Is Baylor test optional?

We haven't confirmed Baylor's test policy for 2026–27. Check their admissions site; many colleges have changed their policy since 2020.

What is Baylor's acceptance rate?

51% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 24,075 of 46,946 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 46%, from 32,136 in 2015 to 46,946 in 2024, and Baylor's admit rate went from 44% to 51%.

What ACT score do you need for Baylor?

23% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 25–31, with a median of 28. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1160–1340 works out to about 23–29.

Does applying early decision help at Baylor?

77% of early decision applicants were admitted (491 of 640), against 51% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Baylor?

241 of the 756 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 32%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Baylor? (Middle 50%: 1160–1340)

First-year students at Baylor who sent an SAT scored 1160–1340, with a median of 1250 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Baylor admits 51% of applicants.

Baylor University · Waco, TX

Where your score lands at Baylor

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1160–1340, median 1250

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Baylor is for you and whether to send your score.

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Baylor by the numbers

Admit rate: 51%
Middle 50% SAT: 1160–1340
Median SAT: 1250
About on the ACT: 23–29
Sent an SAT: 44%

Test policy not confirmed for 2026–27 · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Baylor admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 46%, from 32,136 in 2015 to 46,946 in 2024, and Baylor's admit rate went from 44% to 51%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	46,946	24,075	51%
2023	39,735	20,262	51%
2022	40,753	18,699	46%
2021	36,588	20,741	57%
2020	33,680	23,061	68%
2019	34,582	15,676	45%
2018	37,083	14,442	39%
2017	37,083	14,442	39%
2016	34,636	13,758	40%
2015	32,136	14,033	44%

In fall 2024, 3,427 of the 24,075 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Baylor

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?*

Under 1110Far reachHold
1110–1150ReachHold
1160–1240TargetHold
1250–1330TargetSend
1340 and upLikelySend

100011001200130014001500

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges. *Send it? assumes they're test optional; we haven't confirmed their policy.

Baylor SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	570	620	680
SAT Reading and Writing	580	630	680
SAT total	1160	1250	1340
ACT composite	25	28	31

Of enrolled first-year students, 44% sent an SAT and 23% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2024–25.

Top 10% of their class: 35%; of new students who reported a rank

Baylor early decision and waitlist

Early decision

491 of 640 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision77%
All applicants51%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

3,354 applicants were offered a spot, 756 took it, and 241 were admitted from it.

32%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Baylor cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $41,104; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 80%
Median earnings: $65,793; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 15,805

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Sources

Baylor Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Baylor website
Baylor University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1160–1340, and the median was 1250. At 1250 or higher you're above half of them. Baylor admits 51% of applicants.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$