Private · #91 National University

Baylor University

Waco, TX · 14,785 undergraduates

51%
Acceptance rate
1200–1400
SAT middle 50%
27–32
ACT middle 50%
Test-optional
Test policy
80%
Graduation rate
$65,793
Median earnings (10 yr)
✓ Offers merit scholarships

What it may cost by family income

Estimated average net price — what families actually pay after grants and scholarships — by annual household income. Net price matters far more than the $74,226 sticker price. All figures are the full cost of attendance — housing, food, and books included, not just tuition.

Household incomeEst. net price / year
Under $30k$22,024
$30k–$48k$21,530
$48k–$75k$33,902
$75k–$110k$38,852
Over $110k$47,895

Sticker cost of attendance: $74,226.

What the whole degree costs

Every cost figure above is one year. A bachelor's degree is four — sometimes five. Today's-prices makes no assumptions; the second column assumes prices rise ~3.5% a year, in line with recent averages.

Household income4 yrs, today's prices4 yrs with increases
Under $30k$88,096$92,830
$30k–$48k$86,120$90,748
$48k–$75k$135,608$142,895
$75k–$110k$155,408$163,759
Over $110k$191,580$201,875

First-year aid is not guaranteed to repeat — ask Baylor University how grants change after year one. That answer moves these numbers more than anything else on this page.

Applying to a specific major at Baylor University

51% is the acceptance rate for the whole university — not for every major. For the programs below, admission is usually decided separately and is harder than that number suggests. Almost no university publishes a by-major admission rate, and neither does the federal government, so we do not show one: any site that does is estimating.

To find the real figure for your major, check Baylor University's Common Data Set and its admissions page, or ask an admissions officer directly — that question gets answered more often than students expect.

Nursing Direct admit

At Baylor University: 362 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $64,216 median earnings (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.)

Clinical placement requirements hard-cap how many students a nursing program can take, which routinely makes direct-entry nursing among the most selective programs on a campus.

Check: Whether the program is direct-entry or requires applying again in sophomore year, and how many seats it takes per cohort.

Business Direct admit

At Baylor University: 1,100 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $47,650 median earnings (Marketing.)

Many undergraduate business schools admit their own cohort at application time and are more selective than the university overall; others admit only after two years of coursework.

Check: Whether the business school is direct-admit for first-years, and if not, what GPA the internal application actually requires.

Federal data shows no bachelor's completions at Baylor University in computer science, engineering, architecture or visual & performing arts, so those are not listed above. Small or new programs can be missing from federal reporting — confirm with the school before ruling one out.

What graduates earn, by major

Median earnings and median federal loan debt for bachelor's graduates of Baylor University, by field of study, from the U.S. Department of Education. Earnings differ far more between majors at one school than between schools.

MajorMedian earningsMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. · Nursing $64,216 —
Marketing. · Business $47,650 —
Biology, General. · Biological Sciences $27,254 —
Business Administration, Management and Operations. · Business $59,854 —
Finance and Financial Management Services. · Business $59,425 —
Communication and Media Studies. $38,289 —
Accounting and Related Services. · Business $55,964 —
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. · Other Health Professions $28,478 —
Psychology, General. · Social Sciences $24,679 —
Management Information Systems and Services. · Business $65,320 —
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. · Business $52,107 —
Political Science and Government. · Social Sciences $33,459 —

Largest programs shown. Earnings are measured a few years after graduation and reflect who enrolls as much as what is taught.

Is Baylor University a reach, target, or safety for you?

Ladder2College models your personal admission odds and net cost here — based on your GPA, scores, and family income — and shows how it fits alongside the rest of your list.

Model my odds & cost — free

Figures are estimates modeled on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data and recent reporting, provided for guidance only. Always confirm cost with Baylor University’s official net price calculator and admissions figures with the school directly.