Baylor University
Baylor University is a private Baptist research university located in Waco, Texas, USA. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas, it is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas and the world's largest Baptist university . The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity," placing it among the top research institutions in the country and one of only 52 private universities with this distinction . Baylor enrolls approximately 20,800 students, including over 15,000 undergraduates and 5,600 graduate students, representing all 50 states and more than 90 countries . Its 1,000-acre campus is located along the Brazos River, situated between the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and Austin along the I-35 corridor . Baylor offers over 140 undergraduate programs and more than 80 graduate and doctoral programs through 12 academic divisions, including the College of Arts & Sciences, Hankamer School of Business, School of Engineering and Computer Science, School of Education, School of Music, and the Louise Herrington School of Nursing . The university is particularly recognized for its programs in law, business, and health sciences. Its athletic teams, the Bears, compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Big 12 Conference, with 19 varsity sports and a storied tradition in track and field that has produced nine Olympic gold medals . The university's motto is "Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana, Pro Mundo" (Latin for "For the Church, For Texas, For the World") .
University Overview
In 1849, Baylor became the first institution in Texas and the second west of the Mississippi River to offer law instruction, with R.E.B. Baylor and Abner S. Lipscomb of the Texas Supreme Court teaching the "science of law" . The first female graduate, Mary Kavanaugh Gentry, earned her degree in 1855, though the university later separated into all-male and female institutions for several decades . During the Civil War, George Washington Baines (maternal great-grandfather of future U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson) served as president, working to sustain the university while male students enlisted in the Confederate Army .
In 1886, Baylor moved from Independence to Waco, merging with Waco University, with Rufus Columbus Burleson (Baylor's second president) leading the combined institution . The university became coeducational again around 1887. In 1903, Baylor acquired the University of Dallas Medical Department, creating the Baylor College of Medicine (which later moved to Houston in 1943 and became independent in 1969) . During World War II, Baylor participated in the V-12 Navy College Training Program .
Baylor first admitted Black students in 1964, with Robert Gilbert becoming the first Black graduate . In 1991, the board gained partial independence from the Baptist General Convention of Texas . In 2015-2016, the university faced significant controversy following an external review of its handling of sexual assault cases, leading to the firing of President Ken Starr and head football coach Art Briles . More recently, in 2021, the university released an independent historical report acknowledging past slave ownership and support for the Confederacy by its founders, including R.E.B. Baylor . Linda Livingstone became president in 2017, leading Baylor to achieve R1 research classification and expanding its global motto to include "Pro Mundo" in 2024
Popular Programs
Business, Pre-med, Law, Engineering, Music
Tuition Fees
$50,000 - $55,000/year
Scholarships
Presidential Gold Scholarships, Baylor Excellence Scholarships, Founders Gold Scholarships, Transfer Merit Awards
Admission Requirements
GPA 3.5+, ACT 26-32/SAT 1240-1420, Personal Statement, Letters of Recommendation
