Baylor vs. UH

Deciding between Baylor University and University of Houston? 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
University of Houston

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Baylor Waco, TX
  • UH Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • Baylor Midsize City
  • UH Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Baylor 20,626
  • UH 47,980
  • Type
  • Baylor Private 4 Year
  • UH Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Baylor #167
  • UH #449
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Baylor Baptist
  • UH -
  • Status
  • Baylor Non-profit
  • UH Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Baylor
  • UH

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • UH $9,717
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Baylor $58,100
  • UH $22,547
  • Room & Board
  • Baylor $15,314
  • UH $11,286
  • Average Net Price
  • Baylor $47,001
  • UH $14,309
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Baylor $27,232
  • UH $12,159
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Baylor 98%
  • UH 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Baylor 46,946
  • UH 31,716
  • Admitted
  • Baylor 24,075
  • UH 23,446
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Baylor 51.3%
  • UH 73.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Baylor 14.2%
  • UH 26.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Baylor 1300
  • UH 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Baylor 29
  • UH 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Baylor 3.74
  • UH 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Baylor A-
  • UH B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Baylor Very High
  • UH Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Baylor Low
  • UH Low
  • ACT Range
  • Baylor 27/32
  • UH 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • Baylor 1200/1400
  • UH 1160/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Baylor Test optional
  • UH Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Baylor Feb 1, 2027
  • UH May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Baylor 15:1
  • UH 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Baylor
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • UH
    • Business (30%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Baylor 72%
  • UH 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Baylor $56,200
  • UH $59,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Baylor 73%
  • UH 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Baylor $25,000
  • UH $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Baylor $258
  • UH $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Baylor 39%
  • UH 48%
  • % Women
  • Baylor 61%
  • UH 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Baylor Medium
  • UH Very High
  • HBCU
  • Baylor No
  • UH No
  • % White
  • Baylor 64%
  • UH 26%
  • % Asian
  • Baylor 6%
  • UH 22%
  • % Black
  • Baylor 7%
  • UH 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Baylor 14%
  • UH 32%
  • % Native American
  • Baylor 0%
  • UH 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Baylor 0%
  • UH 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Baylor 5%
  • UH 3%
  • % International
  • Baylor 3%
  • UH 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Baylor 0%
  • UH 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Baylor 63%
  • UH 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Baylor 35%
  • UH 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Baylor University in Waco, TX with University of Houston in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Houston is larger than Baylor based on total student enrollment (47,980 students vs. 20,626 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Baylor University is located in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting); University of Houston is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Baylor University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Houston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Baylor University 15:1; University of Houston 22:1.

Baylor vs. UH Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Baylor or UH? 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 University of Houston than Baylor ($14,309 vs. $47,001).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston are 26.3% lower than at Baylor University ($11,286 vs. $15,314).
  • Baylor University is 497.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UH (about $48,383 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $9,717.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 157.7% higher at Baylor than at University of Houston (about $35,553 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $22,547.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Baylor University than at University of Houston (98% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Baylor University students is 124% larger than aid received by University of Houston students ($27,232 vs. $12,159).

Baylor vs. UH Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Baylor University (1300) is 50 points higher than at UH (1250).
  • Incoming Baylor students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at UH).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 1200/1400; University of Houston 1160/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Baylor University 27/32; University of Houston 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Baylor - Test optional; UH - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Baylor Feb 1, 2027; UH May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Baylor students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at UH (3.46).
  • UH has a higher acceptance rate (73.9%) than Baylor (51.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Baylor vs. 26.5% at UH.

Baylor vs. UH Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Baylor and UH? 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).

  • Baylor University's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than University of Houston's (46%).
  • Graduates from University of Houston earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Baylor graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than Baylor graduates ($19,750 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, UH graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Baylor graduates ($204 vs. $258).
  • More Baylor graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UH students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 61%)

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.