Baylor University

Waco, TX · SouthwestQuad's selectivityVery selective

Known forTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 600–690 (fall 2024: 610–700)Baylor University Common Data Set 2025–26
Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 590–690 (fall 2024: 590–700)Baylor University Common Data Set 2025–26
Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 26–32 (fall 2024: 27–32)Baylor University Common Data Set 2025–26
Fall 2027 applicants: Test scores recommended (fall 2024: Test-optional)Baylor University Common Data Set 2025–26
Entered fall 2024: 89% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 91%)Baylor University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Baylor University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Baylor University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Baylor University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

5 in 10 applicants admitted

Baylor admits about 5 in 10 applicants (52%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 83% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

52%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

44,924

Admitted

23,459

Yield

15%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1190–1370

10001600

ACT middle 50%

26–32

1836

Applications +38% since fall 2014 · admit rate 55% → 51%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 14,785 undergrads, where 12% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

14.8K

undergrads · larger than 92% of colleges

Diversity index

0.60

Pell Grant

12%

below the median

First generation

17%

below the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-I FBS · Big Twelve ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.56 → 0.60 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (9% of graduates). 15 students for every faculty member, more than at 66% of colleges. 67% of faculty are full-time. Spends $15,852 a year on instruction per student.

15 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 66% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $47,539 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $23.3K more than the national median. The 98% who received grants paid $47,001 on average; the other 2% paid the full sticker price of $74,269.

36%

$47.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $23.3K above the national median

Full price: $74,269 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Little need-based aid above $110K; aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid: 52% · avg $22K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 36% of full price

Federal loans

31%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office

Cost steady · +0% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $65,793 ten years after enrolling, more than at 79% of colleges; 81% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.9 years of that salary.

81%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$65.8K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23K

≈ $244/month for 10 years

Retention

89%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 72% → 80% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 5% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid held about steady, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 38% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 55% to 51%.

Cost
Steady
0% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+38%
Selectivity
More selective
admit rate 55% → 51% (to fall 2024)
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.56 → 0.60

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Syracuse University

49% admit · SAT 1360 · 15.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso private

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Texas Christian University

48% admit · SAT 1220 · 11K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Southwest

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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach

65% admit · SAT 1260 · 7.9K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso private

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American University

62% admit · SAT 1370 · 7.3K undergrads

Also private

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
Baylor University Common Data Set 2025–26
Baylor University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 cycle; Fall 2026 entrants; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
Baylor University (2026)
Baylor University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 223232 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything