Frequently Asked Questions

Since you already have a goBAYLOR account through participating in Accelerate, we suggest that you apply using the Baylor web application. If you apply with the CommonApp or through ApplyTexas, it could create a duplicate record that may cause you some headaches!

Yes, Accelerate2Baylor students will complete the freshman application like other students who apply to Baylor. Accelerate2Baylor students may choose whichever admission plan they like regardless of their participation in Accelerate2Baylor. Accelerate2Baylor students who accomplished a 3.0 GPA and apply early will be reviewed in the first round of admissions reviews. Admissions decisions should go out in early October!

You do not have to let us know that you participated in Accelerate or Accelerate2Baylor on your application. If you would like to mention your participation in Accelerate, you can do so in your short essay answer. You may also list it on your SRAR, if you complete one.

For admissions purposes, your Accelerate grades will not impact your decision if you earn lower than a 3.0 GPA from Baylor. However, it is important to remember that Accelerate courses result in a college transcript, and doing poorly in your Accelerate classes will affect your college GPA.

For your Baylor application, you will not need to include your Accelerate transcript. If you are applying to a different university, you may order an official transcript through BearWeb. Once you login to BearWeb, you will go to Student Academic Services - Student Records - Transcripts. You will have the chance to view your unofficial transcript or order an official one via Parchment.

Courses are $750 per credit hour. Most courses are 3-4 hours of credit, so the Accelerate courses are between $2,250-3,000 a class. Other potential costs include textbooks or additional lab fees.

Once you are registered for a term, the student (and any designated Authorized Users) will receive an email from the Student Accounts Office as soon as the official billing statement becomes available. NOTE: You will only receive one official billing invoice per term, so be certain to record the due date at that time. Further information can be found on the One Stop Student Financial Services website.

You can view your bill in Baylor’s E-Bill System and either pay in full or enroll in a payment plan (for Fall or Spring terms only). Students may pay online through an electronic check from a checking or savings account, a wire transfer or with a major credit card. Other options include mailing a personal check or paying your bill in person.

Authorized Users receive email notifications when statements are made available online. They may log into the E-Bill System using their own valid email address to view statements and make payments. We strongly recommend granting a parent or guardian access to view your statements and 1098-T tax statements, as well as make payments to your online student account. Visit the One Stop Student Financial Services website to learn more about Authorized User Access.

Since the Accelerate courses are already heavily discounted, we do not offer financial aid for Accelerate courses. Courses are $750 per credit hour. Most courses are 3-4 hours of credit, so the Accelerate courses cost between $2,250-3,000 a class: a savings of $1,300 per hour!

Yes, all accepted students must pay a $100 deposit by the specific deadline stated in the student's goBAYLOR account. Once the deposit is processed, students can access their next steps in goBAYLOR. The deposit will count toward your semester bill. The enrollment deposit is refundable if a request for a refund is submitted by the student's specific deadline in the student's goBAYLOR account. Deposits are not transferable to future semesters. 

• Accelerate allows participants to get a head start on their college courses while in enrolled in high school
• Participants begin earning Baylor courses at a great value
• Accelerate prepares students for the rigor of Baylor and other college classes
• Accelerate courses, if completed successfully, will demonstrate students' ability to perform in college-level courses
• Some research shows that when students are exposed to college coursework while in high school, it is more likely that they will attend college and persist through to graduation.
• Baylor's Accelerate students are investing in a valuable transcript from a private, Christian research University with an international reputation for academic excellence.

Accelerate is the general pre-college program that allows high school students to take Baylor classes online while they’re still in high school. Accelerate2Baylor is a special program for students who want to earn freshman admission to Baylor. Students have two track options to earn admission: the summer before their senior year and their junior year + summer before their senior year. To learn more about the two tracks and what is required to earn admission, go to the Accelerate2Baylor page.

• Pre-college grades are part of a students' permanent college record and if not successful may hurt a students' college admission opportunities
• If Accelerate students choose to not attend Baylor, courses are not guaranteed to transfer to other universities

College courses may seem intimidating, but Baylor has a wealth of resources to help you adjust quickly to thinking like a college student. Now is the time to review the following links so that you can hit the ground running on day one of classes.

• Time Management
• Video: How College Differs from High School
• Study Strategies - Academic Support

As a Baylor student, you may access the services of our Paul L. Foster Success Center where you'll find tutoring and learning labs as well as writing help in all areas of writing and composing. You can learn more about these resources at:

• Baylor Learning Lab
• Writing Center
• Academic Support Programs

We would love the opportunity to work with you and your students as they prepare for college. If you would like to discuss how your school might become an affiliate school, contact Kristy Brischke at Kristy_Brischke@baylor.edu. 

Taking Accelerate courses gives high school students a taste of how college courses are structured through lecture, small group discussion, and other class assignments. Students will be taught online by Baylor faculty in a friendly and flexible environment.

You should receive your decision within a few weeks of submitting your application.

Online summer classes are taught using a variety of methods, depending on the type of course. Some courses may be synchronous, meaning the class meets on specific days of the week at a specified time; for example, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Courses may also be asynchronous, meaning class content delivery is not bound to a specific daily or weekly schedule. Other classes may be a hybrid. For example, a course could include pre-recorded lectures that are accessible to students and also have a standard class meeting time for discussion between students and the professor. No matter how the course content is delivered, all Baylor online classes provide students with a rich academic experience, the opportunity to engage with top-notch faculty and a chance to form relationships with other Baylor students.

Your academic advisor will provide you with guidance on what courses would be best for you to take based on your goals and interests. Specific information about how a course will be taught, as well as the professor's expectations and requirements for the course, will be provided to you in the course syllabus.

Generally speaking, faculty recommend students plan to use 2-3 hours for preparation and study outside of class time for every one-hour of credit they take. So, if a student is taking 6 hours of coursework a week, the recommendation is that they plan for 12 hours to study and prepare.

Students who participate in the program continuously through the fall and spring semesters, or do not attend only the summer semester, need not reapply. Students who do not attend a fall or spring semester will need to submit a new application upon returning to the program.

Most Accelerate courses will transfer to other universities. During advising, students can discuss their future plans to ensure they enroll in courses that will be more likely to transfer. Students can also do their own homework by using the Course Equivalency Tool to research other institutions & transferable courses.

Accelerate students may enroll in no more than 9 hours during the Fall and Spring terms. Self-paced Online Courses (SPOCs) are open to Accelerate students, but students are limited to one SPOC per term.

If a rising high school senior earns a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better while completing at least 9 Baylor course hours in the SUMMER prior to their senior year, and their school record demonstrates good academic standing throughout high school, they will be considered to have met the academic requirements for admission. They may be admitted early to Baylor after completing a Fall 2024 application (available in August). Admission is contingent on a review of additional information covering behavioral and conduct issues.

The Summer Accelerate 2024 application opens on February 1, 2024.

How to Apply

The Summer Accelerate 2024 course schedule is coming soon. Please check back for updates.

Most often, similar courses are offered during each summer session; however, there might be specific courses only offered during one session. When you are exploring your course options, if you click on the course number, you can see when the course is offered. Also, your academic advisor will be able to help you make selections.

Students can participate in both summer sessions, but the maximum number of hours that Accelerate students can complete in the summer is 11 hours and a limit of 7 hours per summer session. You will meet with your advisor for your course selection. It is recommended that you not take a heavy load at first to get a better understanding of college-level rigor. 

Bills for Summer are available on May 1 and due by May 31. If a student registers after May 1 for summer, their bill will be available the following business day and the due date for payment is the last day of the following month. Further information can be found on the One Stop Student Financial Services website.

Consider these recommendations if you're planning to purchase a laptop for school. Using the right technology will help you succeed in the classroom. If you have any questions, please contact Baylor University's Help Desk at 254-710-4357.

There may be class-specific software and applications needed based on the courses you are taking, but all students should get familiar with Canvas. Canvas is how most professors communicate assignments, homework and grades with their classes throughout the semester. Professors publish content to Canvas at their own paces; some classes will be posted sooner than others. You will want to log into your Canvas account to familiarize yourself with the layout and content before the semester begins. You can also download the Canvas app using these links:

• Google Play
• Apple App Store