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Waco, TX · Dallas, TX
| Baylor University | Southern Methodist University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $41,104/yr | $40,892/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $22,024/yr | $23,544/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $23,000 | $19,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $21,530/yr | $20,038/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $33,902/yr | $24,152/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $38,852/yr | $33,477/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $47,895/yr | $58,213/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $244/mo | $207/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $15,314/yr | $19,064/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $14,480/yr | $11,314/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,498/yr | $800/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,904/yr | $2,698/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $74,226/yr | $85,606/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $58,100/yr | $67,040/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $58,100/yr | $67,040/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 12% | 13% |
| Students taking federal loans | 31% | 21% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 51% | 63% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1200–1400 | 1340–1490 |
| SAT average | 1329 | 1428 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 27–32 | 30–34 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 26–34 · Math 25–30 | English 30–35 · Math 27–33 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 39,735 | 15,092 |
| Students accepted | 20,262 | 9,240 |
| Students who enrolled | 3,317 | 1,592 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 16% | 17% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 31% | 17% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 19% | 15% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | 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 | 80% | 84% |
| Freshmen who come back | 91% | 91% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $65,793/yr | $78,354/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $44,166–$94,158 | $50,337–$121,566 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 81% | 82% |
| White students graduating | 83% | 85% |
| Black students graduating | 72% | 70% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 73% | 86% |
| Asian students graduating | 81% | 88% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $56,532/yr | $65,556/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 82% | 82% |
| Graduate on time | 68% | 76% |
| Pell students who graduate | 71% | 75% |
| First-gen students who finish | 65% | 68% |
| Low-income students who finish | 64% | 69% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 10% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $61,504/yr | $77,799/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 24% · Health Professions 20% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 26% · Social Sciences 17% · Communication & Journalism 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 24% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 26% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 20% of degrees | Social Sciences — 17% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 8% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Social Sciences — 6% of degrees | Psychology — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $109,356/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $135,130/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 16% | 19% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 14,785 | 7,277 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 11 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 5,711 | 4,831 |
| Average professor pay | $11,998/mo | $14,916/mo |
| Full-time professors | 67% | 69% |
| 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 | $80,000 | $67,697 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Waco, TX | Dallas, TX |
| Region | Southwest | Southwest |
| Founded | 1845 | 1911 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 2.7% | 3.8% |
| Men | 41% | 49% |
| Women | 59% | 51% |
| White students | 60% | 56% |
| Black students | 5.5% | 5.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 18% | 18% |
| Asian students | 8.6% | 8.3% |
| Two or more races | 5.1% | 4.7% |
| Other / not reported | 1.1% | 3.8% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 17% | 16% |
| Part-time students | 1.6% | 1.8% |
| Students age 25+ | 2.1% | 1.9% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $15,852/yr | $18,509/yr |
| Endowment | $2.1B | $2.2B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 4,750 | 3,251 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,700/yr | $11,250/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $6,535/yr | $6,980/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 21 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Baptist | United Methodist |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | Yes | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | Yes | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FBS | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 15 |
| Student athletes | 555 | 428 |
| Athletic scholarships | $20.2M | $26.1M |
| Athletics budget | $144.1M | $150.2M |
| Athletics revenue | $144.1M | $150.2M |
| Recruiting spend | $3.5M | $3.1M |
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.