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Abilene, TX · Waco, TX
| Abilene Christian University | Baylor University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $26,182/yr | $41,104/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $20,285/yr | $22,024/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $24,250 | $23,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $21,150/yr | $21,530/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $23,012/yr | $33,902/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $27,576/yr | $38,852/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $31,763/yr | $47,895/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $257/mo | $244/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,540/yr | $15,314/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $14,540/yr | $14,480/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,250/yr | $1,498/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,272/yr | $3,904/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $59,256/yr | $74,226/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $44,200/yr | $58,100/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $44,200/yr | $58,100/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 22% | 12% |
| Students taking federal loans | 40% | 31% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 66% | 51% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1070–1270 | 1200–1400 |
| SAT average | 1194 | 1329 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 22–28 | 27–32 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 21–29 · Math 20–27 | English 26–34 · Math 25–30 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 10,510 | 39,735 |
| Students accepted | 6,714 | 20,262 |
| Students who enrolled | 862 | 3,317 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 13% | 16% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 47% | 31% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 28% | 19% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 59% | 80% |
| Freshmen who come back | 81% | 91% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $55,736/yr | $65,793/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $36,361–$80,010 | $44,166–$94,158 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 58% | 81% |
| White students graduating | 67% | 83% |
| Black students graduating | 39% | 72% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 45% | 73% |
| Asian students graduating | 67% | 81% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $46,727/yr | $56,532/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 73% | 82% |
| Graduate on time | 49% | 68% |
| Pell students who graduate | 45% | 71% |
| First-gen students who finish | 47% | 65% |
| Low-income students who finish | 42% | 64% |
| Students who transfer out | 0.2% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $52,257/yr | $61,504/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 17% · Health Professions 11% · Psychology 9% | Business, Management & Marketing 24% · Health Professions 20% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 17% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 24% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 11% of degrees | Health Professions — 20% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 9% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 8% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 7% of degrees | Social Sciences — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Educational Administration and Supervision — $81,952/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $109,356/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 16% | 16% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 3,195 | 14,785 |
| Students per professor | 13 : 1 | 15 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,956 | 5,711 |
| Average professor pay | $8,928/mo | $11,998/mo |
| Full-time professors | 65% | 67% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $67,009 | $80,000 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Abilene, TX | Waco, TX |
| Region | Southwest | Southwest |
| Founded | 1906 | 1845 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 4.4% | 2.7% |
| Men | 40% | 41% |
| Women | 60% | 59% |
| White students | 61% | 60% |
| Black students | 7.1% | 5.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 19% | 18% |
| Asian students | 2% | 8.6% |
| Two or more races | 4% | 5.1% |
| Other / not reported | 2.7% | 1.1% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 24% | 17% |
| Part-time students | 2.9% | 1.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 2% | 2.1% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $10,340/yr | $15,852/yr |
| Endowment | $726.5M | $2.1B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,508 | 4,750 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,200/yr | $7,700/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,700/yr | $6,535/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 21 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Churches of Christ | Baptist |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | Yes |
| Prepaid tuition plan | Yes | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 13 | 15 |
| Student athletes | 325 | 555 |
| Athletic scholarships | $10.9M | $20.2M |
| Athletics budget | $26.5M | $144.1M |
| Athletics revenue | $26.5M | $144.1M |
| Recruiting spend | $286,472 | $3.5M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.