Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Texas A&M TCU SMU Trinity UT Austin UT Dallas Rice Texas Tech Texas State BYU UNT UH| Baylor University | Southwestern University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Baylor | SU | ||
| Location | Waco, TX | Georgetown, TX | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 20,824 | 1,457 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #166 | #189 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | baylor.edu | southwestern.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Baylor | SU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $54,844 | $50,558 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $54,844 | $50,558 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,235 | $13,628 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $49,727 | $30,687 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,409 | $32,956 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 99% |
Admission |
Baylor | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 39,735 | 6,585 | ||
| Admitted | 20,262 | 2,573 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 51% | 39.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.4% | 15.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 27/32 | 24/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1210/1400 | 1170/1340 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Baylor | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Baylor | SU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 73% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,200 | $57,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $26,893 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $278 |
Diversity |
Baylor | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 18% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 64% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 14% | 22% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
Baylor | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 60% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 37% | 9% | ||
Campus |
Baylor | SU | ||
| 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 SU based on total student enrollment (20,824 students vs. 1,457 students)
Baylor vs. SU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Baylor or SU?
- Baylor University is 8.5% more expensive to attend than SU for in-state tuition ($54,844.00 vs. $50,558.00)
- Out of state tuition is 8.5% higher at Baylor than Southwestern University ($54,844.00 vs. $50,558.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwestern University than Baylor ($30,687 vs. $49,727)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern University are 4.5% lower than costs at Baylor University ($13,628 vs. $14,235)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern University than Baylor University (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern University students is 61.5% larger than aid received Baylor University ($32,956 vs. $20,409)
Baylor vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Baylor or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or Baylor .
- The average SAT score at Baylor University (1239) is 71 points higher than at SU (1168)
- Incoming Baylor students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at SU (26)
- Accepted freshman Baylor students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at SU (3.5)
- Baylor has a higher acceptance rate (51%) than SU (39.1%)
Baylor vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Baylor or SU? 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 SU and Baylor.
- The graduation rate at SU is higher than Baylor University (73% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Southwestern University earn on average $1,200 more per year than Baylor graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $56,200)
- Baylor University students graduate with a $1,893 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,893)
- Baylor graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($258 vs. $278)
- More SU 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/