Brigham Young University Admissions

Transfer Student Applicants

Transfer students are students who have completed accredited college work beyond high school graduation or beyond the normal age for high school graduation.

BYU does not accept vocational transfer credit. Also, students who have not yet graduated from high school will apply as new freshmen—regardless of the amount of college credit earned during high school. More information on transferring to BYU can be found at transfer.byu.edu.

Comprehensive Admissions Review (What we look at...)

Every transfer student applicant undergoes the following review process:

1. The first consideration in the review process is the ecclesiastical endorsement. Each applicant must be endorsed by his or her ecclesiastical leaders as one who is worthy to attend BYU and is living in harmony with the Honor Code and the Dress and Grooming Standards (BeSmart.com/honorcode). Applicants who are not members of the LDS Church need to be interviewed by an LDS bishop.
   
   
2. Each student’s academic record—consisting of transfer GPA and quality of coursework—is then considered as the foundation and central focus of admission decisions. However, we are looking for students who are accomplished in a variety of areas—not just academics. Thus, a certain transfer GPA alone does not guarantee admission. Also, transfer students with more than 90 graded semester credit hours are unlikely to be admitted.
   
   
3. Each application is then reviewed and evaluated according to the following elements: missionary service, institute of religion involvement, service, leadership, personal essays, individual talents, creativity, number of graded transfer hours, unique or special circumstances, degrees earned, academic goals, and other factors showing a student’s ability to strengthen the BYU community.

Note: Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree will not be eligible for a second bachelor's degree, but are welcome to apply for BYU graduate programs (visit gradstudies.byu.edu).

Admission Philosophy (Who we look for...)

Admission decisions are guided by the philosophy found in the “University Statement on Fostering an Enriched Environment,” which states the following:

"The Mission of Brigham Young University—founded, supported, and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—is to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life. That assistance should provide a period of intensive learning in a stimulating setting where a commitment to excellence is expected and the full realization of human potential is pursued. (‘The Mission of Brigham Young University')

"To this end, the university seeks qualified students of various talents and backgrounds, including geographic, educational, cultural, ethnic, and racial, who relate together in such a manner that they are ‘no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God' (Ephesians 2:19). It is the university’s judgment that providing educational opportunities for a mix of students who share gospel values and come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences is an important educational asset to BYU."

Transfer Student Checklist

• Live the standards of the LDS Church
• Attend LDS institute of religion
• Earn 24 hours or more of transferable credit
• Make academic goals and plans
• Keep in mind the cost—save money!