Baylor vs Southern Methodist
What each college publishes, side by side. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt come from federal data.
A-Compass Score: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Baylor UniversityWaco, TXCompass Score: Excellent · Top 11%ACompass Score: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TXCompass Score: Exceptional · Top 9%
At a glance
- Southern Methodist has the higher graduation rate: 84% against 80% at Baylor.
- For families earning $48,001 to $75,000, Southern Methodist has the lower price after aid: $24,152 a year, against $33,902 at Baylor.
- Median earnings ten years after entry are higher at Southern Methodist: $78,354, against $65,793 at Baylor.
Scores
Compass Score
A-Compass Score: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. Top 11%
ACompass Score: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. Top 9%
Academic Excellence
AAcademic Excellence: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. Top 10%
AAcademic Excellence: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. Top 5%
Value
C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
The college
Category
National universities
National universities
Location
Waco, TX
Dallas, TX
Setting
City
Suburb
Students
20,824
11,842
Sports
NCAA Division I · Big Twelve Conference
NCAA Division I · Atlantic Coast Conference
Admission
Admission rate
51%
63%
Average SAT
1329
1428
ACT middle 50%
27–32
30–34
Outcomes
Graduation rate
80%
84%
First-year retention
91%
91%
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$65,793
$78,354
Median debt
$23,000
$19,500
Cost
Average price after aid
$41,104
$40,892
Price after aid, by family income
Up to $30,000
$22,024
$23,544
$30,001–$48,000
$21,530
$20,038
$48,001–$75,000
$33,902
$24,152
$75,001–$110,000
$38,852
$33,477
Over $110,000
$47,895
$58,213
Top majors by graduate earnings
Bachelor's majors
- Computer science $128,411
- General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations $125,167
- Business (general) $124,434
- Finance $102,812
- Accounting $102,011
- Finance $133,852
- Computer science $126,590
- Mathematics $111,773
- Business administration $106,799
- Accounting $103,675
Compare with another college
The Compass Score and grades are College Compass Guide’s own ratings. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt are federal data. This comparison doesn’t rank the two colleges; the figures are shown as published.