Wayland Baptist Closes Amarillo Campus After 50 Years
The university has stopped new enrollment at its Amarillo location and will shift remaining instruction primarily online.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Higher Education
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Wayland Baptist University closed its Amarillo location after 50 years, stopping new enrollment effective Wednesday. Instruction at the site will shift primarily online, with advising and financial aid provided through the Lubbock campus.
Why it matters
The closure affects current students in Amarillo who must now complete their programs through online instruction or other campuses. The Board of Trustees cited market changes as the reason for the decision.
The Amarillo location operated for 50 years before closing, and the university was established in 1908. Enrollment numbers and the count of affected students were not disclosed.
The players
Wayland Baptist University
A private Baptist university founded in 1908 and headquartered in Plainview, Texas, with extension campuses in Lubbock, San Antonio, Hawaii, and Tucson, Arizona.
Christy Reed
Dean of the Lubbock Campus of Wayland Baptist University, overseeing the transition of Amarillo students and services.
The details
Current students will work individually with the university to review degree requirements, course availability, and options for finishing their programs. Advising is available in person, by phone, virtually, and by email, while Lubbock Campus Dean Christy Reed oversees the transition.
Timeline
Wednesday (November 4, 2026): New enrollment at the Amarillo location stops.
December 31, 2026: The teach-out process begins for current students.
Campus Footprint
The closure follows a pattern in which regional extension campuses are consolidated into a central hub and online delivery, leaving Amarillo students to rely on Lubbock services. The university's Board of Trustees attributed the decision to market changes rather than a specific financial crisis.
Amarillo students who were enrolled must plan how to finish their degrees through online classes, Lubbock advising, or another campus. Those considering Wayland Baptist should note that new enrollment at the Amarillo location has ended.
The takeaway
Students affected by the closure should contact the university's advising office early to review degree requirements and course options before the teach-out period begins.
What happens next
Current students face a teach-out process beginning December 31, 2026.
Further reading
For more on how regional campuses are changing, see Higher Education coverage in Amarillo.
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