How to get into Baylor University
How to get into Baylor: a Big 12 Baptist research university with the President's and Provost's scholarships and the Honors College
51.3%
Acceptance rate
$58,100
In-state cost
What makes Baylor University admissions different
Baylor University is a large (~15,000 undergrad) private Baptist research university in Waco, TX — the largest Baptist university in the world and a Big 12 Conference athletic member. The institutional identity is overtly Christian (chapel, religion coursework, community-life expectations) but admission is open to all faiths and the application doesn't ask about religious affiliation. Baylor is a Carnegie R1 research university and the medical/health-sciences pipeline (the Louise Herrington School of Nursing in Dallas, the pre-med advising, partnership with Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Health) is strong. The Honors College admits separately and is competitive within the university. Named merit scholarships (President's, Provost's, Dean's) are awarded by formula from the admit pool based on stats.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply Early Action (Nov 1) or Early Decision (Nov 1) for the earliest decision and full merit consideration. Baylor's EA is non-binding and ED is binding; both provide an admit-rate edge.
- 2.
Pick the right college within Baylor — the Hankamer School of Business, the School of Engineering and Computer Science, the Louise Herrington School of Nursing (in Dallas), and the College of Arts and Sciences each read with different signal.
- 3.
Maintain a strong GPA in a rigorous curriculum. Baylor's named merit scholarships (President's, Provost's, Dean's, etc.) are awarded by formula based on GPA and test scores — verify the published thresholds and submit test scores if you're at or above the merit cutoff.
- 4.
Apply for the Baylor Honors College, the Baylor Business Fellows program, the University Scholars program, or the Crane Scholars (Engineering Honors) by checking the relevant boxes — these are competitive honors tracks with separate consideration.
- 5.
Apply for the Carr P. Collins Scholarship or other named full-ride scholarships if your profile fits — these are competitive named awards with separate consideration windows.
- 6.
Write the 'why Baylor' supplement around the Christian liberal-arts model, a specific Baylor program, and the Waco / pre-professional pipeline (medicine, business, engineering).
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Missing the EA / merit deadline. Baylor's named merit awards are calibrated to early-deadline applicants — late applicants compete for less aid.
- ✕
Treating Honors as automatic. The Honors College and Business Fellows are competitive within the university; checking the box at admission is essential.
- ✕
Submitting middling test scores when test-optional would have helped — except where the merit formula requires scores. Verify which named scholarship you're targeting.
- ✕
Underestimating cost. Baylor is among the more expensive private universities in Texas; merit aid is meaningful but the gap is real for full-pay families.
The specifics for Baylor University
Application deadlines
- Early Action2025-11-01Non-binding. First decision wave and merit consideration.
- Early Decision2025-11-01Binding.
- Regular Decision2026-02-01
- Carr P. Collins Scholarship deadlineVariesVerify on the Baylor scholarship page.
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Largest Baptist university in the world and Big 12 athletic member
Baylor is the largest Baptist university in the world and a Carnegie R1 research institution. Big 12 Conference athletic membership and a large, residential undergraduate experience.
Multiple schools with school-specific reads
Baylor admits to the College of Arts and Sciences, the Hankamer School of Business, the School of Engineering and Computer Science, the Louise Herrington School of Nursing (in Dallas), and others. Each school reads with its own signal.
Honors College, Business Fellows, University Scholars, Crane Scholars ↗
Multiple competitive honors tracks. The Honors College, Business Fellows program (Hankamer), University Scholars (interdisciplinary), and Crane Scholars (Engineering Honors) all admit through separate processes at the time of admission.
Notable scholarships at Baylor University
President's, Provost's, Dean's, and Founders' Scholarships ↗Varies — partial to full tuition
Awarded by formula based on GPA and test scores from the EA admit pool. Verify current thresholds on the Baylor scholarship page.
What graduates actually do
Baylor is the world's largest Baptist university and a major research institution in Waco, Texas, with strong outcomes in healthcare, law, business, and ministry. The Hankamer School of Business feeds Dallas-Fort Worth corporate America (AT&T, ExxonMobil, American Airlines), and Baylor Scott & White Health is one of the largest healthcare systems in Texas. The Baylor College of Medicine (a separate institution in Houston) and Baylor Law School are top-tier.
Notable alumni
- Ann Richards — Former Governor of Texas
- Robert Griffin III — Heisman winner and NFL quarterback
- Kenneth Starr — Former U.S. Solicitor General and Independent Counsel
- Thomas Harris — Author of Silence of the Lambs
- Angela Kinsey — Actress (The Office)
- Brittney Griner — WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist
Transfer pathway
Baylor accepts transfer applicants with a 3.0+ GPA and honors the Texas Common Course Numbering System. McLennan Community College in Waco is the immediate-neighbor CC and sends a large transfer cohort through a formal articulation. Dallas College, Houston Community College, and Austin Community College are also major feeders. Transfer merit scholarships are available.
Articulation partners
McLennan Community College · Dallas College · Houston Community College · Austin Community College · Collin College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App (supplements re-verified this pass). Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
Baylor rewards applicants who apply EA, pick the right college, apply for honors at the time of admission, and target the named scholarship thresholds with their stats. Strong-stat early applicants with specific supplements are competitive for admission and meaningful merit.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.