<p>If this is an LDS parent of an LDS daughter, his reasons for encouraging BYU over the home-state U are probably not just about the “ranking”. BYU offers a young person the opportunity to live entirely inside LDS culture for several years, ready access to appropriate marriage partners, and extraordinarily low tuition and fees (the cost may be significantly lower than at State U).</p>
<p>All that said, a potential Biology major is probably better served at State U where he/she will have professors who are not restricted by a specific faith statement. Much of the cutting-edge work in Bio is conducted by free-thinkers agnostics, and (yes I will write it) atheists.</p>