Baylor University Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 01/2025)

Total Cost of Attendance

Located in Waco, Texas, Baylor University is known for its high-caliber education and Christian values. Baylor University tuition is $54,844 a year (based on 2023-24 numbers). In comparison, the average tuition for four-year private nonprofit institutions is $41,540.

Financial Aid

Almost all Baylor students (98%) receive some sort of financial aid, including student loans, grants, or scholarships. Baylor is “need-aware,” which means the school may consider a student’s ability to pay in the application process.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books and supplies, and other living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, financial aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, or nonprofit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for a grant from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

While 39% of Baylor students take out federal student loans, 16% take out private student loans. The average private loan to help with Baylor tuition is $28,566 per year.

Private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for as it generally may have better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

The total costs of attending Baylor for four years would be $297,076, based on 2023-24 pricing. The average cost for private schools is $241,680 for four years, according to CollegeData.com.

Here’s some Texas Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

In 2023-24, students paid $54,844 for Baylor tuition and $1,438 for books and supplies, for a total of $56,282. This is higher than the average amount for private four-year universities in the U.S. of $42,790.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Baylor offers a variety of graduate degrees. The cost of tuition for graduate school in 2023-24 averaged $41,130, which is higher than the national average of $21,730 for one academic year. There are graduate loans available to help with these costs and additional personal expenses for school.

Cost per Credit Hour

Students that opt to attend Baylor for 11 hours or less per semester can pay $2,421 per credit hour rather than pay full-time tuition.

Campus Housing Expenses

First-year students at Baylor University are required to live in one of 19 residence halls. There are also Living-Learning Centers, which are communities organized around specific academic programs, and Residential Colleges, faculty-led communities focused on academic excellence.

Students can also opt to live off-campus in apartments, duplexes, rooms, or houses. For information about off-campus housing options, this resource can help.

Baylor University Acceptance Rate

When it comes to the Baylor acceptance rate, more than half of all students who apply are accepted.

Admission Requirements

To get accepted to Baylor, there are certain requirements and some additional recommendations.

Required:

•  Secondary school record

•  Secondary school GPA

Recommended:

•  Completion of college-preparatory program

•  Letters of recommendation

•  Admission test scores

The deadline for Early Decision 1 and Early Action is November 1. Students committing to attending Baylor if accepted will receive a decision by December 15, and the Early Action applicants will receive a decision by February 1. The deadline for Regular Admission is February 1, with a decision by April 10. You can apply to Baylor here .

SAT and ACT Scores

Baylor University is a test-optional school, meaning that students are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores.

Popular Majors at Baylor University

Baylor offers more than 125 majors and minors. The school also has a wealth of resources to help graduates find jobs. Here are the most popular majors on campus.

1. Registered Nursing

Students earning a degree in nursing have the opportunity to get firsthand experience at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, a renowned teaching and research hospital. The nursing program includes courses in anatomy and physiology, critical care, oncology, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 362

2. Biology

If you opt for the biology program at Baylor, you can choose one of four concentrations: integrative biology, global health biology, science education, and cell and molecular biology.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 233

3. Marketing

Marketing students learn how to promote, price, and place a product, and can choose an emphasis on sports, strategy, and sales, or nonprofit and social enterprise marketing. Or they can create their own marketing emphasis.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 201

4. Psychology

Students can earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Baylor. Coursework includes topics like behavior, personality, interpersonal relationships, and the individual and collective unconscious.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 146

5. Accounting

Accounting students at Baylor are given a strong base in financial accounting, then taught how to communicate, think critically, and work with a team. Courses cover auditing, tax planning, fraud, and international taxation.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 146

6. Finance

Finance-minded students have the opportunity to focus on corporate finance or investments and can take courses in stock market operations, international business finance, short-term financial management, and private equity investing.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 144

7. Communication

Baylor’s communication program has four tracks students can choose from: corporate communication, rhetoric and public discourse, generalist, and honors. Students will learn how to apply communication skills to a variety of professions.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 137

8. Communication Sciences & Disorders

The communication sciences and disorders major trains students to identify and treat communication and speech disorders. Coursework covers language development, phonological science, speech science, articulation, and aural rehabilitation.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 99

9. Management Information Systems

Students of the management information systems program will study advanced business networking, systems analysis and design, cybersecurity, data warehousing, and advanced databases.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 93

10. Political Science

By choosing Baylor’s political science program, you’ll learn about everything from American political history and institutions to global political change. You can also opt to take courses in minority and ethnic group politics, campaigns and elections, and urban political processes.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 91

Learn more about Baylor’s majors and minors here .

Graduation Rate

Wondering how many students graduate from Baylor? The percentage of students who started in 2017 and graduated in six years is 80%.

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Upon graduating, Baylor students earn on average $66,000 per year. This is on par with the national average starting salary for the class of 2024 of $68,516.