Houston Baptist University Acceptance Rate
Houston, Texas · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 9,021
- Admitted
- 7,681
- Yield
- 9.5%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Houston Baptist University's acceptance rate has risen from 35.7% in 2014–15 to 85.1% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 12,769 to 9,021 (-29%) over that period.
Its 85.1% rate makes Houston Baptist University more selective than about 31% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 65 tracked Texas schools, it is more selective than about 43%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (87.4% for women vs 81.1% for men, a 6.3-point gap). Houston Baptist University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 9.5% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 12,769 | 4,562 | 35.7% | 615 |
| 2015–16 | 14,519 | 4,825 | 33.2% | 545 |
| 2016–17 | 15,256 | 5,273 | 34.6% | 577 |
| 2017–18 | 6,461 | 4,459 | 69% | 519 |
| 2018–19 | 7,051 | 4,937 | 70% | 531 |
| 2019–20 | 8,904 | 6,326 | 71% | 727 |
| 2020–21 | 8,723 | 6,238 | 71.5% | 668 |
| 2021–22 | 9,685 | 8,220 | 84.9% | 802 |
| 2022–23 | 10,258 | 8,666 | 84.5% | 732 |
| 2023–24 | 9,021 | 7,681 | 85.1% | 729 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 5,764 | 5,039 | 87.4% |
| Men | 3,257 | 2,642 | 81.1% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 490–610 | 34% |
| SAT Math | 480–590 | |
| ACT Composite | 19–28 | 7% |
How Houston Baptist University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Houston Baptist University's acceptance rate?
Houston Baptist University's acceptance rate is 85.1% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (7,681 admitted of 9,021 applicants).
Is Houston Baptist University test optional?
Houston Baptist University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Houston Baptist University?
Houston Baptist University received 9,021 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 7,681.
What SAT score do you need for Houston Baptist University?
Admitted students at Houston Baptist University typically scored 490–610 on SAT Reading/Writing and 480–590 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Houston Baptist University getting harder to get into?
Houston Baptist University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 35.7% in 2014–15 to 85.1% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.hbu.edu/.