Baylor University
Baylor University is a private Christian research university in Waco, Texas, affiliated with the Baptist faith and the largest Baptist university in the world. It earned the Carnegie R1 "very high research" classification while keeping a strong undergraduate focus on business, nursing, and pre-health programs. Baylor admitted about 52% of its roughly 45,000 applicants for the most recent class, and enrolled first-years posted middle-50% SAT scores of 1190–1370 (26–32 ACT). Business is the most-conferred field at about 24% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the health professions, and 98% of first-years live on campus.
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Baylor admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Baylor offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~1.5× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Baylor is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Baylor's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 49% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Baylor does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Baylor weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Baylor's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Baylor admissions
Is it hard to get into Baylor?＋
Baylor is moderately selective, admitting about 52.2% of its roughly 45,000 applicants in the most recent cycle. Enrolled first-years posted middle-50% SAT scores of 1190–1370 and 26–32 on the ACT, and among the 49% who reported a class rank, 76% sat in the top quarter of their graduating class. Strong grades in a solid course load matter most, since Baylor weighs academic GPA and test scores as very important.
What SAT or ACT score do you need for Baylor?＋
Aim for the middle-50% range: enrolled first-years scored 1190–1370 on the SAT and 26–32 on the ACT. A score above 1370 or 32 puts you in the top quarter of admitted students. Baylor is test-optional, so you can apply without scores, but when submitted they count as a very important factor.
Is a 1300 SAT good enough for Baylor?＋
A 1300 is competitive at Baylor. It lands in the upper-middle of the admitted range, above the median of 1280 and on track toward the 75th-percentile mark of 1370. Pairing it with a strong GPA and a specific essay makes for a solid application, since Baylor reviews holistically rather than against a hard score cutoff.
Does Baylor require the SAT or ACT?＋
No. Baylor is test-optional, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores. About 47% of enrolled first-years submitted the SAT and 22% the ACT. Home-schooled students, applicants from high schools that issue only narrative transcripts, and a few specific majors still need to submit scores, so check your program's requirements.
What is Baylor's Early Decision acceptance rate?＋
Baylor's binding Early Decision round admits at a higher rate than the overall 52.2%: about 453 admits from 566 Early Decision applications, or roughly 80%. ED is a binding commitment, so apply that way only if Baylor is your clear first choice. Baylor also offers non-binding Early Action with a November 1 deadline for students who want an early answer without the commitment.
How much does Baylor cost, and how much financial aid does it give?＋
Tuition and fees run about $67,756 a year, with food and housing adding roughly $17,222. Aid is substantial: about 56% of first-year students receive need-based scholarship or grant aid, the average need-based package is near $44,891, and Baylor meets about 71% of demonstrated financial need on average.
What are the most popular majors at Baylor?＋
Business and marketing is the largest field at about 24% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the health professions at roughly 20% and the biological and life sciences at about 11%. Communication and journalism, the social sciences, and psychology round out the most-conferred areas, reflecting Baylor's deep pre-business and pre-health pipelines.
Does the application essay matter at Baylor?＋
Yes. Baylor rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review, alongside the rigor of your high school record. Academic GPA and test scores carry the most weight, so a specific, well-revised essay is where you add the personal context and voice that grades and scores can't show.
Source: Baylor University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Baylor. Banner photo by W>Aboxorocks, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).