Baylor vs. Rice

Deciding between Baylor University and Rice 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
Rice University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Baylor Waco, TX
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • Baylor Midsize City
  • Rice Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Baylor 20,626
  • Rice 8,961
  • Type
  • Baylor Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Baylor #167
  • Rice #9
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Baylor Baptist
  • Rice -
  • Status
  • Baylor Non-profit
  • Rice Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Baylor
  • Rice

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • Rice $64,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • Rice $64,144
  • Room & Board
  • Baylor $15,314
  • Rice $18,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Baylor $47,001
  • Rice $23,589
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Baylor $27,232
  • Rice $56,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Baylor 98%
  • Rice 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Baylor 46,946
  • Rice 32,473
  • Admitted
  • Baylor 24,075
  • Rice 2,597
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Baylor 51.3%
  • Rice 8%
  • Enrolled
  • Baylor 14.2%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Baylor 1300
  • Rice 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Baylor 29
  • Rice 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Baylor 3.74
  • Rice 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Baylor A-
  • Rice A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Baylor Very High
  • Rice Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Baylor Low
  • Rice Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Baylor 27/32
  • Rice 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Baylor 1200/1400
  • Rice 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Baylor Test optional
  • Rice Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Baylor Feb 1, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Baylor 15:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Baylor
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Baylor 72%
  • Rice 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Baylor $56,200
  • Rice $86,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Baylor 73%
  • Rice 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Baylor $25,000
  • Rice $10,227
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Baylor $258
  • Rice $105

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Baylor 39%
  • Rice 56%
  • % Women
  • Baylor 61%
  • Rice 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Baylor Medium
  • Rice Very High
  • HBCU
  • Baylor No
  • Rice No
  • % White
  • Baylor 64%
  • Rice 37%
  • % Asian
  • Baylor 6%
  • Rice 24%
  • % Black
  • Baylor 7%
  • Rice 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Baylor 14%
  • Rice 14%
  • % Native American
  • Baylor 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Baylor 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Baylor 5%
  • Rice 4%
  • % International
  • Baylor 3%
  • Rice 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Baylor 0%
  • Rice 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Baylor 63%
  • Rice 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Baylor 35%
  • Rice 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Baylor University in Waco, TX with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Baylor University is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (20,626 students vs. 8,961 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Baylor University is located in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Baylor University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Baylor University 15:1; Rice University 6:1.

Baylor vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Baylor or Rice? 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 Rice University than Baylor ($23,589 vs. $47,001).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Baylor University are 15.4% lower than at Rice University ($15,314 vs. $18,100).
  • Rice University is 10.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Baylor (about $6,044 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $58,100.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.4% higher at Rice than at Baylor University (about $6,044 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $58,100.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Baylor University than at Rice University (98% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rice University students is 106.4% larger than aid received by Baylor University students ($56,199 vs. $27,232).

Baylor vs. Rice Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Baylor or Rice? 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 Rice and Baylor.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rice University (1540) is 240 points higher than at Baylor (1300).
  • Incoming Rice students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Baylor).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 1200/1400; Rice University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 27/32; Rice University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Baylor - Test optional; Rice - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Baylor Feb 1, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Rice students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Baylor (3.74).
  • Baylor has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than Rice (8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Baylor vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Baylor vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Baylor and Rice? 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).

  • Rice University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Baylor University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Rice University earn a median of about $30,200 more per year than Baylor graduates about ten years after starting college ($86,400 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $14,773 lower median loan debt than Baylor graduates ($10,227 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $153 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Baylor graduates ($105 vs. $258).
  • More Rice graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Baylor students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.