Baylor University
Waco, Texas · Private · 14,785 undergraduates · baylor.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
52%
of 44,924 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1190 to 1370
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$94,180Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Baylor University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
52% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$94,180
a year in 2027-28, from a $94,180 sticker price
What to do with your 1280
Send your score
About 36% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1130, and yours is above it.
Named scholarships
Your GPA and scores don't reach a tier of this college's named scholarships yet.
3 more awards need a higher GPA or score. See every tier
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
- Homeschooled applicants must submit CLT, SAT or ACT scores; applicants from narrative-evaluation schools and early graduates must submit SAT or ACT. Some majors/programs require scores.
Source: Test Optional Process | Undergraduate Admissions | Baylor University · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Nov1Early Decision · November 1, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Feb1Regular Decision · February 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
52%
of applicants were admitted: 23,459 of 44,924 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/1, hear by 2/1.
Early Decision
Binding. 80% of early applicants were admitted.
Wait list
3,832 students were offered a spot; 19 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 47% of them sent SAT scores and 22% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1190 to 1370
Reading and Writing 600 to 690
Math 590 to 690
ACT composite 26 to 32
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160020%
- 1200 to 139955%
- 1000 to 119924%
- 800 to 9990.8%
- 600 to 7990.1%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$94,180
a year
- Tuition$70,470
- Food and housing$17,910
- Books and supplies$1,630
- Transportation and other$4,170
Baylor University published $90,564 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$45,498
- $30,001 to $48,000$24,146
- $48,001 to $75,000$33,908
- $75,001 to $110,000$38,607
- Over $110,000$50,541
Financial aid
71%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$39,483
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
39%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $22,041 on average
- FAFSA
- Not required.
- CSS Profile
- Required. It's a second, more detailed aid form some colleges use for their own grants.
- Aid priority date: 2/1
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
President's Scholarship
$32,000 a year
Automatic · No separate application
Deadline: February 1 (complete file for full consideration). To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA.
DetailsProvost's Scholarship
$28,000 a year
Automatic · No separate application
Deadline: February 1 (complete file for full consideration). To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA.
DetailsDeans' Scholarship
$25,000 a year
Automatic · No separate application
Deadline: February 1 (complete file for full consideration). To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA.
DetailsFounders' Scholarship
$20,000 a year
Automatic · No separate application
Deadline: February 1 (complete file for full consideration). To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA.
Details
Show 7 more scholarships
Independence Scholarship
$12,500 a year
Automatic · No separate application
Deadline: February 1 (complete file for full consideration). To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA.
DetailsBaylor2Baylor Medical Program
Competitive · Application required
Undergraduate tuition scholarship valued at $40,000 (two of six students) or $12,000 (other four) over four years
- 3.70+ GPA, 1430+ SAT or 32+ ACT, typical scores; test scores must be submitted; or top 5% class rank instead of the GPA (next tier)
- 1430+ SAT or 32+ ACT, top 5% (alternative to 3.7 GPA), typical scores; test scores must be submitted
To keep it: a 3.5 college GPA, and meet the program's pre-med requirements.
DetailsBaylor2Baylor Law Program
$10,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 1360+ SAT or 30+ ACT, typical applicant; test-optional considered
To keep it: a 3.7 college GPA (a requirement of the program).
DetailsGetterman Fellows Program
$5,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
Deadline: November 12, 2026. To keep it: it renews for up to 4 years.
DetailsInvitation to Excellence Event Participation Scholarship
$5,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
Deadline: November 12, 2026. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsCarr P. Collins Scholars Program
Competitive · Application required
Minimum of $6,000 in the freshman year; renews for three additional years; leadership through service
To keep it: it renews for 3 more years.
DetailsGetterman Scholars Scholarship
Full cost of attendance
Competitive · Application required
- 1500+ SAT or 34+ ACT, typical selected applicant; CLT 103+; test-optional students with high GPA/rank eligible
Deadline: November 12, 2026 (Scholarship Events and Honors College applications; admission by November 1, 2026). To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
36 of 36
Earn credit with a score of 3
18 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $7,050Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art History | 4 | 3 | Art History 1300 or 2302 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | Biology 1401 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | Biology 1305 & 1105 |
| Biology | 5 | 8 | Biology 1305, 1105, 1306, & 1106 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 3 | Math 1321 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 6 | Math 1321 & 1322 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 4 | 3 | Math 1321 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | Chemistry 1300 & 1100 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | Chemistry 1301 & 1101 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | Chemistry 1301, 1101, 1302 & 1102 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | Chinese 2310 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | Chinese 2310 & 2320 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENG 1310 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | English 1302 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | Environmental Studies 1301 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | History 1307 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | French 2310 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | French 2310 & 2320 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | German 2310 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | German 2310 & 2320 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | Geography 1310 or Anthropology 1310 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | Italian 2310 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | Italian 2310 & 2320 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | Japanese 2310 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | Japanese 2310 & 2320 |
| Latin | 4 | 3 | Latin 2310 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | Economics 2307 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | Economics 2306 |
| Music Aural Subscore | 4 | 1 | Music 1101 |
| Music Non-Aural Subscore | 4 | 3 | Music 1301 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 4 | Music 1301 & 1101 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | Physics 1405 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | Physics 1405 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | Physics 1405 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | Physics 1405 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | Math 1320 | |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | Psychology 1305 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | ELE 1000 |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | ELE 1000 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | Spanish 2310 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | Spanish 2310 & 2320 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 6 | Spanish 2310 & 2320 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | Statistics 1380 or Quantitative Methods (QBA) 2302 for BBA students |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | Political Science 1305 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | History 1365 & 1366 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 6 | History 1305 & 1307 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
82%
Come back for a second year
91%
Typical earnings
$72,408
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Baylor University$90,790
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 46 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Baylor University. The Baylor University logo is a trademark of the college.