Baylor University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Baylor University is a private research university in Waco, Texas, with about 14,785 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 51.28% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $65,793 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $58,100
- 2024 Average Net Price: $41,104 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 51.28% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 14,785 98.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 79.99%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 17.1%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 6.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 10.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 67.3%
- Average SAT Score: 1329
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 15,805
- Applicants (IPEDS): 39,735
- Room & Board: $15,314 annual estimate
Baylor University: what the data shows
Common questions about Baylor University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Baylor University?
Baylor University is located in Waco, TX (ZIP 76798).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Baylor University public or private?
Baylor University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Baylor University cost?
Published tuition: $58,100.
Average net price after aid: $41,104.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $22,024 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $21,530 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $33,902 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $38,852 |
| $110,001+ | $47,895 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $232,400.
How hard is it to get into Baylor University?
Admission rate: 51.28%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1329 and midpoint ACT 29.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Baylor University?
Total enrollment: 14,785 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 15,805 students.
Graduate enrollment: 5,711 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Baylor University?
150%-time completion rate: 79.99%.
First-year retention: 91.0%.
What do graduates of Baylor University earn?
Median earnings: $56,532 six years after entry; $65,793 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $23,000.
12.45% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Baylor University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Accounting (346 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (332 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (330 completions)
- Communication Sciences and Disorders, General (307 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (242 completions)
- Finance, General (238 completions)
- Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other (236 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (227 completions)
- Communication and Media Studies (211 completions)
- Law (192 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Baylor University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 51.28%; completion rate 79.99%; median earnings $65,793 at 10 years; net price $41,104. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$58,100
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Baylor University was $58,100.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$41,104
2024 Value
In 2024 Baylor University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $41,104.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$164,416 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$41,104 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$232,400 4-Year Tuition
$15,314 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,498 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$74,912 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$299,648 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Baylor University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
12.45% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
31.24% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Baylor University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Baylor University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $35,972 | $35,972 | $32,333 |
| 2014 | $38,120 | $38,120 | $32,741 |
| 2015 | $40,198 | $40,198 | $32,657 |
| 2016 | $42,006 | $42,006 | $33,477 |
| 2017 | $43,790 | $43,790 | $34,898 |
| 2018 | $45,542 | $45,542 | $32,601 |
| 2019 | $47,364 | $47,364 | $36,039 |
| 2020 | $49,246 | $49,246 | $37,309 |
| 2021 | $50,232 | $50,232 | $37,248 |
| 2022 | $51,738 | $51,738 | $37,911 |
| 2023 | $54,844 | $54,844 | $41,942 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
51.28% Acceptance Rate
39,735 Total Applicants
20,262 Students Admitted
3,317 First-Time Students Enrolled
16.37% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1329
ACT Average: 29
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.5 - 3.7
Estimated Median GPA: 3.60
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Baylor University reported total enrollment of about 14,785 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 41% male and 59% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (59.6%), Hispanic or Latino (17.5%), and Asian (8.6%). About 12.45% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 17.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Baylor University in 2024 is 14,785 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 15,805 students. Graduate enrollment is about 5,711 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
91.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 59.6%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
68.12% 100% Completion Time
79.99% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 68.12% of students graduating from Baylor University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Accounting: 55% male / 45% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 56% male / 44% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 10% male / 90% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Baylor University.
Return on Investment
$23,000 Median Student Debt
$65,793 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
34.96% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
300.16% Return on Investment
3.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Baylor University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 142 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Accounting: 346 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 332 completions
3. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 330 completions
4. Communication Sciences and Disorders, General: 307 completions
5. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 242 completions
6. Finance, General: 238 completions
7. Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other: 236 completions
8. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 227 completions
9. Communication and Media Studies: 211 completions
Most popular programs at Baylor University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Baylor University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Baylor University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 67.3%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $11,998
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $15,852
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Baylor University is a private non-profit institution located in Waco, TX, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Accounting, Business Administration and Management, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. Enrollment is approximately 14,785 students. Student body composition includes White (59.6%), Hispanic or Latino (17.5%), Asian (8.6%). The admission rate is 51.28%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1329. The 150%-time completion rate is 79.99%. Approximately 12.45% of students receive Pell Grants. About 17.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Location
Waco, TX 76798
Region: Southwest
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 142 distinct degree programs, Baylor University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Baylor University located?
Baylor University is located in Waco, TX.
What is Baylor University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Baylor University is 51.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 39,735 applicants and 20,262 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Baylor University cost?
Reported tuition is $58,100 and average net price is $41,104 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $15,314 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Baylor University?
Baylor University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 15,805 students, White (59.6%), Hispanic or Latino (17.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Baylor University?
About 17.1% of students at Baylor University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Baylor University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Baylor University reports midpoint SAT about 1329 and midpoint ACT about 29.
What do graduates of Baylor University earn?
Median earnings are $56,532 six years after entry and $65,793 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Baylor University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 80.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Baylor University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,000.
Is Baylor University public or private?
Baylor University is a private nonprofit institution located in Waco, TX.
Is Baylor University an HBCU?
No. Baylor University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Baylor University a tribal college?
No. Baylor University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Texas college costs
- Texas colleges by ROI
- Waco, Texas city profile
- Southwest regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Texas
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.