Admit rate has ranged 45%–68% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Baylor University is a mid-sized Baptist university in Waco, Texas, where rigorous academics collide with spirited Texas traditions. Known for its strong pre-professional programs (especially nursing and business) and a tight-knit Christian community, Baylor offers a distinctly Southern college experience with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio and a 90%+ post-grad success rate.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
14,785
In-state tuition
$58,100
Out-of-state tuition
$58,100
Location
Waco, TX
Total Cost
$79,424
Acceptance Rate
39.7-52%
4-Year Grad Rate
77%
6-Year Grad Rate
80%
Notable Traditions
Line Camp, Diadeloso, Dr Pepper Hour
Student-Faculty Ratio
15:1
Post-Grad Success Rate
90%+
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$65,793
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.6×
Median debt at graduation
$23,000
Graduation rate
80%
First-year retention
91%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
72%
Pell (lower-income) share
39%
First-generation share
17%
Endowment / student
$142,243
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations$84,653
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$75,047
Computer Science$71,015
Mechanical Engineering$66,897
Management Information Systems and Services$65,320
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
10
Per 1,000 students
0.68
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
97
Summer high
96°F
Winter low
43°F
Annual rain
42.5"
Annual snow
2"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
511
Scholarly works
40,637
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Future-scholar output
Humanities & social-science PhDstop 50 nationally
Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.4%
Bottom → top quintile
34%
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Baylor University?
Baylor University's acceptance rate is approximately 51% (Waco, TX), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Baylor University?
Admitted students at Baylor University typically score 1200–1400 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Baylor University cost?
At Baylor University, the average net price (after aid) is about $41,104 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Baylor University?
Baylor University enrolls approximately 14,785 undergraduate students.
Where is Baylor University located?
Baylor University is located in Waco, TX.
Admissions
Baylor is moderately selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. fluctuating between 39.7% and 52% in recent years. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1170-1350 on the SAT or 25-31 on the ACT, with averages around 1267 SAT and 29 ACT. While Baylor is Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight., submitting scores can strengthen an application, especially for competitive programs like nursing. The university emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., considering high school GPA (typically 3.7+ unweighted), course rigor, and extracurricular involvement. Notably, Baylor has a 25.5% yield rate, meaning many admitted students choose other options.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$64,216
Business Administration, Management and Operations$59,854
Finance and Financial Management Services$59,425
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Baylor offers 125+ majors, with standout programs in nursing, biology, accounting, and entrepreneurship (ranked top 10 nationally by U.S. News). The curriculum blends liberal arts with professional preparation, anchored by a 15:1 student-faculty ratio and average class size of 26. Key academic traits:
Pre-professional focus: Strong pipelines to healthcare (via Baylor Scott & White Hospital partnerships), business (Hankamer School of Business), and law (Baylor Law School is renowned for trial advocacy).
Undergraduate research: 40% of students engage in faculty-mentored research, supported by programs like URSA Scholars.
Faith integration: Required religion courses and chapel attendance (twice weekly for freshmen) reflect Baylor’s Baptist identity.
Students describe the workload as "rigorous but supportive," with accessible professors who prioritize mentorship.
Life at Baylor revolves around tight-knit traditions and Texas-sized school spirit:
Line Camp: A rite of passage where freshmen learn Baylor’s fight songs and history.
Diadeloso: A weekday "Day of the Bear" holiday with carnival games and concerts.
Greek life: 35% of students join sororities/fraternities, with historic houses along "Greek Row."
Campus is dry (no alcohol permitted) and residential (85% of undergrads live on campus for 2+ years). Waco offers limited off-campus entertainment, but students rave about Dr Pepper Hour (free soda Thursdays) and football gamedays at McLane Stadium. Safety is a noted strength, with Baylor’s police department ranked among Texas’s best.
Baylor delivers strong ROI, with 80% graduation rate (77% in 4 years) and 90%+ of grads employed or in grad school within 6 months. Key stats:
Median early-career salary: $47,000 (higher for business/engineering grads).
Low debt burden: Median student debt is $23,000, below the national average.
Medical school acceptance rate: 70% (vs. 40% national average) for pre-med students.
The Career Center tracks outcomes meticulously, with nursing and accounting grads often securing jobs at Texas Medical Center or Big Four firms pre-graduation.
Baylor’s sticker price is steep ($79,424 total cost), but 96% of students receive aid, bringing the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. down significantly:
Average grant/scholarship award: $17,392 (94% get institutional grants).
Merit scholarships: Automatic consideration for awards like the President’s Gold Scholarship (up to $25,000/year for 3.9+ GPA, 1400+ SAT).
Baptist-affiliated aid: Ministerial discounts and church-matching grants available.
Note: Costs rise annually by ~3-5%, and aid packages often shrink after freshman year.
Baylor is uniquely Texan: a top-tier research university (R1 status) that feels like a close-knit Christian college, where students wear green-and-gold to chapel and cheer sic ’em bears at football games. Its blend of academic rigor (especially in health sciences) and old-school Southern charm appeals to students seeking a faith-based community without sacrificing career preparation. The Waco location—small enough to feel safe, big enough for internships—is a hidden perk, though the conservative culture isn’t for everyone.
