Baylor vs. TCU

Deciding between Baylor University and Texas Christian 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.

Baylor University
Texas Christian University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Baylor Waco, TX
  • TCU Fort Worth, TX
  • Setting
  • Baylor Midsize City
  • TCU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Baylor 20,626
  • TCU 12,938
  • Type
  • Baylor Private 4 Year
  • TCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Baylor #167
  • TCU #110
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Baylor Baptist
  • TCU Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Status
  • Baylor Non-profit
  • TCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Baylor
  • TCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • TCU $61,740
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • TCU $61,740
  • Room & Board
  • Baylor $15,314
  • TCU $16,700
  • Average Net Price
  • Baylor $47,001
  • TCU $41,848
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Baylor $27,232
  • TCU $34,975
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Baylor 98%
  • TCU 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Baylor 46,946
  • TCU 22,307
  • Admitted
  • Baylor 24,075
  • TCU 9,925
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Baylor 51.3%
  • TCU 44.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Baylor 14.2%
  • TCU 24.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Baylor 1300
  • TCU 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Baylor 29
  • TCU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Baylor 3.74
  • TCU 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Baylor A-
  • TCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Baylor Very High
  • TCU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Baylor Low
  • TCU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Baylor 27/32
  • TCU 26/31
  • SAT Range
  • Baylor 1200/1400
  • TCU 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Baylor Test optional
  • TCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Baylor Feb 1, 2027
  • TCU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Baylor 15:1
  • TCU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Baylor
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • TCU
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (18%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Baylor 72%
  • TCU 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Baylor $56,200
  • TCU $57,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Baylor 73%
  • TCU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Baylor $25,000
  • TCU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Baylor $258
  • TCU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Baylor 39%
  • TCU 39%
  • % Women
  • Baylor 61%
  • TCU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Baylor Medium
  • TCU Low
  • HBCU
  • Baylor No
  • TCU No
  • % White
  • Baylor 64%
  • TCU 73%
  • % Asian
  • Baylor 6%
  • TCU 3%
  • % Black
  • Baylor 7%
  • TCU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Baylor 14%
  • TCU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Baylor 0%
  • TCU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Baylor 0%
  • TCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Baylor 5%
  • TCU 0%
  • % International
  • Baylor 3%
  • TCU 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Baylor 0%
  • TCU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Baylor 63%
  • TCU 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Baylor 35%
  • TCU 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Baylor University in Waco, TX with Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Baylor University is larger than TCU based on total student enrollment (20,626 students vs. 12,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Baylor University is located in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting); Texas Christian University is in Fort Worth, TX (Large City setting).
  • Baylor University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Baylor University 15:1; Texas Christian University 14:1.

Baylor vs. TCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Baylor or TCU? 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 Texas Christian University than Baylor ($41,848 vs. $47,001).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Baylor University are 8.3% lower than at Texas Christian University ($15,314 vs. $16,700).
  • Texas Christian University is 6.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Baylor (about $3,640 more per year; $61,740.00 vs. $58,100.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.3% higher at TCU than at Baylor University (about $3,640 more per year; $61,740.00 vs. $58,100.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Baylor University than at Texas Christian University (98% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Texas Christian University students is 28.4% larger than aid received by Baylor University students ($34,975 vs. $27,232).

Baylor vs. TCU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Baylor University (1300) is 50 points higher than at TCU (1250).
  • Incoming Baylor students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at TCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 1200/1400; Texas Christian University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 27/32; Texas Christian University 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Baylor - Test optional; TCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Baylor Feb 1, 2027; TCU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Baylor students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at TCU (3.68).
  • Baylor has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than TCU (44.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Baylor vs. 24.7% at TCU.

Baylor vs. TCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Baylor and TCU? 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).

  • Texas Christian University's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Baylor University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Texas Christian University earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Baylor graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,600 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Texas Christian University graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Baylor graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, TCU graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Baylor graduates ($222 vs. $258).
  • More TCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Baylor students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 73%)

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.