As a tier 1 school with Christian roots, Baylor University is a private institution that has long drawn prospective students to its home, Waco, Texas. It was founded in 1845, making it the oldest continuously operating university in the state of Texas. Known for its strong academic programs, particularly in Business, Education, Law, and Nursing, it’s no wonder why many prospective students are wondering how to navigate Baylor’s admission requirements.
Baylor's student body is diverse, with over 17,000 students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries. The university also has a thriving athletics program, with 19 varsity sports teams competing in the Big 12 Conference. But the communities at Baylor center on more than just classrooms and athletic fields—they stem, too, from a strong emphasis on community engagement and service. The university has a number of programs and initiatives focused on promoting social justice, supporting underrepresented groups, and addressing the needs of the surrounding community.
All in all, it’s easy to see that Baylor University offers a rich and rewarding academic and extracurricular experience for students who are seeking a vibrant and inclusive community of learners and leaders.
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(click to skip ahead)How hard is it to get into Baylor?
It is moderately difficult to get accepted to Baylor. The grade point average of people who get accepted to Baylor is generally in the top quarter of their class. People who successfully get into Baylor also tend to have moderate extracurricular activities and college applications essays.
Baylor Acceptance Rate
The Baylor acceptance rate is 46%, making it a moderately competitive school. Acceptance rate is generally an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is. To get into a school like Baylor, you will need to perform well in most areas of your college application.
Baylor Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Transfer Acceptance Rate
Baylor offers Early Decision 1 (binding, Nov 1), Early Decision 2 (binding, February 1), Early Action (non-binding, November 1), Regular Decision (non-binding, February 1), and Transfer admissions.
Baylor’s early decision acceptance rate is 30% because it received 844 applications and accepted 256 students.
Baylor’s transfer acceptance rate is 89% because it received 1,227 applications and accepted 1,089 students.
Baylor’s regular decision acceptance rate is 46% because it received 40,753 applications and accepted 18,699 students.
Baylor GPA Requirements
The average GPA of admitted students at Baylor is 3.72. You will need a very high GPA and will likely be graduating in the top quarter of their class in order to get into Baylor. If your GPA is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your standardized tests. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
Class Rank of First-Time Freshmen at Baylor
| Ranking | Percent Admitted |
|---|---|
| First Quartile-Top 10% | 40.4% |
| First Quartile-Not Top 10% | 31.3% |
| Second Quartile | 23.3% |
| Third Quartile | 4.2% |
| Fourth Quartile | 0.8% |
Baylor Weighted GPA Requirements
Baylor considers weighted GPA as one of its admissions factors. Baylor does not report specific weighted GPAs, but based on the average GPA of admitted students, you should aim for a weighted GPA of at least 4.0 to be competitive. You will likely want to take higher level classes like AP and IB classes in order to be a competitive candidate as Baylor also considers the rigor of your curriculum and the quality of your grades.
Baylor SAT Requirements
The average SAT scores of admitted students at Baylor are a 1170 to 1360 composite score, combining the reading/writing and math sections together. You will need a moderately high SAT score in order to get into Baylor. If your SAT is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your other standardized tests or have strong extracurricular activities to compensate. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
Baylor also has a test-optional policy, which means that you can choose whether or not to submit your SAT score as part of your application. However, if you do not submit your SAT score, you will want to be sure to demonstrate your academic readiness through other parts of your application, such as your GPA, course rigor, essays, and recommendations.
Baylor Average SAT Composite Score: 1270
| SAT Score Distribution | Reading % | Math % |
|---|---|---|
| 700-800 | 19.54% | 22.40% |
| 600-699 | 52.10% | 47.05% |
| 500-599 | 25.07% | 26.00% |
| 400-499 | 3.14% | 4.33% |
| 300-399 | 0.15% | 0.22% |
| 200-299 | 0% | 0% |
What SAT score is required for Baylor?
Applicants should score between 1170 to 1360 on their SAT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute ACT score or having an above-average GPA. Baylor has a test-optional policy, which means that you can choose whether or not to submit your SAT or ACT score as part of your application.
Baylor ACT Requirements
The ACT requirements for Baylor to be a strong candidate are a 29 composite score combining all English, mathematics, reading, and science sections. You will need a moderate ACT score in order to get into Baylor. If your ACT is not what you’d hoped by the time you apply, you may have to make it up by having an above-average grade point average. If your ACT wasn’t as high as you’d like because of difficulties or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
Baylor Average ACT: 29
| ACT Score Range | Composite Score % |
|---|---|
| 30-36 | 44.51% |
| 24-29 | 42.90% |
| 18-23 | 11.48% |
| 12-17 | 1.11% |
| 6-11 | 0% |
| Below 6 | 0% |
What ACT score is required for Baylor?
Applicants should score between 26 and 32 on their ACT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute SAT score or having an above-average GPA. Either an SAT or ACT score is required for application to this school.
What does Baylor look for in students?
The biggest thing Baylor focuses on is how a student and the school fit together: they’re looking for students who fit spiritually and academically.
How do you know if you and Baylor fit together? And how do you demonstrate to the school that you think you do?
Start by exploring Baylor’s mission and values, both through its mission statement and through what it outlines in its discussion of its core convictions. Notice, for example, how often the focus is on scholarship and faith: Baylor wants to lead “by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment [in] a caring community.”
Baylor seeks students who are intellectually curious and excited about pursuing new knowledge and ideas. It also values students who have challenged themselves academically and who have sought out opportunities for personal growth outside the classroom. Additionally, the university looks for students who demonstrate a commitment to faith and service and who see it as an integral part of their education.
How do you see yourself aligning with this mission and these values? What parts of your story demonstrate that you have already worked toward these things, and that Baylor is the place for you to take your next steps? How will you and the Baylor community make great partners in trying to solve the world’s problems?
How else can you demonstrate that you and Baylor fit together? Think about your answers to these questions:
How have you been involved in your community, and how can you use that experience to contribute to the Baylor community?
In what ways have you demonstrated leadership, and how do you plan to continue that at Baylor?
How have you persevered through challenges or setbacks, and how will that resilience help you succeed at Baylor?
Baylor values creativity and innovation—how have you explored those qualities in your life, and how do you see yourself continuing to do so at Baylor?
How do you prioritize and value the importance of faith and spirituality in your life, and how does that align with Baylor's Christian mission and values?
Lastly, how do you balance your academic pursuits with your personal interests and commitments, and how will you continue to do so at Baylor?
Baylor Application Deadlines
The Baylor application deadline for regular decision is February 1. Baylor also provides options for early action and early decision. The application deadline for Baylor’s Early Decision 1 is November 1 and Early Decision 2 is February 1. The application deadline for Baylor’s Early Action is November 1. Below is a table showing the deadlines for each of the steps of Baylor's admissions process.
| Notification Plan | Application Material | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision 1 (binding) |
Submit Test Scores | November 1 |
| Submit Application and Financial Aid Application | November 1 | |
| Admissions Decisions Released | December 15 | |
| Early Action (non-binding) |
Submit Test Scores | November 1 |
| Submit Application and Financial Aid Application | November 1 | |
| Admissions Decisions Released | January 15 | |
| Early Decision 2 (binding) |
Submit Test Scores | February 1 |
| Submit Application and Financial Aid Application | February 1 | |
| Admissions Decisions Released | March 1 | |
| Regular Decision | Submit Test Scores | February 1 |
| Submit Application | February 1 | |
| Submit Financial Aid Application (if still pending) | February 1 | |
| Admissions Decisions Released | April 10 |
Baylor Early Decision, Early Action Policy
Early Decision is a binding agreement for students who will commit to Baylor, if accepted. This is a decision plan for those that have Baylor as their first choice for college. With this agreement, the student, a parent and a high school counselor must sign a contract stating that the student will deposit and enroll at Baylor upon acceptance. Those applying Early Decision may still apply to other institutions with a non-binding application. However, if accepted to Baylor under the Early Decision plan, they must withdraw all other schools' applications.
The Early Action deadline is designed for students who want to complete the admissions process early in their senior year. Applying (non-restrictive) Early Action does not restrict a student from applying to other schools or for scholarships and financial aid. Early Action applicants must complete their application and submit required materials by November 1. They will receive an admission decision by January 15 and, if accepted, have until May 1 to make their final decision.
Baylor Supplemental Essay Prompts
To complete Baylor’s supplemental essay requirements, applicants must write one 450 word essay. Here’s the prompt:
What are you looking for in a university, why do you want to attend Baylor, and how do you see yourself contributing to the Baylor community? (450 word limit)
Here are tips on how to tackle this essay straight from Baylor:
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and be creative
Proofread and have someone you trust read your essay
Don’t procrastinate
Below, we’ll offer some more guidance on writing your response to this supplemental prompt for Baylor.
Baylor Essay Tips
In this question, Baylor has essentially combined two classic supplemental essay prompts into one: the “Why Us?” prompt and the “Community” prompt. The good news is that these two prompts can pretty easily have a lot of overlap!
Note that a “Why Us?” essay is importantly different from a “Why Baylor?” essay. I.e., your task here isn’t simply to argue why Baylor is The Greatest School of All Time, but instead to argue why you and Baylor are a perfect fit for one another. How do you know if you’re a perfect fit? A great place to start is by reflecting on your own values, and seeing how they overlap with Baylor’s values (which can be inferred from all sorts of things, including their mission statement, course offerings, etc…). Given that this essay includes a significant “community” component, you may find it helpful to focus on values you feel Baylor holds based on things you can identify about various communities at the school (Note that you can take a pretty broad view of what “communities” can mean!)
Once you have those values figured out, be sure to identify specific examples from both your life, and also from what you can find about Baylor that make clear that you both share those values. This is a tried and true way to really prove your interest in the school.
Special thanks to Nick for writing this blog post.
Nick Muccio
Rather than candy, Nick (he/him) went searching for people’s vacuum cleaners when trick or treating. He’s since found other ways to help people clean, usually involving their essays (though he has great ideas on carpet maintenance, too). He earned a degree in Psychology from Bates College, where he rowed boats and acted in plays. Teaching high schoolers English for seven years taught him about the importance of presence and knitting sweaters. He sweats a lot, usually on purpose, and usually involving running shoes, a bike, or a rock climbing harness. His greatest fear? Heights. His greatest joys? Numerous, though shared laughter is up there.
