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Baylor University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 63/100

Baylor University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Waco, Texas

About Baylor University

Baylor University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Waco, Texas. It enrolls 14,785 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: baylor.edu

Acceptance: 51.3%
Graduation: 72.7%
Net Price: $41,104
Median Earnings (10yr): $65,793
Enrollment: 14,785
Student : Faculty: 15:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

63/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 89

Value 8

Affordability 4

Selectivity 83

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 51.3%, Baylor University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

51.3%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1200 – 1400

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

27 – 32

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Baylor University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 5.7 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Baylor University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $41,104 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$41,104

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

12%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

31%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $58,100
Room & Board (on-campus): $15,314
Room & Board (off-campus): $14,480
Books & Supplies: $1,498
Other Expenses (on-campus): $3,904
Other Expenses (off-campus): $4,658
Total Cost of Attendance: $74,226

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$22,024
$30,001 – $48,000

$21,530
$48,001 – $75,000

$33,902
$75,001 – $110,000

$38,852
Over $110,000

$47,895

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,500

10% percentile

$8,774

25% percentile

$23,000

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$33,250

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $21,500 ↓ $1,500

No Pell $18,500 ↓ $4,500

Dependent students $19,500 ↓ $3,500

Independent students $18,750 ↓ $4,250

Female students $19,500 ↓ $3,500

Male students $19,500 ↓ $3,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,000, less than completers ($23,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

73% of full-time students who enrolled at Baylor University graduate within six years, and 91% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

73%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

91%

Returning for their second year

What this means: High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Baylor University earn a median of $65,793 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$65,793

Earning > $25K

85%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$53,300

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$65,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$56,600

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$55,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$60,900

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $12,600, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 10.6 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Baylor University is home to 14,785 students, a large student community.

Total Enrolled

14,785

Part-Time

First-Generation

17%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 59.6% 8,804

Hispanic 17.5% 2,590

Asian 8.6% 1,272

Other 5.5% 819

Black 5.5% 812

International 2.7% 392

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Baylor University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Midsize City Waco, Texas

Housing

Partly residential 4,750 beds available

Adult Learners

2% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Baylor University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 155 distinct programs across 27 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

21 Programs

Business

Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)

13 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Communication Disorders Sciences and $59K ($45K–$73K)
Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)

7 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)

5 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Journalism $56K ($41K–$74K)
Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)

4 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)

6 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

Behavioral Sciences $49K ($32K–$66K)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies $56K ($40K–$72K)
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies $51K ($34K–$71K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Baylor University is 15:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

15:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$3.0B

Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability

Avg Faculty Salary

$104,682

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

1,167 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	305	26%	$146,548
Associate Professors	340	29%	$102,525
Assistant Professors	277	24%	$92,196
Instructors	3	0%	$71,760
Lecturers	242	21%	$69,646

Pros & Cons of Baylor University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Baylor University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

High net price compared to most US colleges
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Baylor University is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Baylor University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Baylor University.

Is Baylor University hard to get into?

Admissions at Baylor University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 51.3%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Baylor University?

Baylor University has an acceptance rate of 51.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Baylor University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Baylor University scored between 1200 and 1400 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Baylor University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Baylor University scored between 27 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Baylor University cost?

The average net price after aid at Baylor University is $41,104 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Baylor University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $65,793 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $41,104 per year. That's roughly 1.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Baylor University known for?

Baylor University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Marketing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Baylor University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Baylor University are $65,793, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Baylor University accredited?

Yes. Baylor University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

How many students attend Baylor University?

Baylor University enrolls 14,785 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Baylor University?

Baylor University graduates 73% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Baylor University a public or private college?

Baylor University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Baylor University located?

Baylor University is located in Waco, Texas.

What programs does Baylor University offer?

Baylor University offers 155 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Marketing, Business Administration.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Baylor University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Baylor University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.