Baylor in Deeds Strategic Plan Underscores Actions Taken by Baylor Board of Regents

Contact: Lori Fogleman, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-709-5959
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During its regular February meeting, the Baylor University Board of Regents took several actions that will provide the foundation for an aggressive implementation of the University’s new strategic plan – Baylor in Deeds. Affirmed by the Board last May, Baylor in Deeds will guide the University through 2030 as it seeks to cement its status as the preeminent Christian research university with a global perspective and biblical calling.

“Baylor has a unique opportunity to shine God’s light around the world and to serve others with the new strategic plan, Baylor in Deeds, as our guide,” said Board of Regents Chair William “Bill” E. Mearse, B.B.A. ’78, M.B.A. '79, of Houston. “The actions taken by the Board of Regents this week will only positively impact our ability to fulfill our mission to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence within a caring Christian community. Our students will always be our top priority, and we will continue to prepare them to lead now and into the future in an ever-changing global environment.”

Two new academic degrees added

Regents approved the University’s second and third new undergraduate degrees since 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering in Baylor’s School of Engineering and Computer Science and a Bachelor of Philosophy in Great Texts within the Honors College. A year ago, Baylor added a new bachelor’s degree in computer science, as engineering and computer science have been identified as priority growth areas under Baylor in Deeds.

The demand for aerospace engineers in Texas continues to grow, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting that the number of aerospace engineering jobs will increase by 6% in the 10 years beginning in 2023, which is above the average growth rate for all occupations. Furthermore, the addition of this degree program reflects the significant aerospace industry not only in Texas, but in the Waco area with L3Harris and SpaceX having major facilities locally that are positioned to provide hands-on learning and research opportunities for students.

Baylor has a long history of honors education dating back to 1959 and with the creation of the Honors College in 2002. The new Bachelor of Philosophy in Great Texts will unite honors-level study, interdisciplinarity and baccalaureate research under one degree program. The Baylor Career Center reports a 100% placement rate for Honors College graduates, earning acceptances into prestigious law and medical schools, graduate programs, corporate positions and public service roles.

Board affirms ‘Extend the Line’ scholarship initiative, sets 2025-26 tuition

The Board renewed its commitment to maintaining the affordability of a Baylor education, while also recognizing the uncertainties and financial pressures that have impacted higher education. Baylor’s costs have grown to include increased competition in recruiting undergraduate students; greater compensation, benefits and healthcare expenditures to identify, recruit and retain faculty and staff; higher costs to operate and maintain facilities and utilities; increases in contracted services; and growing external requirements.

Balancing affordability with enhancing Baylor’s nationally ranked undergraduate student experience and continued growth as a Christian Research 1 university, the Regents took two specific actions, in addition to reiterating the need to maximize campus operational efficiencies and strategically reallocate budgets across all colleges, schools and divisions.

First, the Board affirmed the launch of a $250 million Extend the Line scholarship initiative aligned with the Baylor in Deeds strategic plan that will support both short-term and long-term strategies to make a Baylor education accessible and affordable for many more current and prospective students.

The Regents signed a ceremonial piece of “the line” to illustrate the Board’s support of the Extend the Line scholarship initiative as well as to signify their intent to personally contribute financially to the effort. 

Second, the Board approved an increase in Baylor’s tuition and fees for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year. After accounting for financial aid and extensive need-based and merit scholarship opportunities, the average net out-of-pocket increase in tuition and fees per incoming student is expected to be $2,255 annually.

To assist current students, prospective students and their families in managing this increase in tuition and fees – in addition to the launch of the Extend the Line scholarship initiative – Baylor will:

• Increase scholarship funding by $5 million to provide assistance for returning students with demonstrated financial hardship. 
• Extend some form of financial aid to more than 90% of students, which means the large majority of students will not pay the full sticker price to attend the University. The sticker price for Baylor’s tuition and fees will increase from $58,100 in 2024-25 to $63,620 next year.
• Remain focused on the median out-of-pocket price for a Baylor education for students and families with a household income of $300,000 or less. Baylor’s median out-of-pocket price has either remained constant or decreased for this income group annually since 2019.
• Continue the Baylor Benefit Scholarship – now in its third year – which covers tuition and fees for incoming students with demonstrated financial need and an adjusted household income of $50,000 or less.
• Identify campus operational efficiencies that will allow for the strategic reallocation of approximately $10 million.

“Increasing tuition and fees is never easy for our University administration and the Board of Regents, but by any metric Baylor continues to remain a distinct value in higher education as a Christian R1 university,” Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., said. “When you compare Baylor’s tuition to private schools of similar U.S. News & World Report rankings or across private ‘Power 4’ schools, we are an incredible value with our tuition level sitting near the bottom of the list.”

For the third year in a row, U.S. News’ rankings placed Baylor among a prestigious short list of universities – along with schools like Duke, Michigan, Princeton, Stanford and Yale – to make its top 30 for both undergraduate teaching and undergraduate research. Baylor was ranked No. 26 nationally for undergraduate teaching and No. 23 for undergraduate research/creative projects. No other Texas school made the top 30 in both categories; Baylor also is the only school with an explicit, primary identity as a Christian university to make both lists.

“We understand we must continue to be good stewards of the tuition dollars entrusted to us by students and their families. This is why Value, Affordability and Completion has been identified as a key imperative that runs throughout Baylor in Deeds, and one of the plan’s four major commitments involves Stewardship,” said Livingstone.

Board approves fees for Baylor Energy Complex, funding for final residence hall renovation

Outlined in Baylor in Deeds, the Baylor Energy Complex (BEC) and underground energy distribution network have outlived their estimated lifespan and no longer deliver optimal services to campus, nor provide capacity for future campus growth. The Board approved $8 million for fees and support services to conduct the initial evaluation needed to determine the most effective path forward for the University in securing and operating a new energy complex in the years ahead.

The Board also approved an additional $25 million for Phase II of renovations to Kokernot Residence Hall, where construction is scheduled to begin in May with completion anticipated in July 2026. When this project is completed, Baylor will finish the master plan it began in 2013 to renovate the University’s 10 existing residence halls, which remains a key component of Baylor’s renowned student experience.

Affirmation of Student Regents; Alumni-Elected Regent

Baylor Regents approved Spencer Yim, an Honors College sophomore from Connecticut majoring in political science with minors in Chinese and history and a concentration in economics, as a first-term, non-voting new Student Regent. Yim will begin service on June 1.

The Board affirmed for a second-term Student Regent Meghan Fletcher, B.S.F.C.S. ’20, M.S.Ed. ’22, who will now be a voting member of the Board. Fletcher is currently a doctoral candidate in higher education and leadership from Lawrence, Kansas.

Finally, the Board also affirmed Orhue Odaro, M.D. (B.S. ’11) of Houston; assistant professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center, who was elected by Baylor alumni to a three-year term as an Alumni-elected Regent. Her term will begin on June 1.

Dr. Odaro received 1,761 votes of the 3,625 Baylor graduates who voted in the spring election, which was administered and certified by YesElections. Other alumni-elected Regent candidates included:

• Barbara Calhoun Cargill, B.S.Ed. ’82, M.S.Ed., of Conroe, Texas; president of Cargill Consulting & Training; and
• Michael Griffin, B.B.A. 93, M.B.A. ’00, of Lewisville, Texas; principal with Transwestern.

President Livingstone’s regular report

The Board also received a report from President Livingstone in which she highlighted Baylor retaining its status as an R1 university in the latest Carnegie Classifications released by the American Council on Education; Baylor’s leadership role in the changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics; key administrative searches; and the positive financial impact for Baylor and the City of Waco with the recently announced concerts at McLane Stadium and Foster Pavilion.

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 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.