Baylor University Named a 2026 Top Veteran School

Contact: Shelby Cefaratti-Bertin, 254-327-8012
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Baylor University has been named a 2026 Top Veteran School by U.S. Veterans Magazine, recognizing Baylor’s continued commitment to supporting veterans and their educational success through the power of community, belonging and purpose.

This fall, Baylor University has enrolled more than 1,800 military-connected students, including veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and the spouses and dependents of military members and veterans. Students are supported in multiple ways at Baylor, from assistance obtaining their educational benefits through the Baylor VA Education Benefits team, to finding community with the Veterans of Baylor student organization, the 2024 Student Veterans of America Chapter of the Year, to ensuring a successful transition through the Veteran Educational and Transition Services (VETS) program in the Paul L. Foster Success Center.
 

 “I am proud that Baylor serves as a launching point for so many veterans as they redefine their identities, discover new purpose and continue their journeys of servant leadership.” - Kevin Davis, VETS program manager

“At its core, Baylor is a caring community dedicated to helping students discover their calling and live lives of meaningful service,” said Kevin Davis, B.A. ’12, a Marine Corps veteran and VETS program manager. “I am proud that Baylor serves as a launching point for so many veterans as they redefine their identities, discover new purpose and continue their journeys of servant leadership.”

Each year, U.S. Veterans Magazine identifies Top Veteran Schools that demonstrate long-term commitment, measurable impact and support for veterans and transitioning service members. Honorees like Baylor share a common goal to create environments where veterans and military-connected individuals can learn, grow and thrive. Factors considered may include military and veteran education benefits, academic and student support, career resources, flexible learning options, campus programs and demonstrated support for veteran and military-connected students.

“Veterans bring experience, leadership and perspective to the classroom,” said Mona Lisa Faris, U.S. Veterans Magazine president. “The right educational environment helps turn those strengths into what comes next.” 

Through the VETS program, Baylor provides personalized support that extends beyond educational benefits, helping veterans navigate the transition from military service to college life and future careers. The VETS team works closely with students to connect them with academic resources, career development opportunities, financial aid guidance, counseling services and a campus community to ensure they receive resources and services tailored to the specific and unique challenges they face.

“One of the greatest challenges veterans face when transitioning from military service is the loss of the structure, community, identity and sense of purpose that are often deeply connected to the uniform they wear,” Davis said. “What makes me especially proud of Baylor University is the way our faculty, staff, students and mission come together to help veterans navigate that transition and thrive in their next chapter.”

Baylor University has a storied history of honoring the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, from the Ring of Honor in front of Pat Neff Hall and statues at McLane Stadium that honor Baylor’s two Medal of Honor recipients, Jack Lummus and John Kane, to Baylor’s memorial lampposts inscribed with the names of Baylor alumni who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country. 

Today, Baylor students are involved in Air Force and Space Force ROTC, a detachment established at Baylor in July 1948, only 10 months after the creation of the Air Force as a separate military unit, and Army ROTC, which was established in 2008 and produces lieutenants for the active Army, the National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves.

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. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.