Class Of 2008

Baylor has enrolled the fourth-largest, most diverse and most accomplished freshman class in the University's history, according to official 12th day enrollment statistics compiled by the Office of Institutional Research and Testing.
The fall freshman class of 2,785 students -- up 107 students from fall 2003 -- also is the University's most academically qualified freshman class in history, with an average SAT of 1190, compared with last year's average SAT of 1179. The Class of 2008 also is the most diverse, with a minority student population of 30.3 percent, up from 25.5 percent last fall. Baylor also enrolled 425 transfer students this fall, an increase of five students over last year.
There were a record number of 10,971 applications for the fall 2004 freshman class, yielding an acceptance rate of 72.4 percent, compared with 81.9 percent last year.
"Through the efforts of many people -- including faculty, staff, alumni and friends -- Baylor has enrolled an outstanding freshman class," said Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr. "I am pleased that it not only is one of our largest freshman classes ever, but it also is the strongest class academically and the most ethnically diverse in the history of the University."
Total enrollment at the 12th class day was 13,799, a decrease of 138 students from last fall's enrollment of 13,937.
Overall, Baylor has enrolled 11,580 undergraduates, 1,297 graduate students, 424 in the School of Law and a record 391 students in George W. Truett Theological Seminary. At the U.S. Army Academy of Health Sciences in San Antonio, where Baylor has graduate programs in health care administration and physical therapy, 99 students are enrolled. In addition, eight students are enrolled in the doctor of science in physical therapy (DScPT) program at West Point, another degree program operated jointly by Baylor and the U.S. Army.
Baylor returned 8,328 undergraduate students this fall, which is down 254 from last year. The retention rate for the 2003 freshman class is 82.2 percent, compared with 84 percent for the fall 2002 entering class. Last year's freshman class included a larger number of provisional students. This year's provisional student enrollment is 263 or 9.4 percent, compared with 362 or 13.5 percent last year. The Baylor Board of Regents has recommended that provisional students continue to comprise approximately 10 percent of the entering class.
'Officials say factors affecting the number of returning students include a smaller number of entering freshmen in both 2002 and 2003, an increase in the number of Baylor students graduating in four years or less and a slight decrease in the retention of the 2003 freshman class.