Baylor Undergraduate Enrollment Has Fallen Again
The university saw a drop in undergraduate students for the fourth consecutive year this fall.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in College Applications
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Baylor University enrolled 13,860 undergraduates for the fall 2026 semester, marking a decrease of 323 students from the previous year. This reflects a four-year downward trend for the Waco campus since enrollment peaked in 2022.
Why it matters
A smaller pool of college-age students and difficulties for international applicants in obtaining visas have challenged recruitment. These factors, alongside broader demographic trends, continue to impact total student counts.
Baylor enrolled 3,340 first-time freshmen this year, while the published tuition for the 2026-27 school year rose by 6.5% to reach $67,756.
The players
Baylor University
A private Christian university located in Waco, Texas, that is currently navigating shifts in student population numbers.
TCU
Texas Christian University is a private research university in Fort Worth that reported 11,452 undergraduate students.
SMU
Southern Methodist University is a private research university in Dallas that reported 7,668 undergraduate students.
The details
The university is actively trying to bolster numbers by recruiting transfer students, veterans, and military members. Prospective students are also being encouraged to tour the campus, a strategy that often helps in securing future enrollment.
Timeline
2014 was the previous low point for undergraduate enrollment.
2022 marked the peak for undergraduate enrollment at 15,213 students.
2025 saw a total undergraduate enrollment count of 14,183.
Fall 2026 is the current semester with 13,860 enrolled students.
2026-27 is the current school year with tuition set at $67,756.
Culture Shift
The university's enrollment trends follow the predicted impacts of the demographic cliff, which anticipates a sharp decline in college-aged individuals nationwide. This shift suggests that institutions must adapt to a smaller domestic applicant pool over the coming years.
Prospective students may find changing tuition costs and new recruitment efforts specifically targeting veterans and transfers as they plan their education. These shifts influence both the financial commitment required for an undergraduate degree and the accessibility of the campus.
The takeaway
Students should evaluate how tuition increases at private institutions align with their personal financial plans for the upcoming school years. Comparing enrollment patterns across regional universities can also provide perspective on the competitive landscape of the higher education market.
Further reading
Find more updates regarding higher education admissions and institutional growth in our College Applications section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Baylor Lariat - The official student news source.
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