Baylor Climbs in U.S. News Rankings

Baylor is once again among the nation’s top 50 private universities and top 100 national universities, according to U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings. Baylor’s first-year experiences for students jumped to No. 4 nationally while its learning communities landed in the Top 10, highlighting Baylor’s transformational undergraduate academic programs and experiences. 

No. 4 for 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. The University also is building upon the first-year experience to integrate similar opportunities into each sequential year that strengthen academic progress as well as the mental, physical and spiritual health of all students.

No. 9 for Learning Communities for providing students who share a common academic interest the opportunity to live with peers in a residential setting. 

No. 10 for Undergraduate Entrepreneurship, among the three highest-ranked programs in Texas for its faculty engagement, research and hands-on learning.

No. 27 for Best Undergraduate Teaching for a strong commitment by faculty and administrators to teaching undergraduate students in a high-quality manner.

No. 38 for Most Innovative Schools for making the most innovative developments toward curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology and facilities.

No. 40 for 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 product.