Baylor University

BU is an online school that offers fully online degrees through the Canvas learning management system. Exactly half of all graduate students study entirely online, while 62% of undergraduates take some online classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). 

Some may consider Baylor a good school based on the earnings of its alumni. College Scorecard reports that graduates who received federal financial aid went on to earn a median annual salary of $62,900. This is $12,500 more than the midpoint for other 4-year universities. Keep in mind, however, that BU is an expensive school with higher-than-average tuition costs. 

It's also important to consider a school's accreditation, which ensures students are taking high quality programs taught by qualified instructors. Baylor University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctorate degrees, and certificates. 

Every online school featured on the OnlineU site is accredited. 

BU is best known as a religious institution that educates students through a Christian worldview. Faith is integrated directly into the core curriculum of its online programs. For example, the online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing requires students to take up to six credits in The Christian Scriptures and The Christian Heritage during the first two years.

BU's online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing is its only online undergraduate program that also happens to be a high earning degree. Graduates can expect to earn a median annual salary of $71,800, according to College Scorecard. Because most of BU's online degrees come at the master's and doctoral levels, it's important to note that the NCES shows that graduate degree earnings are higher than undergraduate degree earnings — $74,600 compared to $61,600, respectively.

Students can also explore OnlineU's Salary Score to estimate potential earnings. This proprietary metric compares alumni salaries from different schools using the same degree on a scale of 1 to 100. BU's scores 58 for bachelor's degrees, 63 for master's degrees, and 61 for doctoral degrees. 

BU may be considered difficult to get into based on its 57% acceptance rate from College Scorecard. This means that just over half of all applicants are accepted for enrollment. 

GPA requirements at BU vary depending on the program a student is applying to. For example, the online nursing degree requires a 3.0 GPA on pre-required courses and a 2.75 GPA on science courses. Generally, there are no minimum GPA requirements or SAT/ACT submission requirements for undergraduate students. 

BU applicants may be asked to submit various forms of documentation or even use an entirely different application form, depending on the program. Online BSN prospects at BU apply on a third-party nursing website, while online MBA applicants must include a resume along with three letters of recommendation. Meanwhile, graduate students must complete the following steps to apply online:

• Fill out the Baylor University online application. (Use the Application QuickSearch to find specific program instructions.)
• Submit college transcripts.
• Submit test scores (if required per program).
• Submit a resume, personal essay, or letters of recommendation (if required per program).