Baylor University's Finance department placed 15th out of 444 institutions for teaching quality, according to researchers from Western Kentucky University who conducted a study of finance programs.

No other Texas university made it in the top 25. Of Big 12 institutions, only one other made the top 25, which was Oklahoma State University following Baylor in 16th place.

"It's nice to be recognized for having excellent teaching," said Allen Seward, chair of Baylor's Finance, Insurance & Real Estate Department at the Hankamer School of Business. "The Finance faculty at Baylor are, indeed, outstanding researchers and teachers."

The researchers determined rankings on contributions to research on financial education to rank finance programs' teaching quality.

"A finance teacher who is heavily involved in the pedagogical issues would demonstrate enthusiasm and dedication to good-quality teaching and enhancing students' learning," said authors Kam C. Chan and Samantha B. Thapa, in their paper "A Ranking of Teaching Quality in Finance Departments Based on Contributions in Financial Education Literature," published in the Spring 2006 issue of Advances in Financial Education.

San Diego State University came in at the top of the list, followed by Northeastern University and University of Virginia in second and third place, respectively.