BYU Independent Study Tuition & Review (2026–27): Courses vs Diploma Costs

BYU Independent Study tuition for high school courses is $229 per half-credit (one semester) for a Standard course, $329 for a Specialized course and $130 for a Best Value course, with quarter-credit courses at $130 — prices effective 1 August 2026 (official site, checked 29 September 2026). A typical full-year Standard course (two semesters, 1.0 credit) therefore costs $458 in tuition, before any textbooks. If you want a full BYU high school diploma rather than single courses, that is a separate program, BYU Online High School, which charges $2,140 per semester ($4,280 per year) for full-time students on its Standard Diploma Track and $2,505 per semester ($5,010 per year) on its Advanced Diploma Track for the 2026–27 school year, plus a one-time $50 application fee and a $50 annual enrollment fee.

If you searched “BYU Independent Study tuition” or “BYU online high school cost”, the confusing part is that Brigham Young University’s Continuing Education division now runs two different things: BYU Independent Study, a self-paced course catalogue anyone can buy from (to recover a credit, take a class a local school does not offer, or supplement homeschooling), and BYU Online High School, a diploma-granting online school launched in 2020 with live and self-paced classes. Prices for both rose for 2026–27. This page separates the two, adds up the real totals including fees, explains what a school week looks like and how the diploma is recognised, and compares BYU fairly with The Keystone School, Florida Virtual School (FLVS) and NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY, a different kind of online school that opens in 2027.

The short answer: who BYU Independent Study suits — and who it doesn’t

• Suits: students who need one or two accredited courses — credit recovery, a course their school does not offer, or acceleration toward early graduation. You can enrol any time without being admitted to BYU, and you have one year to finish each course.
• Suits: homeschooling families who want low per-course prices from a large, long-established university provider. BYU Independent Study lists 220+ high school courses, 100+ of them NCAA-approved and 150+ UC-approved.
• Suits: families who want a full, accredited US diploma at a published price below many private online schools — through BYU Online High School ($4,280 per year full-time on the Standard track).
• Suits: students living abroad. BYU Independent Study says it has served students in 153 countries, and BYU Online High School says it helps students “from nearly any country” earn a US diploma.
• Harder fit: children who need a teacher in the room every day. Every BYU Independent Study course is self-paced, with no live classes; only BYU Online High School’s Semester Live courses meet on a set schedule.
• Harder fit: families in Asia or Oceania who want live classes: the school operates on US Mountain Time, so a live class in Utah’s school day will fall in the night or very early morning in much of Asia.
• Harder fit: children still learning English. Courses are written for US students; the online high school mentions “built-in language supports”, but no English-language admission standard is published.

What BYU Independent Study is

BYU Independent Study describes itself as “a program of BYU Continuing Education” at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, with more than 100 years of experience, over 2 million total enrollments, 470+ accredited courses across middle school, high school and university levels, and students in 153 countries. You do not need to be admitted to BYU to take a course: you choose a course from the catalogue, pay, and get immediate access. The official FAQ is explicit that “all our courses are self-paced”; many include recorded video lectures, graded assignments, quizzes and exams, plus virtual office hours and free half-hour tutoring sessions through BYU’s Student Success Center. When you finish, you receive a transcript to send to your own school.

What BYU Independent Study does not do is award a high school diploma. For that, BYU Continuing Education launched BYU Online High School in 2020 — BYU’s first high school diplomas since Brigham Young High School’s last graduating class in 1968, according to the school’s About page. BYU Online High School serves grades 7–12 (ages 12+) plus adults, says it enrols 1,000+ students a year, and offers two course formats: Semester Live (live online classes on a set schedule, August–May calendar, weekly deadlines) and Flex On Demand (self-paced, start any time, six months per course). The online high school’s FAQ says its courses are “secular in nature and open to everyone”; the school also calls itself “faith-friendly”, and church membership is not required. Older web addresses (elearn.byu.edu, hs.ce.byu.edu) now point to the current sites, is.byu.edu and hs.byu.edu.

BYU Independent Study tuition and fees (2026–27, official)

BYU Independent Study’s tuition page states that “tuition is due upon enrollment” and that the current prices are effective 1 August 2026 for high school courses and 2 September 2026 for university courses. In US high school terms, a 0.5 credit is one semester of a subject; a full-year subject is usually two such courses.

Refunds: the FAQ offers a 100% money-back guarantee within the first 14 days of purchase and “limited refunds up to 60 days after purchase” under the tuition and withdrawal policy; the $30 withdrawal fee applies. Where a course uses a paper exam, it is shipped to a certified proctor or testing center that the student designates. Discounts or financial aid for high school courses are not published on the official site; the international page mentions scholarships only for university courses.

BYU Online High School tuition (diploma program)

For comparison, the same page still shows 2025–26 prices: $360 per Semester Live course, $275 per Flex On Demand course and semester tuition from “as little as $1,650”. So per-course prices rose by about 15% for 2026–27, and the full-time flat semester price is new. Full-time families can pay in full each semester or in four monthly instalments (August–November and January–April); an ESA payment plan exists for families using state Education Savings Account funds, and the FAQ names Utah Fits All and Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship as programs it is a vendor for. Need-based financial assistance is available to enrolled students (up to 6–7 credits a year) — amounts are not published. Refunds: Semester Live courses are fully refunded minus the $30 drop fee within the first 10 school days, and not after; Flex On Demand courses within 21 calendar days of registration.

Total-cost examples (official numbers only):

• One year of Algebra through BYU Independent Study (two Standard semester courses): 2 × $229 = $458, plus any required textbook.
• A full-time diploma, Standard track, four years, one child: $50 application + 4 × ($4,280 + $50 enrollment fee) = $17,370. For two children over four years: 2 × $17,370 = $34,740.
• Advanced track, four years, one child: $50 + 4 × ($5,010 + $50) = $20,290.
• Why full-time is cheaper than per-course: 12 Semester Live courses bought one by one would be 12 × $415 = $4,980, versus $4,280 as a full-time student.

How does that compare with other models? Our guide to online vs in-person international school costs puts figures like these in context, and the Pearson Online Academy tuition page shows another private US option.

How a school day works: schedule, live classes and time zones

BYU Independent Study has no school day. You log in whenever you like, work through lessons (often with recorded video lectures), submit assignments, take quizzes and exams, and have up to one year from purchase to finish; each course shows a recommended weekly workload. Teachers offer feedback, grading and virtual office hours, and tutoring is available through the Student Success Center. Nothing is synchronous, so time zones barely matter — except for support hours.

BYU Online High School offers two rhythms. Semester Live courses follow an August–May calendar with fall, spring and summer start points; students “attend classes online with peers on a set schedule”, follow weekly homework deadlines, attend teacher office hours and can join activities such as Student Council. Flex On Demand courses can start any time, carry no live classes and no late penalties, and must be finished within six months; the school estimates each course at roughly 80–90 hours of work (about 60 minutes a day, five days a week, for 16–18 weeks). Students can mix the two formats. Full-time students get counselling and advising, and a February 2026 BYU Continuing Education article mentions peer mentoring, two free tutoring sessions a week and student “houses”.

Time zones: the exact times of Semester Live classes are not published on the official pages we checked. The school office is open 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday to Friday. As simple arithmetic, 9:00 a.m. in Utah during daylight saving time is midnight in Tokyo and 11:00 p.m. in Singapore, so families in Asia or Oceania who want live classes should ask for the class schedule before enrolling — or choose Flex On Demand, which does not depend on time zone. For a wider picture of how live and self-paced online schooling compares, see a day at an online international school.

Accreditation, diploma and college recognition

BYU Online High School’s About page states that it “holds accreditation from two regional accreditation agencies: Cognia and the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools”, and that BYU itself is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), which covers the university courses offered as concurrent college credit. The school says its credits “are generally transferable to other universities, colleges, and secondary educational institutions”. BYU Independent Study’s site displays Cognia, ACS WASC, MSA-CESS, NCAA and NWCCU logos. Note that the NCAA is not an accreditor: the NCAA logo refers to its list of approved courses for student-athletes (BYU says 100+ of its high school courses are NCAA-approved). We confirmed these claims on BYU’s own pages; please also check the accreditors’ public directories (Cognia, MSA-CESS) before relying on them for an important decision.

The diploma requires 24 credits on the Standard track (no world-language requirement, ages 14+) or 28 credits on the Advanced track, which adds two or more years of progressive world language plus AP and college-level courses. Students may transfer in credits from earlier schools; the school requires at least 25% of total credits to be earned through BYU Online High School (its policies note that BYU Independent Study high school courses count as transfer credit, not toward that 25%), plus enrolment in the semester of graduation and at least two courses in the senior year. Students who studied outside the US must obtain a credential evaluation at their own expense from IERF or The Evaluation Company (TEC) before prior credits are reviewed. The FAQ is candid that a BYU Online High School diploma has “no direct correlation” to admission to BYU itself. College acceptance rates or a list of university destinations are not published on the official site. BYU Independent Study also reminds international students that BYU “has not determined whether every country recognizes BYU-issued credentials”, so check with the university or authority in your country.

BYU Independent Study vs NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY vs two other options (official data)

Sources: BYU Independent Study Tuition and Fees, BYU Online High School Tuition and Fees, BYU Online High School About Us (accreditation), The Keystone School High School Cost, Keystone Accreditation, FLVS School Options — checked 29 September 2026. For more detail on the two alternatives, see our Keystone School tuition review and Florida Virtual School tuition review.

Reviews and common concerns, answered honestly

“Is it really a BYU diploma?”

Only BYU Online High School awards a diploma. BYU Independent Study courses produce transcripts that your own school decides whether to accept; BYU recommends checking with that school before enrolling. The online high school’s diploma is accredited through Cognia and MSA-CESS, but the school states it has no direct link to admission to BYU itself.

“Do you need to be a church member?”

No. BYU Online High School’s FAQ says its courses are secular and open to everyone, and church membership is not required. It also describes itself as “faith-friendly” and reflecting BYU’s values, and its office closes on Tuesday mornings for university devotionals. Families can judge whether that environment suits them.

“Self-paced is hard to keep up with”

This is the most common theme for any self-paced program, and it applies to BYU Independent Study and Flex On Demand. The official answers are the one-year (IS) or six-month (Flex) deadlines, recommended weekly workloads, office hours and free tutoring. Students who need outside structure may do better in Semester Live courses, which have a set schedule and weekly deadlines.

“Prices went up”

They did. BYU Online High School’s own table shows Semester Live courses moving from $360 to $415 and Flex On Demand from $275 to $315 between 2025–26 and 2026–27. The new full-time price ($4,280 a year on the Standard track) is still lower than buying 12 Semester Live courses one by one.

“Extra fees add up”

Textbooks are not included in BYU Independent Study tuition for courses that need them, and there are small charges for extensions, retakes, resubmissions, withdrawal and shipping. The online high school adds a $50 application fee and a $50 annual enrollment fee. All of these are listed on the official fee pages, so they can be budgeted in advance.

“Will it work from overseas?”

The course platforms work internationally, and both programs accept international students. The practical issues are live-class times in Mountain Time, the cost of credential evaluation for prior study abroad, shipping of paper materials ($20 extra per international shipment at IS), and whether your country recognises a US credential — which BYU asks each student to confirm.

Alternatives to BYU Independent Study worth comparing

The Keystone School is a private, accredited online K–12 school with a similar per-course, start-any-time model; its official cost page puts full-time high school at about $1,800–$2,800 a year, with a year to complete each course. Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is free for Florida residents and offers both individual courses (Flex) and full-time school; families outside Florida use its tuition-based FlexPoint Virtual School. Both appear in the Online International Schools Compared guide.

NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA) is a different kind of option: an online international school for ages 6–18 focused on Asia and Oceania, opening in September 2027 (planned), with free trial classes monthly from September 2026. Children learn subjects in English in small live dialogue groups of about 8, supported by a bilingual English–Japanese mentor and CEFR-based English levels, with social projects alongside companies and governments. There is no entrance exam and no English requirement, and NGA can run alongside a local school or as the main school. Tuition is not yet published — it is designed to be far more affordable than a typical international school, with no enrolment, facility or uniform fees. To be clear about the limits: NGA is not yet accredited, has no graduates yet, and its timetable suits Asia–Oceania daytime rather than the Americas. Read more about why families choose an online international school or the NGA curriculum and timetable.

See how NGA admissions work →

FAQ

How much does BYU Independent Study cost per year?

BYU Independent Study charges per course, not per year: $229 per semester (0.5-credit) Standard course, $329 Specialized, $130 Best Value (effective 1 August 2026). A full-year Standard course is $458. A full-time diploma through BYU Online High School costs $4,280 a year (Standard track) or $5,010 (Advanced track) in 2026–27, plus a $50 application fee and a $50 annual enrollment fee.

Is BYU Independent Study accredited?

BYU’s pages state that BYU Online High School is accredited by Cognia and MSA-CESS, and BYU is accredited by NWCCU. BYU Independent Study’s site displays Cognia, ACS WASC, MSA-CESS and NWCCU logos, and 100+ of its high school courses are NCAA-approved. Confirm acceptance with the school that will receive your credits.

Can international students enrol?

Yes. BYU Independent Study says it has served students in 153 countries and courses are available in most countries; BYU Online High School helps students “from nearly any country” earn a US diploma. Prior study abroad needs a credential evaluation (IERF or TEC) at the family’s expense, and live classes run on US Mountain Time.

Is BYU Independent Study worth it?

For a student who needs a few accredited, transferable courses at low, published prices and can work independently, it is a strong option. For a full diploma, BYU Online High School’s published full-time tuition sits below many private online schools. It is a weaker fit for children who need daily live teaching in an Asian time zone or extra English-language support.

What are the alternatives to BYU Independent Study?

The Keystone School (private, accredited, self-paced, per-course pricing), Florida Virtual School (free for Florida residents; FlexPoint for others) and, for families in Asia and Oceania, NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (live small-group classes with bilingual support, opening September 2027, not yet accredited).

Choosing calmly

BYU’s pricing makes sense once you ask one question: do you need a few courses or a whole diploma? Single courses through BYU Independent Study are among the clearest-priced accredited options available; a diploma through BYU Online High School is a separate, full school at a published yearly price. Whichever route you consider, match the format — self-paced or live, and at what hour — to your child before you compare the numbers.

Tuition and admissions details were checked on the official websites on 29 September 2026. Schools revise fees every year — always confirm on the official site before applying.

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