Brigham Young University is located in Utah County. With a population over 530,000 people, Utah County offers all the conveniences of a major metropolitan community. Just 40 minutes south of Salt Lake City, the host of the 2002 Winter Olympics, at the heart of Utah County, Provo also offers various recreational activities. Known for its incredible skiing and central location to 15 national parks and monuments, Utah County attracts visitors from around the world.
The Utah Valley metropolitan communities of Provo and Orem are home to a growing high-tech mecca, including the world headquarters for many computer and technology corporations. The Provo/Orem area boasts one of the highest standards of living in the country.
The Utah Valley area has also been ranked among the top 20 places to live in the nation (according to Money Magazine) for the past five years. Money Magazine rated the Provo-Orem area No. 3 on its list of the top 300 places in the nation to live, and Forbes rated Provo as the second-best place for business and career. Fortune magazine also considers Provo to be the “third high-tech cluster in the U.S.”
The Sundance Institute, located in Provo Canyon, offers locals and visitors an opportunity to experience some of the region’s artistic culture. Every year, some 20,000 people attend Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival. Several films that premiered at the festival have been the recipients of Oscar, Emmy and International Film Festival awards. Sundance offers year-round activities that can be enjoyed by everyone, including its ski resort, summer outdoor theater, fine dining and shopping. Also nearby is the ski and summer resort city of Park City.
The Wasatch Mountains provide a backdrop for Brigham Young University and add to the fun-loving atmosphere of this unique university. Just minutes away from high peaks and rugged terrain, students learn the advantages of getting out and experiencing mother nature. Whether it be mountain biking or snowshoeing, hiking a mountain meadow or experiencing the ski slopes with “the Greatest Snow on Earth”, BYU students know the meaning of thrilling experiences. Activities abound off campus as well as on campus where arts and entertainment are first class. Because BYU is home to one of the most successful athletic departments in the nation, attending campus sporting events is an expericence few universities can match. Whether it’s packing the house for a volleyball game in the Smith Fieldhouse or joining 65,000 people to watch the Cougars tackle another national powerhouse in LaVell Edwards Stadium or feeling the “magic” of the Marriott Center or experiencing the rush of a soccer goal at South Stadium, BYU stands apart.