idaho colleges. In comparison to most Utah universities, BYU-Idaho offers a tuition that is about 40 percent less.
Value in Graduate Success
A strong measuring rod for a university’s impact is the success of its graduates. WSJ found that the value the BYU-Idaho added to graduates’ median salaries averaged $27,339. This amount was about 11 percent higher than the average of other Idaho colleges.
Through the survey, WSJ estimated that an education at BYU-Idaho “pays for itself through the salary boost it provides.”
BYU-Idaho graduates find they are able to find jobs after graduation or enter successfully graduate school based on their preparation at BYU-Idaho.
- 95 percent of job-seeking BYU-Idaho graduates are employed within a year of graduation
- 90 percent of BYU-Idaho students who apply to graduate school are accepted within a year of graduating
- 65 percent of BYU-Idaho graduates have zero debt when they graduate, so they can start earning money right away
With a 94 percent acceptance rate and free application process, these benefits are available to almost every person who applies.
Value in Less Student Debt
WSJ estimated how quickly graduates are able to pay off the net price of their college education. BYU-Idaho’s net price for attendance was estimated to take only one year to pay off. This is about 66 percent less time than the average pay-off time for other Idaho colleges and about 32 percent less than the average time for Utah schools.