Abilene Christian University vs. Baylor

Should I go to Abilene Christian University or Baylor University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Abilene Christian University or Baylor is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Abilene Christian University vs. Baylor University comparison
Abilene Christian University Baylor University College 3 College 4
Abilene Christian University Baylor University
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Overview

Abilene Christian University Baylor
Location Abilene, TX Waco, TX
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 5,114 20,824
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #459 #166
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website acu.edu baylor.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Abilene Christian University Baylor
Tuition (In State) $42,100 $54,844
Tuition (Out of State) $42,100 $54,844
Room & Board $12,500 $14,235
Avg Net Price $28,311 $49,727
Avg Grant Aid $27,914 $20,409
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Abilene Christian University Baylor
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,510 39,735
Admitted 6,714 20,262
Acceptance Rate 63.9% 51%
Enrolled % 12.8% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.74
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 22/28 27/32
SAT Range 1060/1290 1210/1400
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Abilene Christian University Baylor
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Abilene Christian University Baylor
Graduation Rate 60% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $56,200
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,325 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $261 $258

Diversity

Abilene Christian University Baylor
% Men 10% 9%
% Women 28% 18%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 64% 64%
% Black 9% 7%
% Hispanic 16% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Abilene Christian University Baylor
% In-State 82% 60%
% Out-of-State 15% 37%

Campus

Abilene Christian University Baylor
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Baylor University is larger than than Abilene Christian University based on total student enrollment (20,824 students vs. 5,114 students)

Abilene Christian University vs. Baylor Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Abilene Christian University or Baylor?

  • Baylor University is 30.3% more expensive to attend than Abilene Christian University for in-state tuition ($54,844.00 vs. $42,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.3% higher at Baylor than Abilene Christian University ($54,844.00 vs. $42,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Abilene Christian University than Baylor ($28,311 vs. $49,727)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Abilene Christian University are 13.9% lower than costs at Baylor University ($12,500 vs. $14,235)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Abilene Christian University than Baylor University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Abilene Christian University students is 36.8% larger than aid received Baylor University ($27,914 vs. $20,409)

Abilene Christian University vs. Baylor Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Abilene Christian University or Baylor? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Baylor or Abilene Christian University .

  • The average SAT score at Baylor University (1239) is 147 points higher than at Abilene Christian University (1092)
  • Incoming Baylor students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Abilene Christian University (25)
  • Accepted freshman Baylor students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Abilene Christian University (3.65)
  • Abilene Christian University has a higher acceptance rate (63.9%) than Baylor (51%)

Abilene Christian University vs. Baylor Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Abilene Christian University or Baylor? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Baylor and Abilene Christian University.

  • The graduation rate at Baylor is higher than Abilene Christian University (72% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Baylor University earn on average $10,200 more per year than Abilene Christian University graduates after ten years. ($56,200 vs. $46,000)
  • Baylor University students graduate with a $325 lower median federal student loan debt than Abilene Christian University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,325)
  • Baylor graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Abilene Christian University graduates. ($258 vs. $261)
  • More Baylor graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Abilene Christian University students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/