OU vs. Baylor

Deciding between University of Oklahoma Norman Campus and Baylor 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.

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Baylor University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • OU Norman, OK
  • Baylor Waco, TX
  • Setting
  • OU Small Suburban
  • Baylor Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • OU 30,851
  • Baylor 20,626
  • Type
  • OU Public 4 Year
  • Baylor Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OU #245
  • Baylor #167
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OU -
  • Baylor Baptist
  • Status
  • OU Non-profit
  • Baylor Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OU
  • Baylor
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OU $9,797
  • Baylor $58,100
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OU $27,377
  • Baylor $58,100
  • Room & Board
  • OU $13,630
  • Baylor $15,314
  • Average Net Price
  • OU $18,574
  • Baylor $47,001
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OU $11,356
  • Baylor $27,232
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OU 99%
  • Baylor 98%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OU 24,893
  • Baylor 46,946
  • Admitted
  • OU 19,069
  • Baylor 24,075
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OU 76.6%
  • Baylor 51.3%
  • Enrolled
  • OU 29.3%
  • Baylor 14.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OU 1240
  • Baylor 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • OU 26
  • Baylor 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • OU 3.66
  • Baylor 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OU A-
  • Baylor A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • OU Difficult
  • Baylor Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • OU
  • Baylor Low
  • ACT Range
  • OU 23/29
  • Baylor 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • OU 1140/1330
  • Baylor 1200/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OU Test optional
  • Baylor Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • OU Feb 1, 2027
  • Baylor Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OU 18:1
  • Baylor 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OU
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Baylor
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OU 67%
  • Baylor 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OU $59,300
  • Baylor $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OU 68%
  • Baylor 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OU $20,000
  • Baylor $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OU $206
  • Baylor $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OU 47%
  • Baylor 39%
  • % Women
  • OU 53%
  • Baylor 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OU High
  • Baylor Medium
  • HBCU
  • OU No
  • Baylor No
  • % White
  • OU 62%
  • Baylor 64%
  • % Asian
  • OU 6%
  • Baylor 6%
  • % Black
  • OU 5%
  • Baylor 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • OU 9%
  • Baylor 14%
  • % Native American
  • OU 4%
  • Baylor 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OU 0%
  • Baylor 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OU 7%
  • Baylor 5%
  • % International
  • OU 4%
  • Baylor 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OU 2%
  • Baylor 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OU 48%
  • Baylor 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OU 50%
  • Baylor 35%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Oklahoma Norman Campus in Norman, OK with Baylor University in Waco, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is larger than Baylor based on total student enrollment (30,851 students vs. 20,626 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is located in Norman, OK (Small Suburban setting); Baylor University is in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Baylor University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Oklahoma Norman Campus 18:1; Baylor University 15:1.

OU vs. Baylor Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OU or Baylor? 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 University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than Baylor ($18,574 vs. $47,001).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are 11% lower than at Baylor University ($13,630 vs. $15,314).
  • Baylor University is 493% more expensive for in-state tuition than OU (about $48,303 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $9,797.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 112.2% higher at Baylor than at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (about $30,723 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $27,377.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than at Baylor University (99% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Baylor University students is 139.8% larger than aid received by University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students ($27,232 vs. $11,356).

OU vs. Baylor Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Baylor University (1300) is 60 points higher than at OU (1240).
  • Incoming Baylor students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at OU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Oklahoma Norman Campus 1140/1330; Baylor University 1200/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Oklahoma Norman Campus 23/29; Baylor University 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OU - Test optional; Baylor - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OU Feb 1, 2027; Baylor Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Baylor students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at OU (3.66).
  • OU has a higher acceptance rate (76.6%) than Baylor (51.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.3% at OU vs. 14.2% at Baylor.

OU vs. Baylor Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OU and Baylor? 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 University of Oklahoma Norman Campus's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Baylor graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,300 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Baylor graduates ($20,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, OU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Baylor graduates ($206 vs. $258).
  • More Baylor graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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.