Baylor vs. SHSU

Deciding between Baylor University and Sam Houston State 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
Sam Houston State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Baylor Waco, TX
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • Baylor Midsize City
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Baylor 20,626
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • Baylor Private 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Baylor #167
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Baylor Baptist
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • Baylor Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Baylor
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • Baylor $15,314
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • Baylor $47,001
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Baylor $27,232
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Baylor 98%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Baylor 46,946
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • Baylor 24,075
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Baylor 51.3%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Baylor 14.2%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Baylor 1300
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • Baylor 29
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • Baylor 3.74
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Baylor A-
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Baylor Very High
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Baylor Low
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • Baylor 27/32
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • Baylor 1200/1400
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Baylor Test optional
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Baylor Feb 1, 2027
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Baylor 15:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Baylor
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Baylor 72%
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Baylor $56,200
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Baylor 73%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Baylor $25,000
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Baylor $258
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Baylor 39%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • Baylor 61%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Baylor Medium
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • Baylor No
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • Baylor 64%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • Baylor 6%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • Baylor 7%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • Baylor 14%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • Baylor 0%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Baylor 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Baylor 5%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • Baylor 3%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Baylor 0%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Baylor 63%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Baylor 35%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Sam Houston State University is larger than Baylor based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 20,626 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Baylor University is located in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • Baylor University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Baylor University 15:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

Baylor vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Baylor or SHSU? 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 Sam Houston State University than Baylor ($14,737 vs. $47,001).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sam Houston State University are 23.5% lower than at Baylor University ($11,720 vs. $15,314).
  • Baylor University is 529.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $48,872 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $9,228.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 204.7% higher at Baylor than at Sam Houston State University (about $39,032 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Baylor University than at Sam Houston State University (98% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Baylor University students is 155.2% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($27,232 vs. $10,669).

Baylor vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Baylor University (1300) is 270 points higher than at SHSU (1030).
  • Incoming Baylor students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 20 at SHSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 1200/1400; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 27/32; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Baylor - Test optional; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Baylor Feb 1, 2027; SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Baylor students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than Baylor (51.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Baylor vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

Baylor vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Baylor and SHSU? 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).

  • Baylor University's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Sam Houston State University's (50%).
  • Graduates from Baylor University earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than SHSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $47,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Baylor graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Baylor graduates ($222 vs. $258).
  • More Baylor graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SHSU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 57%)

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.