Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Waco

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Forsgard HomesteadForsgard Homestead · Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Waco

Waco is home to four colleges, with about 30,000 students on campus

Baylor University (17,651 students on campus) and Texas State Technical College (7,673) are inside the city. About 15% of Waco’s residents are enrolled in college, above Texas (6%).

McLennan Community CollegeBaylor UniversityTexas State Technical College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Waco. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
29,827 students on campus
Nearest college
2.4 mi
McLennan
Residents in college
15%
Above TX (6%)
Nearest community college
2.4 mi
McLennan · $3,660 tuition
Nearest public university
54.1 mi
Navarro College · $3,008 in-state
Median household income
$54K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Waco

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Three colleges within 8.4 milesBaylor University admits 51% of applicants. Together they have 29,622 students on campus.A community college 2.4 miles awayMcLennan Community College in Waco: tuition and fees $3,660 a year for Texas residents.In-state price at Navarro CollegeLiving in Texas, Navarro College charges $3,008 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $6,578. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 15% of residentsAbove Texas (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Waco

Two private colleges within 4.3 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Navarro College, is 54.1 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miBaylor UniversityTexas State Technical CollegeMcLennanWaco
University or collegeCommunity college
McLennan Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,298 on campus · In Waco$5knet price39%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $3,660 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Baylor UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 17,651 on campus · In Waco51%admitted$41knet price80%graduate$66kearningsSouthern Careers Institute-WacoUniversity or college · For-profit · 205 on campus · In Waco$23knet price45%graduate$27kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Texas State Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,673 on campus · In Waco$14knet price46%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $7,212 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Waco’s median household income ($54,365) falls.

Texas State Technical CollegeIn Waco · sticker $20,752 · tuition $7,212$15,238a year
Navarro College54.1 mi · Corsicana · sticker $18,757 · tuition $3,008$15,625a year
Southern Careers Institute-WacoIn Waco · sticker $27,247$24,123a year
Baylor UniversityIn Waco · sticker $74,226$33,902a year
McLennan Community CollegeIn Waco · sticker $12,920 · tuition $3,660—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →McLennanBaylor UniversitySouthern Careers Institute-WacoTexas State Technical CollegeNavarro College
Baylor University80% graduate$66k earnings$23k typical debt
Texas State Technical College46% graduate$39k earnings$10k typical debt
Navarro College23% graduate$39k earnings$11k typical debt
McLennan Community College39% graduate$39k earnings$10k typical debt
Southern Careers Institute-Waco45% graduate$27k earnings*$9k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Southern Careers Institute-Waco (8).

Majors

What students study in Waco

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Waco’s 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 19%Business 15%Liberal arts 7%Engineering tech 6%Precision production 6%Mechanics & repair 6%Everything else 42%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesMcLennan Community College · 695 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBaylor University · 362 graduates a year
$90k4 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansTexas State Technical College · 288 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
MarketingBaylor University · 253 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralBaylor University · 236 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBaylor University · 223 graduates a year
$86k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBaylor University · 188 graduates a year
$103k4 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/TechniciansTexas State Technical College · 187 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Waco

Is Waco a college town?

No. About 15 of every 100 Waco residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Texas (6). The largest campus in the city, Baylor University, has 17,651 students on campus.

What colleges are in Waco?

Baylor University, Texas State Technical College, McLennan Community College and Southern Careers Institute-Waco are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Waco, and what does it cost?

McLennan Community College in Waco, 2.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,660 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $5,051, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Navarro College cost if we live in Texas?

Tuition and fees are $3,008 a year in-state and $6,578 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $14,283 (under $30,000 income) to $18,257 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Waco. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →