Celebrating Record-Setting Class, Retention, Graduation

The latest enrollment, undergraduate retention and graduation rates showcase Baylor’s strength. The Office of Institutional Research and Testing (IRT) released the 12th class day statistics Sept. 6, which announced the official enrollment for the fall semester at 17,217 students, including 14,188 undergraduate students and 3,029 graduate and professional students.

The University enrolled its highest-achieving freshman class, with an enrollment of 3,366 students from around the world.

Baylor’s freshmen represent 47 states, the District of Columbia and 30 countries. The out-of-state freshman enrollment increased to a record 38.6 percent, and other than Texas, the top states for freshmen are California (256), Colorado (89), Illinois (70), Louisiana (55) and Oklahoma and Missouri (49 each).

More than 32 percent of the freshman class reported a legacy connection to the University.

Additionally, nearly 40 percent of Baylor’s freshmen were in the top 10 percent of their high school class.

“Our freshman class is a testament to Baylor’s strength and resilience as we achieved our enrollment projections with the most academically qualified first-year class in our history,” President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., said.

Minority enrollment among freshmen is at 36.5 percent, and the University’s student body continues to be the most diverse ever with overall minority enrollment at 35.3 percent.

The University also advanced undergraduate retention and graduation rates to record levels, with the highest ever retention rate among all Baylor undergraduates from fall 2017 to fall 2018 at 91.6 percent.

The University continues to strengthen its transformational undergraduate experience. Baylor is ranked No. 78 among National Universities in the U.S. News and World Report’s annual review of colleges and universities. Baylor continues to be the second-highest ranked university in the Big 12.