Baylor Named a Best College for Future Leaders
Baylor is again on TIME's list of top U.S. universities that excel in nurturing highly influential leaders
Baylor business students engage with faculty about study abroad and internship opportunities during the Global Engagement Expo at the Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, home of the Hankamer School of Business. (Robert Rogers/Baylor University)
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For the third consecutive year, Baylor University has been named to TIME Magazine’s list of the Best Colleges for Future Leaders 2026, a ranking measuring universities that excel in nurturing the career trajectories of the nation’s most highly influential leaders. With a mission to “educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment,” Baylor is ranked No. 70 nationally, No. 4 in Texas and No. 5 among Big 12 universities on the Future Leaders list.
TIME, in partnership with Statista, a leading international provider of market and consumer data and rankings, analyzed 4,800 of the most influential U.S. leaders in business, politics, academia, non-profit organizations, creative industries and more. Comprehensive CVs were compiled for each leader, capturing all publicly available information about their educational and professional backgrounds. TIME selected leaders based on their current positions, tracing the paths that led them to these influential roles by highlighting the experiences that contributed to leaders’ advancement.
Overall, the majority of TIME’s Best Colleges for Future Leaders have notable business and law programs and are large research universities. Baylor University meets all three categories with its nationally recognized Hankamer School of Business and Baylor Law School and its classification as a Research 1 university that also is distinctively Christian.
“This achievement reflects how deeply leadership and service are woven into Baylor’s Christian mission. We are proud of our Baylor Alumni, whose experiences at the University shaped habits and virtues that inspire them to lead with purpose, live for human flourishing and pursue a vision that transforms the world.” - President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
“Baylor University is committed to developing leaders who dedicate their lives to service within their professions, and we are honored to be one of TIME’s Best Colleges for Future Leaders,” President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., said. “This achievement reflects how deeply leadership and service are woven into Baylor’s Christian mission. We are proud of our Baylor Alumni, whose experiences at the University shaped habits and virtues that inspire them to lead with purpose, live for human flourishing and pursue a vision that transforms the world.”
Nurturing faithful, authentic leaders
Through the Division of Student Life, Baylor offers students numerous opportunities for students to engage in diverse leadership offerings and discover what it means to lead faithfully and authentically for the “common good” through their unique interests, skills and values.
Students can earn a Certificate in Experiential Leadership, examine leadership experiences in a strategic way through a Leadership Practicum Course and add various leadership minors to their major course of study. Leadership also is integrated within Baylor School of Education’s Leadership, Education and Development Living-Learning Community (LEAD LLC), a multidisciplinary residential learning community rooted in leadership development, academic growth and service to others.
In addition to the University’s overall Future Leaders ranking, Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business was highlighted as a notable subsidiary of the University’s success in this area. The School develops leaders by providing numerous leadership opportunities for business students to practice and hone their skills, from within undergraduate and graduate academic fields and specialized programs such as Business Scholars and Baylor Business Fellows to leadership development and experiences through the Billington Peer Leader Program, Business and Innovation Living-Learning Center, study abroad opportunities, mission trips, multipe student organizations and more.
Developing future business leaders
The Hankamer School of Business has a long history of developing future leaders, enrolling its first students in 1923, with the first graduates earning their B.B.A. degrees in 1925. Today, the Hankamer School of Business continues to cultivate principled leaders to serve the global marketplace through transformational learning and impactful scholarship – all within a culture of innovation guided by Christian values.
"Our commitment to developing principled leaders is rooted in our Christian mission and expressed through the transformational experiences we provide for our students each day. We are proud to prepare future leaders who will influence and serve the global marketplace with integrity.” - Dean David M. Szymanski, Ph.D.
“Our mission at the Business School is to develop leaders through competence and character,” said David M. Szymanski, Ph.D., The William E. Crenshaw Endowed Dean at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business. “Our commitment to developing principled leaders is rooted in our Christian mission and expressed through the transformational experiences we provide for our students each day. We are proud to prepare future leaders who will influence and serve the global marketplace with integrity.”
The Hankamer School of Business has been a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) since 1950 and fully accredited by that body since 1959. Approximately 1,000 business schools in the world have AACSB accreditation, making up only about 6% of all business schools around the globe, thus representing the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide.
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 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.
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% of the University’s total enrollment. Visit the Hankamer School of Business website for more information.