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Baylor University
About 51 in 100 applicants get into Baylor University — solidly within reach for students near the ranges below.
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Baylor University sits in Waco proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Baptist affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $128,411 four years out. Faculty pay averages $143,976 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 14,785 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 91% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1210 and 1400 — above the TX middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Baylor University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1210–1400 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Baylor University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 610 | 650 | 700 |
| SAT Math | 600 | 640 | 700 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 29 | 32 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Baylor University received 39,735 applications and admitted 20,262 (51%), with 3,317 enrolling.
How Baylor University compares
| Baylor University | Texas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 51.3% | 84.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $58,100 | $13,498 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $65,793 | $54,132 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Baylor University student earns $65,793 — 22% above the Texas median of $54,132 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Baylor University lists tuition at $58,100 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Baylor University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $58,100 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Baylor University enrolls 14,785 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Baylor University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
80% of Baylor University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 25.1 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $58,100 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Baylor University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $128,411 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | $125,167 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $124,434 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $102,812 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $102,011 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $100,110 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $96,148 |
| Real Estate | $94,027 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $92,990 |
| Mathematics | $89,618 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $89,510 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $89,102 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $86,363 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $85,961 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $84,808 |
| Engineering, General | $84,689 |
| Marketing | $78,398 |
| International Business | $71,071 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $68,460 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $67,484 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $67,066 |
| Chemistry | $65,293 |
| Psychology, General | $65,090 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $63,909 |
| Journalism | $63,622 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $63,522 |
| Political Science and Government | $61,578 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $59,701 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $58,915 |
| Social Work | $58,293 |
| Sociology | $57,822 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $57,434 |
| Biology, General | $57,155 |
| History | $57,006 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $56,476 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $54,367 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $53,927 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $51,727 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $51,273 |
| Anthropology | $50,699 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $50,253 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $50,002 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $49,661 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $46,979 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $46,043 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $45,706 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $45,554 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $44,995 |
| Music | $40,017 |
Median earnings for these 49 Baylor University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $65,793 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 31 additional Baylor University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Baylor University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1210–1400 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 51.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Baylor University's acceptance rate?
51% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 20,262 admitted from 39,735 applicants.
How much does Baylor University cost?
At Baylor University, published tuition is $58,100 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Baylor University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Baylor University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $65,793 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Texas
- Austin College — 47.6% admitted
- University of Dallas — 53.4% admitted
- East Texas Baptist University — 57.8% admitted
- Texas A & M International University — 44.4% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.