Admissions
Admission to Baylor University ("Baylor" or "the University") is by formal application to Undergraduate Admissions. Consideration for admission to Baylor is highly competitive. Baylor seeks to enroll students with strong academic preparation who show the greatest potential to succeed.
Students may be admitted to Baylor either as degree-seeking students or as non-degree seeking students. The University, in maintaining the standards and ideals for which it stands, reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant. The University also reserves the right to revoke admission and/or expel students who falsify, misrepresent, or knowingly omit information on the application for admission or who violate Baylor's student conduct standards.
Freshman Admission
A freshman is one who meets one of the following criteria:
- Has never attended college
- Has attended college prior to high school graduation (earning dual or advanced credit)
- Has attended college only in the summer immediately following high school graduation
Application Deadlines
| Date | Decision | Notification By |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Entry | ||
| November 15 | Rolling notification | |
| Fall Entry | ||
| November 1 | Early decision I (binding) | Notification by December 15 |
| November 1 | Early Action (non-binding) | Notification by January 15 |
| February 1 | Regular Decision (non-binding) | Notification by April 10 |
Note: Applications received after February 1 are considered if space is available.
Application Requirements
Freshman applicants must submit the results of either the SAT or the ACT (unless applying as Test Optional), a high school transcript with GPA and an essay. Students applying as an Early Decision applicant must also submit the following:
- Student Early Decision agreement,
- Parent Early Decision agreement (a parent must sign),
- High school counselor Early Decision agreement (a high school counselor must sign), and
- Complete a short answer question.
In evaluating applicants, Undergraduate Admissions seeks to ensure that each student is academically ready for the Baylor classroom. We recommend that high school graduates have taken the following course work:
| Subject | Units |
|---|---|
| English | 4-year units |
| Foreign Language (same language) | 2-year units |
| Mathemetics (including Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II) | 4-year units |
| Natural Science, laboratory (should include biology and chemistry for students who plan to enter programs in predentistry, premedicine or nursing) | 4-year units |
| Social Science (should include one or more history) | 3-year units |
In compliance with federal law (20 U.S. C. Section 1001; 34 C.F.R. Section 600.4), a degree-seeking applicant who is a graduate of a private high school (including home school) not officially recognized by the state in which the school is located (or by the country if an international school) must normally be 17 years old before the first day of class unless the GED certificate is submitted prior to registration.
Note: Applicants may be requested to provide additional information as a result of the individual review process.
Transfer Admission
A transfer student is one who has attempted college work beyond the summer immediately following high school graduation. Someone whose only college credits were taken for dual credit or to meet high school graduation requirements is not a transfer student; (please reference the freshman admission policies above).
Students who wish to transfer to Baylor from another college or university should plan to do so no later than the end of their sophomore year, as Baylor requires that the last 60 semester hours must be earned in residence. A maximum of 70 semester hours may be transferred in to Baylor, with a maximum of 15 hours post-matriculation. Students must be eligible to re-enroll at any college or university they have previously attended. Learn more about Baylor's transfer credit policies at https://admissions.web.baylor.edu/admission/transfer.
Transfer Application Deadlines
| Entry | Date |
|---|---|
| Spring | November 15 |
| Summer | May 15 |
| Fall | June 1 |
Transfer applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Decisions are generally communicated within 4 to 6 weeks after a completed application is submitted.
Note: Applications received after the stated deadlines are reviewed on a space-available basis.
Application Requirements
Consideration for admission to Baylor is highly competitive. Baylor seeks to enroll transfer students with strong academic preparation who show the greatest potential to succeed. Some majors have specific transfer academic requirements. Learn more information at https://admissions.web.baylor.edu/admission/incoming-freshman/major-specific-admission-requirements.
Applicants With Less Than 24 Hours
Transfer applicants who have earned less than 24 semester hours must submit the results of either the SAT or ACT and an official, final high school transcript. In addition, applicants must submit official transcripts from each college attended, reporting all classes attempted for each semester enrolled.
Applicants With More Than 24 Hours
Transfer applicants who have earned more than 24 semester hours must submit official transcripts from each college attended, reporting all classes attempted for each semester enrolled.
Note: Applicants may be requested to provide additional information as a result of individual review process.
International Student Admission
International citizens are defined as either an entering freshman or entering transfer student according to criteria outlined in the above sections. International citizens should submit the application for admission at least four months prior to the expected term of entry to allow time for issuing of the U.S. Government Form I-20.
Freshman Application Deadlines
| Date | Decision | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Entry | ||
| November 15 | Rolling notification | |
| Fall Entry | ||
| November 1 | Early Decision I (binding) | Notification by December 15 |
| November 1 | Early Action (non-binding) | Notification by January 15 |
| February 1 | Regular Decision (non-binding) | Notification by April 10 |
Transfer Application Deadlines
| Entry | Date | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | November 15 | Rolling notification |
| Fall | June 1 | Rolling notification |
Application Requirements
See above for specific freshmen and transfer application requirements.
In addition, International citizens must demonstrate English proficiency; which may be documented in one of the following ways:
- An official transcript showing the completion of one year of full-time study at a school located in the United States
- An official statement of the completion of one year of full-time study at a school where English is the official language of instruction
- Official exam results; refer to https://admissions.web.baylor.edu/admission/international for specific score requirements.
- Regional exam results; as approved
Students (either non-U.S. citizens or U.S. passport holders) who have completed work at either a secondary school or college/university located outside of the United State must adhere to specific guidelines when submitting transcripts: Reference https://admissions.web.baylor.edu/admission/international for a complete list of guidelines.
Applicants who are not citizens of the United States must demonstrate the ability to meet the expenses of Baylor University. Baylor will not evaluate freshman applications until this requirement has been satisfied.
Other Applicant Types
Non-Degree Seeking Students
A non-degree seeking student is one who desires to enroll in classes at Baylor but does not intend to pursue a degree from Baylor. Students may desire to take classes for one of the following reasons:
- Exchange: An exchange student is one who is pursuing a degree at another school and will be participating in one of Baylor's exchange programs.
- Study Abroad: Students desiring to participate in one of Baylor's study abroad programs who are pursuing a degree at another college or university may apply as a non-degree seeking student.
- Visiting students: Students currently attending another university who want to take Baylor classes and have these credits transferred to their current school.
- Enrollment as a High School Student: Superior high school students applying as a pre-college student are reviewed on an individual basis through the Accelerate program. See more details at: https://accelerate.web.baylor.edu/
- Personal enrichment
- Global Gateway: International citizens who do not meet Baylor's English proficiency requirements may apply to enroll through the Global Gateway Program.
Degree Seeking Students
Students who have earned a bachelor's degree prior to application to Baylor may seek a second degree as long as it is different from the first degree or major.
Note: Learn more about specific application requirements for other applicant types at www.baylor.edu/admissions.
Readmission of Former Baylor Students
Undergraduate Baylor students who are seeking to return to Baylor, but withdrew from or were not enrolled in the fall or spring semester before their desired return term, will need to complete the Reactivation Application. Students planning to return are encouraged to submit the reactivation as early as possible in order to facilitate a timely registration opportunity for classes. The student reactivation process is handled through Baylor’s Office of the Registrar.
Individual Approval
Applicants who wish to pursue a degree but who do not qualify for admission may be offered admission at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. Such admission may involve special requirements specific to each request. In addition, applicants who possess special talents or abilities in music, visual or performing arts, athletics, or have other extenuating circumstances and wish to pursue a degree but do not qualify for admission may be offered admission at the discretion of the Admissions Committee upon request of a Dean or athletic coach via the Athletics Compliance Office. Such admissions may involve special requirements specific to each request.
Enrollment Deposit
All accepted degree-seeking and Accelerate students must pay an enrollment deposit by the specific deadline stated in the acceptance notice and the student’s goBAYLOR account. Applicants who do not pay their deposit by the deadline may not be assured a space in the entering class. Deposit policies are available online at baylor.edu/deposit.
Notice of Non-Discriminatory Policy to Students
Baylor University complies with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws. Baylor University admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.
Baylor University is controlled by a predominantly Baptist Board of Regents and is operated within the Christian-oriented aims and ideals of Baptists. The University is also affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, a cooperative association of autonomous Texas Baptist churches. As a religiously-controlled institution of higher education, the University is exempt from compliance with some provisions of certain civil rights laws. As such, the University prescribes standards of personal conduct that are consistent with its mission and values. This policy statement is neither intended to discourage, nor is it a fact applicable to, any analytical discussion of law and policy issues involved, or to discussions of any recommendations for changes in existing law. Discussion of these matters are both practiced and are welcomed within our curriculum. Further information may be obtained on Baylor's website.
Other Information
In compliance with the Student Right-to-Know and Cleary Act, the University makes available to all students and employees an annual crime safety report. This report and information concerning graduation rates are available from Undergraduate Admissions or at www.baylor.edu/legaldisclosures. The provisions of the application for admission do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied, between Baylor University and any applicant, student, student's family, faculty or staff member. Baylor University reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time and/or change fees, tuition, rules, calendar, curricula, degree programs, degree requirements, graduations procedures and any other requirement affecting students.