Baylor vs. SU

Deciding between Baylor University and Southwestern 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
Southwestern University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Baylor Waco, TX
  • SU Georgetown, TX
  • Setting
  • Baylor Midsize City
  • SU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Baylor 20,626
  • SU 1,440
  • Type
  • Baylor Private 4 Year
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Baylor #167
  • SU #196
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Baylor Baptist
  • SU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Baylor Non-profit
  • SU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Baylor
  • SU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • SU $53,813
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • SU $53,813
  • Room & Board
  • Baylor $15,314
  • SU $15,072
  • Average Net Price
  • Baylor $47,001
  • SU $32,228
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Baylor $27,232
  • SU $35,162
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Baylor 98%
  • SU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Baylor 46,946
  • SU 6,313
  • Admitted
  • Baylor 24,075
  • SU 2,718
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Baylor 51.3%
  • SU 43.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Baylor 14.2%
  • SU 13.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Baylor 1300
  • SU 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Baylor 29
  • SU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Baylor 3.74
  • SU 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Baylor A-
  • SU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Baylor Very High
  • SU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Baylor Low
  • SU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Baylor 27/32
  • SU 26/30
  • SAT Range
  • Baylor 1200/1400
  • SU 1130/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Baylor Test optional
  • SU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Baylor Feb 1, 2027
  • SU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Baylor 15:1
  • SU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Baylor
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • SU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Baylor 72%
  • SU 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Baylor $56,200
  • SU $57,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Baylor 73%
  • SU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Baylor $25,000
  • SU $26,893
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Baylor $258
  • SU $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Baylor 39%
  • SU 45%
  • % Women
  • Baylor 61%
  • SU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Baylor Medium
  • SU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Baylor No
  • SU No
  • % White
  • Baylor 64%
  • SU 62%
  • % Asian
  • Baylor 6%
  • SU 4%
  • % Black
  • Baylor 7%
  • SU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Baylor 14%
  • SU 22%
  • % Native American
  • Baylor 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Baylor 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Baylor 5%
  • SU 4%
  • % International
  • Baylor 3%
  • SU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Baylor 0%
  • SU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Baylor 63%
  • SU 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Baylor 35%
  • SU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Baylor University is larger than SU based on total student enrollment (20,626 students vs. 1,440 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Baylor University is located in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting); Southwestern University is in Georgetown, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Baylor University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Baylor University 15:1; Southwestern University 11:1.

Baylor vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Baylor or SU? 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 Southwestern University than Baylor ($32,228 vs. $47,001).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern University are 1.6% lower than at Baylor University ($15,072 vs. $15,314).
  • Baylor University is 8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SU (about $4,287 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $53,813.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8% higher at Baylor than at Southwestern University (about $4,287 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $53,813.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern University than at Baylor University (99% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern University students is 29.1% larger than aid received by Baylor University students ($35,162 vs. $27,232).

Baylor vs. SU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Baylor University (1300) is 80 points higher than at SU (1220).
  • Incoming Baylor students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at SU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 1200/1400; Southwestern University 1130/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 27/32; Southwestern University 26/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Baylor - Test optional; SU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Baylor Feb 1, 2027; SU Feb 1, 2027.
  • 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 (51.3%) than SU (43.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Baylor vs. 13.8% at SU.

Baylor vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Baylor and SU? 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).

  • Southwestern University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Baylor University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Southwestern University earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Baylor graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,400 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Baylor University graduates have a $1,893 lower median loan debt than SU graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,893).
  • Among borrowers, Baylor graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.