Baylor Undergraduate Academic Programs, Experiences Move Up in 2023 U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings

September 12, 2022
Baylor University Campus

Baylor University campus. (Morty Ortega/Baylor University)

Undergraduate entrepreneurship tops in Texas; Baylor No. 2 among Big 12 universities, in top five in Texas; gets high marks in First-year Experience, Learning Communities, Undergraduate Teaching and Research, Most Innovative Schools, among others

Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-709-5959
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WACO, Texas (Sept. 12, 2022) – Baylor University’s transformational undergraduate academic programs and experiences were the major highlights in the latest Best Colleges rankings for 2023 released today by U.S. News & World Report.

One of the top highlights in this year’s U.S. News rankings is how well Baylor scored across the board among in the “Programs to Look For” category. U.S. News defines these as well-regarded academic programs that, research shows, are linked to student success and positive learning outcomes while fostering a successful undergraduate student experience. These program rankings came from college presidents, provosts and admissions deans who were asked to name the top standout schools in each category.

Baylor made major strides forward in these categories:

  • No. 10 for First-year Experience 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. 16 for Learning Communities for providing students the opportunity to live with peers in a residential living-learning center who share a common academic interest or hobby.
  • No. 16 for Best Undergraduate Teaching for strong commitment by faculty and administrators to teaching undergraduate students in a high-quality manner.
  • No. 20 for Most Innovative Schools for making the most innovative improvements towards curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology and facilities.
  • No. 21 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 other product that can be formally presented on or off campus.
  • No. 46 for Best Colleges for Veterans for participation in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members access an affordable college education.

For the 11th consecutive year, Baylor is the No. 2 ranked university in the Big 12 and among the top five in Texas at No. 77, behind only Rice (No. 15), the University of Texas at Austin (No. 38), Texas A&M (No. 67) and SMU (No. 72) and ahead of TCU (No. 89), Kansas (No. 121), Iowa State and Oklahoma (No. 127), the University of Texas at Dallas (No. 151), Kansas State (No. 166), Oklahoma State (No. 182), Texas Tech (No. 219) and West Virginia (No. 234). Baylor was one point away from a No. 72 ranking and two points away from No. 67 due to ties.

“It’s rewarding to have our peer institutions and others recognize Baylor’s high-quality undergraduate programs and how much we deeply value the undergraduate student experience, from the first year on campus to sharing academic pursuits and interests in living-learning centers to our faculty’s outstanding teaching, innovation and research opportunities for students,” said Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. “Baylor is a Christian Research 1 university with a distinct and compelling mission, including providing our students with a transformational academic education and co-curricular experience that prepares the whole person for worldwide leadership and service.”

Baylor ranked undergraduate programs

Baylor’s highest ranked program is undergraduate entrepreneurship, which moved up to No. 8 nationally in the U.S. News rankings. Located within the Hankamer School of Business, Baylor undergraduate entrepreneurship also is the top-ranked program in Texas, ahead of the UT-Austin (No. 9), University of Houston (No. 12) and TCU (No. 25). Baylor’s undergraduate accounting program also moved up 13 places to No. 44 nationally while the overall undergraduate business programs in the Hankamer School of Business moved up to No. 64 in the nation.

In other academic program rankings, the undergraduate nursing programs in Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing moved up to No. 39 in the U.S. News national rankings while the undergraduate engineering and computer science programs in the School of Engineering and Computer Science, which now offer doctoral programs as well, are ranked No. 104 and No. 114 respectively.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

ABOUT THE HANKAMER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business strives to further God’s kingdom through the realm of business, using God-given gifts and academic talents to do so. Faculty and students conduct purposeful research and participate in experiential learning opportunities, all while operating in a Christ-centered mission. Undergraduate students can choose from 13 major areas of study. Graduate students can earn their MBA on their terms, either through the full-time, online or a Dallas-based executive program. The Business School also offers three Ph.D. programs in Information Systems, Entrepreneurship or Health Services Research. The School’s top-ranked programs make up approximately 25 percent of the University’s total enrollment. Visit baylor.edu/business for more information.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY LOUISE HERRINGTON SCHOOL OF NURSING

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) located in Dallas, Texas, was established in 1909 as a diploma program within Baylor Hospital in Dallas, which is now Baylor Scott & White Health’s Baylor University Medical Center, and in 1950 became one of the six degree-granting schools of Baylor University. The first Baccalaureate degrees were granted in 1952, establishing the School among the earliest baccalaureate nursing programs in Texas. In 1999, the School was renamed the Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing after Louise Herrington Ornelas, a 1992 Baylor Alumna Honoris Causa, who made an endowment gift to the School. The LHSON offers Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees through Traditional, FastBacc® (one-year accelerated) and Distance Accelerated BSN programs. Plus, the LHSON offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with tracks that include Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse-Midwifery, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Executive Nurse Leadership and U.S. Army Anesthesia Nursing (USAGPAN), which operates at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. U.S. News & World Report‘s 2022 Best Graduate Schools rankings include several LHSON programs, including the DNP at No. 60 nationally; “Best Nursing” specialty rankings for LHSON’s USAGPAN at No. 8; and Baylor’s Nurse-Midwifery program at No. 21. To learn more, visit baylor.edu/nursing.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor’s School of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) has been preparing its students for more than 25 years as innovators for worldwide impact by training graduates for professional practice and responsible leadership with a Christian view. Students can choose from majors including bioinformatics, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, general engineering and mechanical engineering. ECS also offers graduate programs in all areas of study within the School. We stand out from the crowd through Christian commitment, a strong community, expert accessibility, leading practical experience and teamwork. Visit baylor.edu/ecs to learn more and follow on Facebook at facebook.com/BaylorECS and on Instagram at @Baylor_ECS.