Baylor University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Baylor University charges a net price of $41,104/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $164,416. Graduates earn a median $65,793 ten years after entry, $17,433/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 9.4 years — a 20-year net return of $184,244, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Baylor University's 9.4-year payback ranks #762 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 41% of them, and #34 of 213 in Texas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $41,104/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $164,416 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $65,793 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $17,433/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $184,244 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Baylor University's own numbers. Net price $41,104 × 4 years = $164,416 total. Median earnings $65,793 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $17,433 a year of premium. $164,416 ÷ $17,433 = 9.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $184,244. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Baylor University students graduate with?
A median $23,000 in federal loans among completers, or 35% of the $65,793 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Baylor University students graduate?
80% finish their degree. Spread the $164,416 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $205,520 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Baylor University expensive compared with other Texas colleges?
Its $41,104 net price runs $21,745 above the $19,359 median across the 213 Texas colleges we profile, or $86,980 more across the full degree.