Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Brigham Young University-Idaho

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Brigham Young University-Idaho that cost less. 9 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Rexburg, Idaho · Private Nonprofit

$8,221
Net Price
$53,406
Median Earnings (10yr)
95.8%
Acceptance Rate
55.3%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Brigham Young University-Idaho

Brigham Young University-Idaho posts an average net price of $8,221 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Brigham Young University-Idaho across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $7,685, achieved by College of San Mateo at $536. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 9 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Brigham Young University-Idaho’s $53,406, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $54,655.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$7,685
Max Savings
9
Better Value Options
58%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. University of Maine at Fort $51k 2. California State University- $59k 3. The University of Texas Rio $50k 4. Texas A&M University-Victori $54k 5. College of San Mateo $54k Compared to Brigham Young University-Idaho: $53k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Fort Kent, ME · Public
$7,482 -$739 $51,077 39.6% 58%
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · Public Better Value
$7,021 -$1,200 $59,115 56.5% 53%
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX · Public
$4,831 -$3,390 $49,620 50.1% 51%
Texas A&M University-Victoria
Victoria, TX · Public Better Value
$8,109 -$112 $54,467 26.5% 48%
College of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA · Public Better Value
$536 -$7,685 $54,172 58.7% 47%
Valley Forge Military College
Wayne, PA · Private Nonprofit
$6,398 -$1,823 $50,798 94.9% 47%
College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, NY · Public Better Value
$5,579 -$2,642 $53,501 33.4% 46%
California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA · Public Better Value
$4,564 -$3,657 $59,977 54.8% 45%
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA · Public
$3,423 -$4,798 $51,688 51.5% 45%
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA · Public Better Value
$7,000 -$1,221 $61,244 55.9% 44%
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public Better Value
$3,967 -$4,254 $59,211 52.8% 42%
California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA · Public Better Value
$5,652 -$2,569 $59,009 49.6% 42%
Utah Valley University
Orem, UT · Public Better Value
$6,376 -$1,845 $55,486 43.1% 42%
Las Positas College
Livermore, CA · Public
$5,377 -$2,844 $51,088 50.7% 42%
CUNY New York City College of Technology
Brooklyn, NY · Public
$5,127 -$3,094 $49,365 20.5% 42%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Brigham Young University-Idaho are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Brigham Young University-Idaho?
We found 15 schools similar to Brigham Young University-Idaho that cost less. The closest match is University of Maine at Fort Kent with 58% similarity and a net price of $7,482.
What is the ROI of attending Brigham Young University-Idaho?
Brigham Young University-Idaho has an average net price of $8,221. Former students earn a median of $53,406 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 6.5x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Brigham Young University-Idaho for less money?
Yes - 9 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. California State University-Northridge costs $7,021 (saving $1,200) with median earnings of $59,115.
What is the cheapest alternative to Brigham Young University-Idaho?
The most affordable similar school is College of San Mateo at $536, saving $7,685 compared to Brigham Young University-Idaho. It has a 47% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $54,655 compared to Brigham Young University-Idaho's $53,406. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.