Baylor University
Waco, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 51.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 63/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Baylor University earns a 63 ROI score in the Fair Value tier - a result that reflects a private Christian university with expensive tuition and uneven program outcomes. The 14,785-student school in Waco, Texas admits 51.3% of applicants and charges $58,100 sticker tuition. Average net price is $41,104. The payback period is 9.9 years. About 12.5% of students receive Pell grants. Baylor's business programs (Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Management Information Systems) deliver solid earnings and reasonable debt ratios. Nursing is a large, high-performing program. But the tail of low-earning programs is long: Neuroscience, History, Drama, and Music all earn ROI grades of F, with debt-to-earnings ratios above 1.0. Students choosing Baylor for arts, humanities, or biological sciences need to understand the outcome data is weak.
Baylor University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $58,100/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $58,100/yr |
| Average net price | $41,104/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $164,416 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $65,793 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $46,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 80.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 14,785 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $58,100/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $41,104/year, or roughly $164,416 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $22,024/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $47,895/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,000, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($46,600) and comes to 0.49, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,024 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,530 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $33,902 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $38,852 |
| $110,001+ | $47,895 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $22,024 per year at Baylor - over $88,000 for four years.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $21,530 per year - actually less than the lowest-income bracket, which is unusual. The 48-75k bracket jumps to $33,902 and the 75-110k bracket to $38,852. The pricing slope is steep in the middle range. A family earning $60,000 pays nearly $34K/year.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $47,895 per year - about 82% of sticker. At nearly $48K/year, a high-income family pays close to full price. Median 10-year earnings of $65,793 and a 9.9-year payback period make this a questionable deal unless the student is in nursing, business, or engineering. Paying sticker for humanities at Baylor produces a poor financial outcome.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Baylor University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $89,510 | B |
| Marketing | $78,398 | B |
| Biology | $57,155 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $85,961 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $102,812 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $58,915 | C+ |
| Accounting | $102,011 | B+ |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $68,460 | D |
| Psychology | $65,090 | D |
| Management Information Systems | $96,148 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Baylor's largest program at 362 graduates, with $75,213 one-year earnings and $89,510 at four years, and a 0.359 debt-to-earnings ratio with a B grade. Texas nursing demand is strong across major metro areas - Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio all have significant hospital system expansions underway. Baylor's Louise Herrington School of Nursing has a strong clinical reputation. The 0.359 debt ratio is workable; graduates with $26,975 median debt and $75K starting salaries are in a manageable position. This is one of the clearest value programs at Baylor.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (188 graduates) shows $67,909 one-year earnings and $102,812 at four years, with a 0.339 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. Baylor's Hankamer School of Business has strong ties to Texas corporate networks, particularly in Dallas, Houston, and Austin. Finance graduates move into banking, investment management, and corporate finance roles. Starting at nearly $68K in Texas - a low income-tax state - positions graduates well. The four-year median above $102K reflects consistent advancement. Hankamer's recruiting events and alumni networks in Texas financial services are the program's main asset.
Accounting
Accounting (171 graduates) shows $68,187 one-year earnings and $102,011 at four years, with a 0.301 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. Baylor's accounting program consistently sends graduates to major public accounting firms. The 0.301 debt ratio is good. Dallas and Houston both have large concentrations of Big Four and regional accounting firms. Four-year earnings exceeding $102K indicate advancement beyond staff accountant level - likely senior associate or manager roles. This program delivers consistent returns and is one of Baylor's best ROI choices.
Management Information Systems
Management Information Systems (140 graduates) shows $70,873 one-year earnings and $96,148 at four years, with a 0.339 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. MIS sits at the intersection of business and technology and is increasingly valued as companies digitize operations. Baylor MIS graduates go into IT consulting, enterprise systems, and data management. The Texas tech market - Austin in particular - is a major employer. Starting at nearly $71K is strong for a business-adjacent technical program, and the $96K four-year median reflects demand for these skills at mid-career.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Baylor University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 51.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 590-700 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 610-700 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-32 |
| Enrollment | 14,785 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 12.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,998 |
At 51.3% admission rate, Baylor is moderately selective. SAT 590-700 (Math), 610-700 (Reading), ACT 27-32 define the range. The school has grown enrollment significantly over the past decade, which has broadened the admissions funnel.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Baylor's ROI score is 63. Baylor's strongest programs produce strong outcomes; the school's challenge is its wide distribution of program quality under one tuition price.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor University (this school) | 63 | $41,104 | $65,793 |
| Bellevue University | 65 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
| National University | 64 | $22,878 | $67,548 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | 61 | $16,898 | $59,986 |
| Abilene Christian University | 51 | $26,182 | $55,736 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
Who Thrives Here
Admitted students show SAT 590-700 (Math) and 610-700 (Reading), ACT 27-32. About 12.5% receive Pell grants. Baylor draws heavily from Texas and the evangelical Christian community. Students who thrive here are aligned with the faith-based campus culture and are pursuing business, nursing, or STEM programs. Students entering with undeclared majors face risk given the wide variance in program outcomes.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Baylor University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $41,104 a year after aid ($164,416 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $65,793 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 80.0% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $23,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $46,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Baylor University: Common Questions
Is Baylor University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Baylor University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 63/100 on our ROI scale. At $41,104 a year after aid ($164,416 over four years) against $65,793 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Baylor University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $41,104 a year, or roughly $164,416 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Baylor University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $65,793 ten years after enrolling, roughly $23,993 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Baylor University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.9 years for Baylor University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Baylor University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,000, against average earnings of $46,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Baylor University?
The six-year graduation rate is 80.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.