For BYU students, the path to graduation is rarely one-size-fits-all.
Missionary service, major changes, internships and other commitments can extend the time it takes to earn a degree, creating graduation timelines that often differ from the traditional four-year model.
According to federal graduation data, only 26% of students in BYU's 2016 cohort graduated within four years, while nearly 80% completed their degrees within six years.
More than half of BYU students serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an experience that can interrupt academic plans and alter graduation timelines.
According to BYU Enrollment Services, the average age to graduate with a bachelor’s degree is 24.4 years old. This is only slightly older than the average age of college graduates across the United States, which is 24 years old.
For some students, graduating in four years requires significant planning and sacrifice.
Emaline Whitley, a senior majoring in wildlife and wildlands conservation with a minor in Scandinavian studies, shared that she felt pressured to graduate in the traditional four-year timeline.
“I will be graduating in four years, but I have been fighting tooth and nail to make that happen. This is my third time doing a spring or summer term,” Whitley said.
Whitley said she has taken at least 16 credit hours every semester except one while balancing her involvement in the Cougar Marching Band.
“When I first started school, I didn’t realize that maybe it would be beneficial to spread it out over five years,” Whitley said. “Know your limits … It's okay to take things slow. Spring and summer courses have been such a secret weapon.”
According to The Office of First-Year Experience, most BYU students change their major at least one time during their college career.
The Office of First-Year Experience advises students to have a clear idea of their intended major by their sophomore year. Under BYU policy, students who have completed 75 credit hours must petition to change majors.
Brandon Farley, a soon-to-be BYU graduate, said students should not feel pressured to finish their degree on a specific timeline.
“Don’t put pressure on yourself to get it done in a certain time,” Farley said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do until like two and a half years into my college education … just explore. It’s a great time in our lives to just explore who we are and what we’re passionate about.
To learn more about majors and graduation paths, make an appointment with the advisement center.