Baylor Welcomes Outstanding Class
As the fall semester began, Baylor welcomed its most academically qualified freshman class in the institution’s history.
In addition to its top Academic Index, the 2019 freshman class is among the University’s most diverse freshman classes, with minority enrollment increasing to 37.3 percent and out-of-state freshman enrollment growing to 40 percent.
“This freshman class really signifies that Baylor is building a national and international reputation as we draw outstanding students from around the country and around the world while we pursue Research 1/Tier 1 recognition as the preeminent Christian research university,” President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., said. “Our students are excited to join the Baylor Family, receive a high-quality education, get involved in campus life and engage with our faculty in meaningful ways — from mission trips to study abroad to undergraduate research — in a supportive, faith-based environment.”
While Baylor has enrolled nearly 18,000 students this fall, the University’s enrollment continues to evolve. Undergraduate enrollment held steady at just over 14,000 students while more than 3,700 students have enrolled in the University’s expanding graduate and professional programs, including online programs.
Nationally, the University was ranked highly in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings as well as the 2019 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Ranking.
In the U.S. News rankings, Baylor tied for No. 79 among National Universities, which offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research.
For the eighth straight year, Baylor was the second highest-ranked university in the Big 12 and among the top five overall in Texas, behind only Rice (No. 17), the University of Texas at Austin (No. 48), Southern Methodist University (No. 64) and Texas A&M University (No. 70) and ahead of Texas Christian University (No. 97), the University of Texas at Dallas (No. 147), the University of Houston (No. 185), Texas Tech University (No. 218), and Dallas Baptist University and the University of North Texas (tied at No. 221).
Among its U.S. News specialty rankings:
- No. 8 Best Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Programs.
- No. 8 First-Year Experiences for building into the curriculum first-year seminars or other academic programs that bring small groups of students together with faculty or staff on a regular basis.
- No. 20 Best Undergraduate Teaching for strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.
- No. 22 Writing in the Disciplines for prioritizing the writing process at all levels of instruction and across the curriculum.
- No. 27 Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects for providing opportunities for intensive and self-directed research or creative work, typically mentored by a faculty member, that results in an original scholarly paper or other product that can be formally presented on or off campus.
- No. 42 Most Innovative Schools for making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.
- No. 47 Best Undergraduate Accounting Programs.
- No. 48 Best Colleges for Veterans for participation in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members access an affordable college education.
- No. 66 Best Undergraduate Business Programs.
- No. 75 Best Value Schools for both academic quality and cost.
In the WSJ/THE College Ranking that measures student success and learning, Baylor was ranked No. 4 nationally among universities that create a high level of student engagement, both in the classroom and among students.
This ranking includes the results of the THE U.S. Student Survey, which examined students’ engagement with their studies, interaction with their professors and satisfaction with their experience.