Baylor University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

Baylor University is a private Christian university with an acceptance rate of 45%. Located in Waco, Texas and founded in 1845, Baylor is affiliated with the Baptist Church. With over 127 undergraduate degree programs and 330 student organizations, Baylor tends to rank among the top 100 colleges and universities in the country. The school's many pre-professional programs including pre-med and pre-law are popular among undergraduates. Academics are supported by a 13-to-1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 26. On the athletic front, the Baylor Bears compete in the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference.

Considering applying to Baylor University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Baylor University had an acceptance rate of 45%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 45 students were admitted, making Baylor's admissions process competitive.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Baylor University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Baylor University, which accepts fewer than half of applicants, has a selective admissions process with above SAT/ACT scores and GPAs. However, Baylor also has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond grades and test scores. A strong application essay, supplemental essay and optional letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Note that pre-med, pre-dental, and engineering programs have more stringent admission requirements. Music and theatre majors have separate application and audition requirements. Prospective applicants should check the requirements for their intended major. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and test scores are outside Baylor's average range.

To apply, students can use the Common Application, ApplyTexas, or the Baylor online application. Baylor has Early Decision and Early Action programs that can improve admission chances for students who are sure the university is their top choice school.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. The majority of successful applicants had self-reported average high school grades of B or higher, SAT scores of 1050 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 21 or higher.