Is Baylor University a Christian college?

Yes. Baylor University is a Christian college.

What is Baylor University’s Compass Score?

80 out of 100 (grade B). It combines faith (75%) and academics (25%), each rated from official sources.

Christian college

#3 Best Christian colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in America

Baylor University

Waco, TX · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Baptist

Baylor University is a private university in Waco, Texas, founded in 1845. Undergraduates complete two semesters of chapel credit, and a weekly University Chapel Worship service meets in Elliston Chapel. The Arts & Sciences core includes REL 1310 The Christian Scriptures and REL 1350 The Christian Heritage, and the Office of Spiritual Life coordinates chaplains, campus ministries and mission trips.

Campus tour

Baylor College Tour - Full Episode · From the college’s official YouTube channel. Plays from YouTube when you tap it.

Faith life at a glance

In the college’s own words

“The Office of Spiritual Life offers programs, persons, and resources to nurture theological depth, spiritual wholeness, and missional living in students, faculty, and staff.”
Source: spirituallife.web.baylor.edu
“All new students take a one-hour course called New Student Experience in which they explore how faith informs the academic life.”
Source: artsandsciences.baylor.edu
“Explore the numerous chartered religious organizations Baylor has to offer and discover local churches in the Waco area.”
Source: spirituallife.web.baylor.edu

Questions students ask

Do I have to go to chapel?

Undergraduates must earn two chapel credits to graduate.

Source: spirituallife.web.baylor.edu

Where do I find community?

The campus lists more than 40 campus ministries and 70 or more churches in the Waco area, and each residence hall has its own resident chaplain.

Source: spirituallife.web.baylor.edu

Can I serve or go on mission trips?

Eight teams are serving across six countries, and service projects are run through the campus ministry.

Source: spirituallife.web.baylor.edu

Rankings

Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our faith research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list

In America

Show 8 more

In Texas

Show 22 more

Academic Excellence

85 of 100

From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

Graduation rate 35% of score80%
First-year retention 20% of score91%
Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreSAT 1,329 · ACT 29.5
Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of score15 to 1
Instructional spending per student 15% of score$15,852

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Faith scorecard

Each area’s grade and what we found. Tap an area to see the findings and their sources.

Worship and chapel

81 of 100 points · 5 of 7 found

Partly:
Chapel services during the weekOnce a week (University Chapel Worship is a weekly service.)
Sources (1)
1. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Join University Chapel Worship for our weekly service featuring Dr. Charles Ramsey, University Chaplain & Dean of Spiritual Life.”
  University Chapel Worship is a weekly service led by the university chaplain and other speakers.
Yes:
Chapel attendance expected of studentsRequired, with a set number of services each term (Two semesters of chapel credit are required for graduation.)
Sources (2)
1. Your Chapel Requirement | Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu/chapel/your-chapel-requirement · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Undergraduate Baylor students are required to receive two chapel credits in order to graduate.”
  Undergraduates must complete two chapel credits to graduate.
2. Frequently Asked Questions: Baylor's Christian Mission and Identityartsandsciences.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj1321/files/2023-02/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions--Christian%20Identity.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Is Chapel a graduation requirement? Yes.”
  Chapel is a graduation requirement.
Yes:
Student worship nights or praise servicesEvery week (A weekly worship service of a chartered campus ministry is open to all students.)
Sources (1)
1. Chapels We Offer | Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu/chapel/chapels-we-offer · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “This is the weekly worship service of Reformed University Fellowship.”
  A weekly worship service of a chartered campus ministry is open to all Baylor students.
Not enough information:
Prayer opportunities (prayer rooms, prayer groups, days or weeks of prayer)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
Yes:
Campus pastors or chaplains serving studentsFull-time campus pastor or chaplain (A named campus pastor, chaplain or dean of chapel serves students on the college staff.)
Sources (1)
1. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Dr. Charles Ramsey, University Chaplain & Dean of Spiritual Life”
  The university chaplain is also dean of Spiritual Life.
Yes:
A chapel or worship space on campusYes (Elliston Chapel hosts University Chapel Worship; the Bobo Center includes a chapel.)
Sources (2)
1. The Bobo Spiritual Life Center | Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu/about-us/bobo-spiritual-life-center · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “a place to rest and refocus within our chapel”
  The Bobo Spiritual Life Center includes a chapel.
2. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Join University Chapel Worship for our weekly service featuring Dr. Charles Ramsey, University Chaplain & Dean of Spiritual Life.”
  University Chapel Worship is a weekly service led by the university chaplain and other speakers.
Not enough information:
Published weekly schedule of chapel, worship and prayerNot enough information: no verified chapel or worship times are recorded.

Bible and theology

89 of 100 points · 5 of 6 found

Partly:
Bible or theology courses required of all bachelor's students2 courses (REL 1310 and REL 1350 are required in the Arts & Sciences core. Baylor's Interdisciplinary Core may substitute. Other colleges' degree pages list religion requirements that may differ.)
Sources (2)
1. Frequently Asked Questions: Baylor's Christian Mission and Identityartsandsciences.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj1321/files/2023-02/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions--Christian%20Identity.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Why are non-Christians required to take REL 1310: Christian Scriptures and REL 1350: Christian”
  REL 1310 and REL 1350 are required courses for students in the common core.
2. Religion (REL) | Baylor University Academic Catalogcatalog.baylor.edu/undergraduate/courses-instruction/rel · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “An introduction to the Old and New Testaments (their contents, historical backgrounds, and major themes)”
  REL 1310 The Christian Scriptures introduces the Old and New Testaments.
  “An introduction to Christian life and thought, from the early church to the present”
  REL 1350 The Christian Heritage introduces Christian life and thought from the early church to the present.
Yes:
Required courses include study of the Old and New TestamentsRequired of all students (REL 1310 is an introduction to the Old and New Testaments and is required of common core students.)
Sources (1)
1. Religion (REL) | Baylor University Academic Catalogcatalog.baylor.edu/undergraduate/courses-instruction/rel · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “An introduction to the Old and New Testaments (their contents, historical backgrounds, and major themes)”
  REL 1310 The Christian Scriptures introduces the Old and New Testaments.
Partly:
Christian worldview or faith-and-learning courses required1 course (New Student Experience, a one-hour faith-and-learning course, is required of all new students.)
Sources (1)
1. Frequently Asked Questions: Baylor's Christian Mission and Identityartsandsciences.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj1321/files/2023-02/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions--Christian%20Identity.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “All new students take a one-hour course called New Student Experience in which they explore how faith informs the academic life.”
  All new students take a one-hour course on how faith informs academic life.
Yes:
Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in academic or faculty policy)Yes (The official FAQ says faculty teach Christian virtues in the classroom; a general statement rather than a written policy.)
Sources (1)
1. Frequently Asked Questions: Baylor's Christian Mission and Identityartsandsciences.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj1321/files/2023-02/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions--Christian%20Identity.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Do faculty teach Christian virtues in the classroom? Yes.”
  The FAQ states that faculty teach Christian virtues in the classroom.
Yes:
Bible, theology or ministry major offeredYes (Religion, B.A. is offered.)
Sources (1)
1. Religion, B.A. | Baylor University Academic Catalogcatalog.baylor.edu/undergraduate/college-arts-sciences/academic-departments/religion/religion-ba · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Religion, B.A.”
  Baylor offers a Religion B.A.
Not enough information:
A published statement of faithNot enough information: not found in official sources.

Christian community

70 of 100 points · 5 of 7 found

Partly:
Spiritual life staff (pastors, ministers and professional staff)1 to 2 (One named ministry leader on the official home page; resident chaplains are listed separately.)
Sources (1)
1. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Dr. Charles Ramsey, University Chaplain & Dean of Spiritual Life”
  The university chaplain is also dean of Spiritual Life.
Not enough information:
Retreats or spiritual emphasis weeks each yearNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Yes:
Bible studies, small groups and Christian student organizationsMany (More than 40 campus ministries, per the official staff page.)
Sources (1)
1. Contact Our Staff | Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu/campus-ministries-church-connections/contact-our-staff · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “With 40+ campus ministries and 70+ churches in the Waco area”
  Baylor lists more than 40 campus ministries and 70 churches in Waco.
No:
Faculty affirm the college's statement of faithNot required (Faculty are not required to sign a statement of faith.)
Sources (1)
1. Frequently Asked Questions: Baylor's Christian Mission and Identityartsandsciences.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj1321/files/2023-02/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions--Christian%20Identity.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Are faculty required to sign a statement of faith? No, since Baptists are non-creedal”
  Faculty are not required to sign a statement of faith.
Yes:
Faith life in residence halls (hall Bible studies, resident ministry leaders)In every hall (Each residence hall has its own resident chaplain.)
Sources (1)
1. Resident Chaplains | Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu/pastoral-care/resident-chaplains · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Each residence hall on campus has its own resident chaplain.”
  Every residence hall has its own resident chaplain.
Yes:
Help finding a local church (church fairs, rides, partner churches)Yes
Sources (1)
1. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Explore the numerous chartered religious organizations Baylor has to offer and discover local churches in the Waco area.”
  Baylor lists chartered religious organizations and local churches in Waco.
Yes:
Office or senior leader for spiritual life or Christian missionYes
Sources (1)
1. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “The Office of Spiritual Life offers programs, persons, and resources to nurture theological depth, spiritual wholeness, and missional living in students, faculty, and staff.”
  The Office of Spiritual Life provides programs and staff for students, faculty and staff.

Missions and service

73 of 100 points · 5 of 6 found

Yes:
Service or outreach officeYes
Sources (1)
1. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Missions, Service and Public Life strives to shape Baylor's faithful engagement with Waco and the world.”
  Missions, Service and Public Life is the university's service office.
Not enough information:
Service hours or service-learning in the curriculumNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Partly:
Missions trips offered to studentsSome (Teams serve in several countries; it is recorded as available.)
Sources (1)
1. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Eight teams are serving across six countries”
  Eight student teams served across six countries over spring break.
Partly:
Partnerships with local churches and ministries for serviceSome
Sources (1)
1. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Baylor volunteers with the BearAid disaster relief organization served with Texans on Mission”
  Baylor volunteers have served alongside partner organizations on disaster relief.
Partly:
Cross-cultural or global ministry programsSome
Sources (1)
1. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Trips with Baylor Missions combine faithful worldwide service with discipline-specific education.”
  Baylor Missions trips combine worldwide service with academic study.
Yes:
Service explicitly rooted in the Christian missionYes
Sources (1)
1. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “combining their education and vocation with faithful worldwide service empowered by the gospel”
  Mission trips combine education and vocation with faithful worldwide service empowered by the gospel.

Strengths

Two semesters of chapel credit are required, and a weekly University Chapel Worship service is open to all students.
Sources (2)
1. Your Chapel Requirement | Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu/chapel/your-chapel-requirement · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Undergraduate Baylor students are required to receive two chapel credits in order to graduate.”
  Undergraduates must complete two chapel credits to graduate.
2. Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Join University Chapel Worship for our weekly service featuring Dr. Charles Ramsey, University Chaplain & Dean of Spiritual Life.”
  University Chapel Worship is a weekly service led by the university chaplain and other speakers.
Every residence hall has its own resident chaplain.
Sources (1)
1. Resident Chaplains | Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu/pastoral-care/resident-chaplains · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Each residence hall on campus has its own resident chaplain.”
  Every residence hall has its own resident chaplain.
The Arts & Sciences core requires REL 1310 and REL 1350 and a one-hour course on faith and academic life.
Sources (1)
1. Frequently Asked Questions: Baylor's Christian Mission and Identityartsandsciences.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj1321/files/2023-02/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions--Christian%20Identity.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Why are non-Christians required to take REL 1310: Christian Scriptures and REL 1350: Christian”
  REL 1310 and REL 1350 are required courses for students in the common core.
  “All new students take a one-hour course called New Student Experience in which they explore how faith informs the academic life.”
  All new students take a one-hour course on how faith informs academic life.

Concerns

No official page found lists a published statement of faith for the university.
Sources (1)
1. Frequently Asked Questions: Baylor's Christian Mission and Identityartsandsciences.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj1321/files/2023-02/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions--Christian%20Identity.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Are faculty required to sign a statement of faith? No, since Baptists are non-creedal”
  Faculty are not required to sign a statement of faith.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Campus ministry home

Baylor Office of Spiritual Life (The Bobo Spiritual Life Center)

Address: 500 Speight Street, Waco, TX 76798
Location: On campus
Facilities: chapel

View on map ↗

Source: spirituallife.web.baylor.edu, verified Oct. 20, 2026, spirituallife.web.baylor.edu, verified Oct. 20, 2026, spirituallife.web.baylor.edu, verified Oct. 20, 2026

Campus ministry

Baylor Office of Spiritual Life

Sources (1)

Spiritual Life | Baylor Universityspirituallife.web.baylor.edu · verified Oct. 20, 2026
“The Office of Spiritual Life offers programs, persons, and resources to nurture theological depth, spiritual wholeness, and missional living in students, faculty, and staff.”
The Office of Spiritual Life provides programs and staff for students, faculty and staff.

Christian clubs and student life

4 groups and regular activities · 2 on campus, 1 off campus, 1 location not published

Service 1

Missions tripsOff campus
Spring break and summer teams serving around the world.
spirituallife.web.baylor.edu, spirituallife.web.baylor.edu

Clubs and groups 2

Reformed University Fellowship chapelOn campus
Weekly worship service with songs, prayer and Bible teaching.
spirituallife.web.baylor.edu
Campus ministries and church connections
More than 40 chartered campus ministries and 70 churches in Waco.
spirituallife.web.baylor.edu, spirituallife.web.baylor.edu

Worship and prayer 1

University Chapel WorshipOn campus
Weekly; 3:30 to 4:30 pm, with a second service at 5 pm, in Elliston Chapel
Multi-cultural corporate worship service open to all students, faculty and staff.
spirituallife.web.baylor.edu

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the church. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

What families pay, by income

Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.

Average net price by family income
Family income	Price after aid
Up to $30,000	$22,024
$30,001–$48,000	$21,530
$48,001–$75,000	$33,902
$75,001–$110,000	$38,852
Over $110,000	$47,895

Full cost of attendance before aid: $74,226 a year.

Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Value and outcomes
Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS)	15,155
Total students	20,824
Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid	$41,104
Cost of attendance (per year)	$74,226
Median federal debt at graduation	$23,000
Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time	80%
First-year retention	91%
Median earnings 10 years after entry	$65,793
Admission rate	51%
Students receiving Pell grants	12%

Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1200–1400ACT 27–32

Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT	1329
SAT reading & writing	610–700
SAT math	590–700
ACT composite	27–32
Test policy	Considered but not required

Value index: 64 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Earnings by major

Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).

Median earnings by major
Major	Median earnings
Computer science	$128,411
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations	$125,167
Business (general)	$124,434
Finance	$102,812
Accounting	$102,011
Electrical engineering	$100,110
Management information systems	$96,148
Real Estate	$94,027
Mechanical engineering	$92,990
Mathematics	$89,618
Nursing	$89,510
Human resources	$89,102
Entrepreneurship	$86,363
Business administration	$85,961
Managerial economics	$84,808
Engineering (general)	$84,689
Marketing	$78,398
International business	$71,071
Pre-health	$68,460
International relations	$67,484
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations	$67,066
Chemistry	$65,293
Psychology	$65,090
Speech-language pathology	$63,909
Journalism	$63,622
Design	$63,522
Political science	$61,578
Natural resources and conservation	$59,701
Communication studies	$58,915
Social work	$58,293
Sociology	$57,822
Secondary education	$57,434
Biology	$57,155
History	$57,006
Teacher education	$56,476
English	$54,367
Neuroscience	$53,927
General studies	$51,727
Kinesiology and exercise science	$51,273
Anthropology	$50,699
Fine arts	$50,253
Religious studies	$50,002
Biochemistry	$49,661
Family and human development	$46,979
Broadcasting	$46,043
Theatre	$45,706
Foods, Nutrition,	$45,554
Interdisciplinary studies	$44,995
Music	$40,017

Also offered (no earnings published yet): Air Transportation, Allied health, Applied Statistics, Applied mathematics, Area studies, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Classics, Clinical laboratory science, Data Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, Film and video, Geology and earth science, German, Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities, Insurance, Liberal arts, Linguistics, Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other business, management, marketing, and related support services, Philosophy, Physics, Public health, Religious Music and Worship, Romance languages, Science Technologies/Technicians, Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Special education, Statistics, Writing and rhetoric.

Campus facts

School colors
Setting	City
Part-time undergraduates	2%
Undergraduates aged 25 and older	2%
On-campus room and board (per year)	$15,314
Sports	NCAA Division I · Big Twelve Conference
ROTC	Army · Air Force
Study abroad	Offered
Students per faculty member	15 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors. None of this changes the faith grades.

Christian churches nearby

CampusChristian centerOpen a street map ›

No Christian churches are mapped in OpenStreetMap within 3 miles. The map may be incomplete; check a local church directory.

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the church.

Questions families ask

Is Baylor University a Christian college?: Yes. Baylor University is a Christian college.
What is Baylor University’s Compass Score?: 80 out of 100 (grade B). It combines faith (75%) and academics (25%), each rated from official sources.

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My rating and notes

About this school’s data

IPEDS unit ID 223232
Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Baptist
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Baylor University

Campus tour

Faith life at a glance

In the college’s own words

Questions students ask

Rankings

In America

In Texas

Academic Excellence

Faith scorecard

Worship and chapel

Bible and theology

Christian community

Missions and service

Strengths

Concerns

Campus ministry home

Baylor Office of Spiritual Life (The Bobo Spiritual Life Center)

Campus ministry

Christian clubs and student life

Service 1

Clubs and groups 2

Worship and prayer 1

What families pay, by income

Cost and value

Earnings by major

Campus facts

Christian churches nearby

Questions families ask

Ask the school

Reviews

Reach out

My rating and notes

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