Abilene Christian vs Houston Baptist University
Abilene Christian University (ACU) and Houston Baptist University (HBU) are two private Christian universities located in Texas, each offering a unique educational experience. ACU, situated in the heart of Abilene, boasts a higher acceptance rate (75%) compared to HBU's 65%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with ACU excelling in fields like Business, Education, and Nursing, while HBU shines in areas such as Business, Health Professions, and Social Sciences. ACU's student body is predominantly White (69%), while HBU's student population is more diverse, with a significant Hispanic (30%) and African American (15%) presence. In terms of graduation rates, ACU holds a slight edge over HBU, with a 68% graduation rate compared to HBU's 65%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below, highlighting key differences
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![]() Abilene Christian University |
![]() Houston Baptist University |
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Overview |
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Location | Abilene, Texas | Houston, Texas |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 79.0% | 68.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Churches of Christ | Baptist |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 70.1% | 84.9% |
Application fees | $65 | |
SAT range | 1050 - 1270 | 1040 - 1250 |
ACT range | 22 - 28 | 22 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 26.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | 5.0% |
Total number of applicants | 8,208 | 9,685 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,755 | 8,220 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 833 | 802 |
Yield rate | 14.5% | 9.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $55,500 | $52,270 |
Average net price | $29,734 | $20,089 |
Tuition | $39,250 | $33,250 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,878
Meal plan:
$5,750
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Room/dormitory:
$4,950
Meal plan:
$4,386
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $23,662 |
100.0%
Average amount $24,068 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
53.0%
Average amount $5,275 |
56.0%
Average amount $4,791 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $18,262 |
4.0%
Average amount $14,162 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,138
Men 39.2% Women 60.8% |
2,780
Men 34.6% Women 65.4% |
Graduate students |
1,774
Men 28.1% Women 71.9% |
1,340
Men 24.5% Women 75.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 14.8% | 5.0% |
International students | 3.3% | 5.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,153 | 1,026 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Texas Oklahoma California Arizona Tennessee | Texas Louisiana California Florida Georgia |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 60.2% | 43.9% |
Dropout rate | 38.8% | 14.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | 40.8% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Master's Degrees)
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
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