Baylor vs. BYU

Deciding between Baylor University and Brigham Young University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Baylor University
Brigham Young University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Baylor Waco, TX
  • BYU Provo, UT
  • Setting
  • Baylor Midsize City
  • BYU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Baylor 20,626
  • BYU 35,873
  • Type
  • Baylor Private 4 Year
  • BYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Baylor #167
  • BYU #131
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Baylor Baptist
  • BYU Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church)
  • Status
  • Baylor Non-profit
  • BYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Baylor
  • BYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • BYU $6,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • BYU $6,688
  • Room & Board
  • Baylor $15,314
  • BYU $10,396
  • Average Net Price
  • Baylor $47,001
  • BYU $16,694
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Baylor $27,232
  • BYU $6,088
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Baylor 98%
  • BYU 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Baylor 46,946
  • BYU 11,698
  • Admitted
  • Baylor 24,075
  • BYU 7,929
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Baylor 51.3%
  • BYU 67.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Baylor 14.2%
  • BYU 77.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Baylor 1300
  • BYU 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Baylor 29
  • BYU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Baylor 3.74
  • BYU 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Baylor A-
  • BYU A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Baylor Very High
  • BYU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Baylor Low
  • BYU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Baylor 27/32
  • BYU 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Baylor 1200/1400
  • BYU 1270/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Baylor Test optional
  • BYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Baylor Feb 1, 2027
  • BYU Dec 16, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Baylor 15:1
  • BYU 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Baylor
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • BYU
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Baylor 72%
  • BYU 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Baylor $56,200
  • BYU $69,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Baylor 73%
  • BYU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Baylor $25,000
  • BYU $11,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Baylor $258
  • BYU $113

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Baylor 39%
  • BYU 49%
  • % Women
  • Baylor 61%
  • BYU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Baylor Medium
  • BYU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Baylor No
  • BYU No
  • % White
  • Baylor 64%
  • BYU 83%
  • % Asian
  • Baylor 6%
  • BYU 2%
  • % Black
  • Baylor 7%
  • BYU 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • Baylor 14%
  • BYU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Baylor 0%
  • BYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Baylor 0%
  • BYU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Baylor 5%
  • BYU 4%
  • % International
  • Baylor 3%
  • BYU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Baylor 0%
  • BYU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Baylor 63%
  • BYU 39%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Baylor 35%
  • BYU 59%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Baylor Yes
  • BYU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Baylor No
  • BYU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Baylor Yes
  • BYU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Baylor No
  • BYU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Baylor No
  • BYU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Baylor University in Waco, TX with Brigham Young University in Provo, UT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brigham Young University is larger than Baylor based on total student enrollment (35,873 students vs. 20,626 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Baylor University is located in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting); Brigham Young University is in Provo, UT (Midsize City setting).
  • Baylor University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brigham Young University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Baylor University 15:1; Brigham Young University 21:1.

Baylor vs. BYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Baylor or BYU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Brigham Young University than Baylor ($16,694 vs. $47,001).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brigham Young University are 32.1% lower than at Baylor University ($10,396 vs. $15,314).
  • Baylor University is 768.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than BYU (about $51,412 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $6,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 768.7% higher at Baylor than at Brigham Young University (about $51,412 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $6,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Baylor University than at Brigham Young University (98% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Baylor University students is 347.3% larger than aid received by Brigham Young University students ($27,232 vs. $6,088).

Baylor vs. BYU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Baylor or BYU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between BYU and Baylor.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brigham Young University (1370) is 70 points higher than at Baylor (1300).
  • Incoming BYU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Baylor).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 1200/1400; Brigham Young University 1270/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 27/32; Brigham Young University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Baylor - Test optional; BYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Baylor Feb 1, 2027; BYU Dec 16, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman BYU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Baylor (3.74).
  • BYU has a higher acceptance rate (67.8%) than Baylor (51.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Baylor vs. 77.5% at BYU.

Baylor vs. BYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Baylor and BYU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Brigham Young University's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than Baylor University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Brigham Young University earn a median of about $12,900 more per year than Baylor graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,100 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brigham Young University graduates have a $14,000 lower median loan debt than Baylor graduates ($11,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, BYU graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Baylor graduates ($113 vs. $258).
  • More BYU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Baylor students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.