Graduate and undergraduate students in physics at Baylor University experience the benefits of a major American university, large enough to support a superior academic program while still allowing opportunities only available within a close-knit community of scholars. A campus population of about 14,000, with a graduate student population of almost 11%, allows Baylor undergraduate and graduate students to enjoy close working relationships with their major professors. Undergraduate students can join graduate students in one of three major research labs or in one of four active theoretical groups. Unlike many major universities, undergraduates are encouraged to join one of the active research groups within the department and conduct independent research. Graduate students are involved at every level of the research process and have almost unlimited access to their major professor. In addition, they are involved in a variety of teaching activities thus enhancing their opportunities for later employment at the University level.

The University ranks first among the 73 American doctoral granting private institutions in the total number of baccalaureate recipients who have earned doctorates in the professional fields; following Baylor are Harvard, Columbia, Brigham Young, Cornell, Northwestern, New York University, Syracuse, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania. Baylor is also one of the oldest coeducational universities in the United States and one of six Phi Beta Kappa universities in Texas.

The Physics Department offers the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, the Doctor of Philosophy degree, and both thesis and non-thesis Master's of Science and Master's of Arts degrees. Current enrollment for advanced degrees is approximately 30 students. Graduate stipends begin at $19000 per year with enhancement scholarships of up to $6000 per year available from the Graduate School. Areas of research within the department include experimental labs in atomic, molecular, elementary particle, nuclear, plasma, surface and space physics along with theoretical groups in astrophysics, cosmology, gravity, high energy particle physics, nuclear, quantum-optical, solid-state and space physics.