Baylor University

• Founded: 1845 Location: Waco, Texas, USA
• Total number of students: about 20,000
• Type of institution: Private Christian University
• Language of instruction: English.

Baylor University is a private American Christian university, the best in the country in its category. It was founded 180 years ago by local Baptists, and now the university is famous throughout the United States and abroad, educates more than 20,000 people, and is considered the oldest continuously operating university in the state. The founder, Judge R.E.B. Baylor, was involved in writing the first Constitution of the State of Texas (1845), and university leaders helped create the University of Texas (1882) and Texas Tech University (1923).

The American university combines a variety of academic programs and interdisciplinary research, has earned a strong and excellent reputation around the world, and is proud of its teaching staff (almost all teachers are active researchers, combine teaching with scientific work and involve students in it). Here, students are taught to be world leaders — and not just well-educated, but ready to make humanity a better place, to serve the ideals formed in a healthy Christian tradition. The academic environment fuels and motivates students every day: here they are literally charged with new academic (and not only) achievements, actively develop leadership skills, and become closer to scientific discoveries and deep, thorough research.

Baylor students represent 49 states and more than 85 countries. Formally, the university adheres to the Baptist tradition, but this does not mean that only adherents of this religious branch can study here — the university is open to agnostics/atheists, as well as representatives of other cultures and religions (according to the latest statistics, 36 denominations are represented here).

Baylor University students are offered a full range of higher education programs:

• Bachelor's degree (120+ options),
• Master's degree (80+ options),
• Doctoral studies (45+ courses),
• Special course for lawyers,
• Training programs for specialists in the education sector.

Student-to-faculty ratio — 15:1, classes/groups up to 27 people.

Baylor University consists of the following divisions:

• College of Arts and Sciences,
• Diana R. Garland School of Social Work,
• George W. Truett Theological Seminary,
• Graduate School,
• Hankamer School of Business,
• Undergraduate College,
• School of Law,
• Louise Herrington School of Nursing,
• Moody School of Education,
• Robbins College (health sciences, social disciplines),
• School of Engineering and Computer Science,
• School of Music,
• University Laboratories.

On the Baylor campus, 12 residences have been built — 39% of students prefer to live in them. Residents are assigned to houses based on their studying programs — residences roughly "belong" to similar fields. Traditionally, there is a division into female and male residences. Rooms are mainly offered as single or double occupancy, bathrooms can be shared or private.

Freshmen are required to live in campus residences for the first two semesters; subsequently, housing contracts can be concluded for 1-2 years.

Each residence has its own dining hall where a variety of healthy and tasty dishes are served throughout the day. Freshmen are required to purchase one of the meal plans, but many students continue to choose a plan that is convenient for them, as there are indeed many options available. There is a separate category of meal plans for upperclassmen — Lifestyle, including those living off campus.

More than 330 clubs, organizations and communities operate at Baylor University, including 40 student fraternities and sororities.

Students perform excellently in sports — the Baylor Bears teams (the university mascot is a bear) are members of NCAA Division I and participate in the Big 12 Conference. There are 19 sports represented, and students have achieved truly outstanding results in many of them:

• Men's Basketball — NCAA champions in 2021,
• Women's Basketball — NCAA champions in 2005, 2012, and 2019,
• Men's Tennis — NCAA champions in 2004.

In addition:

• Baseball,
• Cross Country,
• Football,
• Golf,
• Track & Field,
• Acrobatics and Cheerleading,
• Soccer,
• Equestrian,
• Softball,
• Volleyball.

Among the alumni are 4 Olympic champions (who have earned a total of 10 gold medals). Baylor has finished first or second in the Big 12 championships 13 times since 2010 and has won 88 competitions over the past 25 years.

More than 150,000 hours are devoted to volunteer and charitable work each year — the university collaborates with many regional and national organizations: Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, BearAid Disaster Relief, Habitat for Humanity (by the way, this was the first branch of the organization at the university). A pro bono legal service is open, providing free services to local residents — thus students from the Law School can practice on real cases and benefit the local community.

• It is among the top 7% in the country according to the National Merit Scholars program.
• It is one of the top 10% of colleges and universities in the USA with a Phi Beta Kappa department (this is the oldest, very honorable student academic community).
• The Carnegie Commission classifies Baylor as a university with very high research activity (Doctoral University: Very High Research Activity), and has awarded it a Research 1 institution rating (starting in 2021).
• Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and the Schools Commission on Colleges. U.S. News & World Report: top 100 universities in the USA, top 50 private universities. The categories "Caring for first-year students", "Learning communities", "Innovative faculties", and "Teaching at the undergraduate level" are highlighted separately.
• Kiplinger's (2018): top 100 universities in the USA in terms of price and quality.
• It is regularly included in the national top 100 universities eligible to award a PhD degree (according to U.S. News & World Report).
• U.S. News (2020) separately noted several university master's courses: law, business, healthcare, nursing, education, and natural sciences.
• The Princeton Review noted the entrepreneurship program, placing it in 5th place in the national ranking, separately assessing the huge number of successful startups among graduates.
• According to Time, it is one of the top 100 American colleges for future leaders.
• Since 2010, law school students have already become leaders in the Texas State Bar Exam 10 times in the state of Texas (the highest percentage of passing the professional license exam).
• Since 2018, law students have held the first place (according to the ABA, the American Bar Association) in terms of the number of exams passed on their first attempt.
• The first law school in Texas has opened on the Baylor University campus.
• BRIC (Scientific and Innovative Collaboration Project) supports graduate students of the School of Engineering and Computer Science, actively develops and promotes new technologies, and helps interested partners implement them.
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute has appointed the university as a member of the Science Education Alliance, which is engaged in scientific projects on a national scale.
• Diana R. Garland School of Social Work is a co—founder of the Texas Hunger Initiative.
• The Chronicle of Higher Education, in its ranking of Great Colleges to Work For, noted Baylor University in 11 categories as an excellent employer.
• The Fiske Guide to Colleges has included the university in its ranking of the top 44 universities and colleges in the United States. It is ranked in the national top 10 by the Fulbright U.S. Scholarship Program, ranks 1st in Texas.

The campus is located in Waco, a large city in Texas, and occupies 10 000 acres on the picturesque banks of the Brazos River. There is a large chapel on the territory, old and very beautiful, and separate divisions also have their own chapels and prayer rooms.

Sports are highly valued at Baylor, so the sports infrastructure is truly impressive:

• Large fields and stadiums for games: Magnolia Field, Foster Pavillion, Betty Lou Mays Field, Allison Indoor, Ferrell Center, Fudge Football, McLane, Getterman,
• Billy W. Wilson golf course,
• Tennis courts (indoor and outdoor),
• Clyde Hart track stadium,
• Willis Family equestrian center,
• Simpson Athletics Center,
• Gyms,
• Health and nutrition center,
• Football club with a gym.

The university supports its students in all areas and matters — the following operate on campus:

• Baylor Line Camp,
• Career Center,
• Counseling Center,
• Bill Daniel Student Center,
• New student support program (for example, they organize welcome events Welcome Week),
• Resident program for teachers (with accommodation on campus),
• Paul L. Foster Success Center,
• Title IX Office,
• Veterans Support and Education Center.

The campus has an excellent library system: a huge archive, digital databases, the Mayborn Museum (collections of cultural objects, biological, gemological).

The academic year at Baylor is divided into three semesters: fall, spring, and summer.

1. Application and basic information submission.
2. If possible — a campus visit, online interview or virtual campus tour.
3. Scholarship and grant selection, if necessary.
4. In case of positive decision — visa preparation (the university sends an invitation), receiving arrival instructions.

According to the latest admissions campaign (Fall 2025):

• 3552 first-year students were enrolled,
• The total number of students is — 19 858 people (14 000+ in bachelor's programs and 5600+ in master's programs and professional courses),
• 65% of students are from the state of Texas.

According to statistics collected since 2020, 73% of graduates were successfully employed or continued their education within just 3 months of receiving their diploma, and 92% — within 6 months. According to the alumni organization, more than 100,000 Baylor diploma holders are currently successfully working in the state of Texas.

• A fully completed application (without missing information) is submitted online,
• Essay,
• Confirmation of academic level: STARS, transcript and certificate from school (must be marked with a GPA),
• SAT and ACT test results, optional and available — CLT, Resume,
• 2 letters of recommendation,
• A small motivation letter.

In 2025, Baylor launched the Extend the Line initiative: a $250 million scholarship fund designed for 5 years (until 2030). Private donations from individuals and organizations are accepted here, and private named scholarships are established.

Since 1972, the TEG program has been operating at the university, helping students from low-income families in the state receive education at private universities. TEG also helps students who are the first in their families to receive higher education. The scholarship can reach up to $5000 per year; they have already helped 27,000 students.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision