
Belton, TXprivate nonprofitgo.umhb.edu
Admit rate has ranged 87%–99% 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.
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) is a small, faith-based Texas university with an almost-open admissions policy (95% acceptance rate) and a tight-knit campus culture where 94% of freshmen live on campus. Known for nursing and new programs in cybersecurity and neuroscience, UMHB offers a supportive, community-focused environment with middling graduation rates (53% in six years) and a net price around $30K after aid.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
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.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
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.
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.
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.
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.
UMHB is one of the least selective universities in Texas, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering between 95-96% according to multiple sources. The average admitted student has an SAT score between 960-1220 or an ACT score of 18-25, with midranges around 1090 SAT and 22 ACT. There's no indication of preference for in-state applicants, and the $35 application fee is standard. Notably, UMHB provides special support for adult learners returning to college, including orientation programs tailored to non-traditional students.
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.
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.
UMHB's academic profile leans heavily toward practical, career-oriented programs, with nursing standing out as its most prominent major. Recent expansions include new bachelor's degrees in bioinformatics, cybersecurity, and neuroscience, alongside traditional offerings in fields like political science and pre-law. The university also added a BA in Religion in 2023, reflecting its Baptist affiliation. Class sizes are small (student-faculty ratio isn't specified in sources), and the curriculum emphasizes professional preparation—chemistry graduates often pursue healthcare or research roles, per alumni discussions.
Life at UMHB revolves around community-building and faith integration, with 94% of freshmen living on campus. Welcome Week kicks off the year with activities designed to foster connections, and the university emphasizes a "balance of challenge and support" through its Student Life programs. While Greek life isn't highlighted in sources, the Instagram presence shows active campus traditions like "Sader Start" for early arrivals. The environment is described as "supportive and valued" by Niche reviewers, with a strong emphasis on creating a conducive atmosphere for the university's Christian mission.
Graduation rates at UMHB are below national averages, with only 38% of students finishing in four years and 53% by six years (150% of normal time). Post-graduation, alumni earn a median income of $56,132, with typical debt loads around $26,000. The four-year graduation rate is particularly low at 24% per one source, suggesting many students take longer to complete degrees. These metrics position UMHB as a university where persistence pays off but may require extended time for many students.
With a sticker price of $34,524 for both in-state and out-of-state students, UMHB is pricey for a regional university, but average financial aid packages of $19,320 bring the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. down to approximately $29,904 according to multiple sources. The net price calculator suggests income-based disparities: families earning under $30K may pay significantly less than those over $110K (projected at $37,593). Notably, 100% of aid figures in sources refer to grants/scholarships, not loans.
UMHB carves its niche through unusually high accessibility (95% acceptance) paired with strong nursing pipelines and new tech-forward programs like cybersecurity—a rare combo for a small Christian university. Its 94% on-campus freshman rate creates an immersive environment, though graduation outcomes suggest this support doesn't always translate to timely degree completion. For students seeking a faith-based, community-oriented college with minimal admissions barriers and growing STEM options, UMHB offers a distinctive alternative to larger Texas Christian universities.