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Texas A&M TCU UT Austin UT Dallas Trinity Tulane Rice Texas Tech SCU Texas State SU BYU| Baylor University | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Baylor | SMU | ||
| Location | Waco, TX | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 20,709 | 12,053 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #145 | #67 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | baylor.edu | smu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Baylor | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $51,738 | $55,012 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $51,738 | $55,012 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,587 | $17,750 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $45,988 | $45,094 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $22,553 | $35,344 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 73% |
Admission |
Baylor | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 40,753 | 16,150 | ||
| Admitted | 18,699 | 8,439 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45.9% | 52.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.6% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 28/33 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1230/1410 | 1370/1510 | ||
| 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 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Baylor | SMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Baylor | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,200 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $222 |
Diversity |
Baylor | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 50% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 50% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 64% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 14% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
Baylor | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 38% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 43% | 58% | ||
Campus |
Baylor | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Baylor University is larger than than SMU based on total student enrollment (20,709 students vs. 12,053 students)
Baylor vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Baylor or SMU?
- Southern Methodist University is 6.3% more expensive to attend than Baylor for in-state tuition ($55,012.00 vs. $51,738.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.3% higher at SMU than Baylor University ($55,012.00 vs. $51,738.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Methodist University than Baylor ($45,094 vs. $45,988)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Baylor University are 30.6% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($13,587 vs. $17,750)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Baylor University than Southern Methodist University (96% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Methodist University students is 56.7% larger than aid received Baylor University ($35,344 vs. $22,553)
Baylor vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Baylor or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or Baylor .
- The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 91 points higher than at Baylor (1239)
- Incoming SMU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Baylor (28)
- Accepted freshman Baylor students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at SMU (3.68)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Baylor (45.9%)
Baylor vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Baylor or SMU? 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 SMU and Baylor.
- The graduation rate at SMU is higher than Baylor University (75% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $16,800 more per year than Baylor graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $56,200)
- Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Baylor graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,000)
- SMU graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Baylor graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
- More SMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Baylor students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/