Baylor University
Baylor University is a private Baptist Christian research university in Waco, Texas. Baylor was chartered in 1845 by the last Congress of the Republic of Texas. Baylor is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas and one of the first educational institutions west of the Mississippi River in the United States. Located on the banks of the Brazos River next to I-35, between the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex and Austin, the university's 1,000-acre (400-hectare) campus is the largest Baptist university in the world.[5]
"Baylor College" redirects here. For other uses, see Baylor College (disambiguation).Motto
Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana (Latin)
"For Church, For Texas"
February 1, 1845
$1.97 billion (2023)[1]
1,167 (Fall 2023)[2]
20,824 (Fall 2023)[2]
15,155 (Fall 2023)[2]
5,669 (Fall 2023)[2]
Midsize city,[3] 1,000 acres (4.0 km2)
Green and Gold
[4]
- Judge Lady, Judge Indy, Judge Belle (live bears)
- Bruiser and Marigold (costumed)
As of Fall 2023, Baylor had a total enrollment of 20,824 students (15,155 undergraduate and 5,669 graduate). It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity".[6] The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. Baylor University's athletic teams, known as the Bears, participate in 19 intercollegiate sports. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference in NCAA Division I.
Academic rankings
145–157
257
93 (tie)
357
331
601–700
1001–1200
601–800
372 (tie)
Michael Johnson
Sprinter, winner of four Olympic gold medals and eight World Championships gold medals
With more than 180,000 living alumni, Baylor is represented by notable individuals in an array of public and professional spheres.
Graduates acclaimed for their work in the arts include Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Steven Stucky, GMA Dove Award-winning composer Bruce Greer, Grammy Award-winning Christian recording artist Phil Driscoll, Christian recording artist David Crowder, Grammy-winning Gaither Vocal Band tenor David Phelps, screenwriter and director John Lee Hancock (with works including The Blind Side, nominated for the 2009 Academy Award for Best Picture), screenwriter Derek Haas (with works including 3:10 to Yuma and Wanted, both nominated for multiple Academy Awards), Emmy Award-nominated director Kevin Reynolds, Emmy-winning actress Angela Kinsey (the character of Angela Martin in NBC's The Office), Emmy-nominated actress Allison Tolman, Tony Award-nominated actress Elizabeth A. Davis, actress Carole Cook (a protégé of Lucille Ball), ventriloquist Jeff Dunham, and The Silence of the Lambs writer Thomas Harris.
Also alumni of the university are Chip and Joanna Gaines, who graduated in 1998 and 2001 respectively. They are the stars of the former HGTV show, Fixer Upper and are frequently involved in the Baylor community. In 2020, they left HGTV after being offered an opportunity to develop and star in their own network – Magnolia Network – which began airing in 2021 as part of the Discovery Family of Networks.[91]
Alumni known for leadership in the private and public sectors include People Magazine co-founder Hal C. Wingo, The Weather Channel CFO Jerry Elliott, American Airlines CEO Thomas W. Horton, Western Refining CEO Paul Foster, Allbritton Communications Company (the parent company of Politico) founder Joe Allbritton, XTO Energy CEO Bob R. Simpson, chairman of the McLane Group and former owner of the Houston Astros Drayton McLane, Jr., Oracle Corporation CEO Mark Hurd, former chairman and CEO of Stanford Financial Group and convicted fraudster Allen Stanford, EXUSMED CEO and founder of Empowering Spirits Foundation A. Latham Staples, former mayor of San Antonio Phil Hardberger, former Governor of Texas Ann Richards, former Governor of Texas Mark Wells White Jr., former Federal Bureau of Investigation director William S. Sessions, and ninth president of Goucher College Judy Jolley Mohraz.
Professional athletes who graduated from the university include quarterback and 2011 Heisman Trophy-winner Robert Griffin III, Phoenix Mercury WNBA player Brittney Griner, four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson, and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ted Lyons.
Grammy–winning recording artist Willie Nelson, actor Austin Miller and Senator Rand Paul attended Baylor . Former United States Vice President John Nance Garner (Franklin D. Roosevelt President) received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Baylor in 1936.[92] Actor and comedian Bill Cosby received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the university in 2003,[93] which was rescinded in 2015.[94]
For information on notable faculty, staff and other alumni, please see the List of Baylor University people.
Pat Neff Hall, named for the former governor of Texas, Texas Railroad Commission member, and president of Baylor
Bill Daniel Student Center during Christmas
Tidwell Bible Building
Truett Seminary
Mayborn Museum
Burleson Quadrangle
Old Main and Pat Neff Hall
Pat Neff Hall looking west
Statue of Judge Baylor
Another view of Burleson Quadrangle
Baylor Science Building
McLane Stadium
McLane Stadium interior facing south
