Match #1
East Texas Baptist University
Marshall, TX
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate58%
- 1,352 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Distant
- Acceptance rate 58%, close to 67%
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
The colleges most similar to Howard Payne University are East Texas Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University, and Wayland Baptist University. Howard Payne University admits 67% of applicants and has an average net price of $26,563 a year; 6 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 5 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Howard Payne University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Howard Payne University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Hardin-Simmons University
Abilene, TX
Profile closeness61/100
Admit rate90%
- 1,283 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Midsize
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Match #3
Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX
Profile closeness60/100
Admit rate56%
- 2,041 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Remote
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Match #4
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Belton, TX
Profile closeness53/100
Admit rate96%
- 2,759 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Small
- Average net price $29,143, close to $26,563
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Match #5
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, TX
Profile closeness49/100
Admit rate89%
- 2,403 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Large
- Average net price $25,954, close to $26,563
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Match #6
Baylor University
Waco, TX
Profile closeness15/100
Admit rate51%
- 14,785 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Midsize
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Match #7
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Waxahachie, TX
Profile closeness77/100
Admit rate89%
- 1,479 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 37%, close to 34%
- Average net price $26,425, close to $26,563
Match #8
Arlington Baptist University
Arlington, TX
Profile closeness74/100
Admit rate—
- 284 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 33%, close to 34%
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #9
Paul Quinn College
Dallas, TX
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate40%
- 620 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 28%, close to 34%
- Enrollment 620 students, close to 713
Match #10
Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock, TX
Profile closeness72/100
Admit rate73%
- 1,252 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Large
- Average net price $26,595, close to $26,563
- Acceptance rate 73%, close to 67%
Questions about Howard Payne University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Howard Payne University?
The closest matches to Howard Payne University are East Texas Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University, Wayland Baptist University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and Dallas Baptist University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Howard Payne University hard to get into?
Howard Payne University admitted 67% of its 1,333 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is moderately selective. 5 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Howard Payne University alternatives cost less?
6 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Howard Payne University ($26,563 a year), including Paul Quinn College ($14,147), Hardin-Simmons University ($19,731), and East Texas Baptist University ($23,414). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
