Baylor University among nation’s best for core education, study finds

As many in Texas and nationwide warn of the ‘death’ of academic freedom, Baylor University appears to have avoided that fate—at least according to this new study.

This month, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA)—a higher-education advocacy nonprofit—gave Baylor University’s core curriculum requirements an ‘A’ rating for 2026. 

In an analysis of more than 1,100 American colleges and universities, Baylor was among only 13 private universities and six public institutions to receive the top mark.

“At a time when headlines about falling academic standards run rampant, Baylor serves as a model of intellectual seriousness, offering students an education that is both rich and meaningful,” the ACTA said, according to a recent Baylor University news release. 

What does the ‘A’ rating mean? 

The 2026 ratings were released this month as part of the ACTA’s ‘What Will They Learn?’ project, assigning grades between ‘A+’ and ‘F,’ based on whether an institution requires students to study seven essential subject areas: composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. government or history, economics, mathematics and natural science.

“This grading system provides a clear and consistent way to assess whether students are receiving a rigorous general education, one that prepares them for career success, informed citizenship, and a flourishing life,” the ACTA wrote in its announcement of the data. 

The ACTA highlighted Baylor’s minimum 34 hours of required coursework, alongside its mandatory ‘The U.S. Constitution, Its Interpretation, and the American Political Experience,’ according to the university release. 

Only one other Texas university made the top 19: the University of Dallas in Irving. The University of Dallas received an A+ rating from the ACTA. 

Baylor as a ‘hidden gem’ 

In November, the ACTA also highlighted Baylor University’s Honors College as a “hidden gem.”

The ACTA’s hidden gems initiative highlights standout liberal arts programs that offer students a rigorous, well-structured education across disciplines like philosophy, history, politics, and ‘the Great Books,’ according to an ACTA news release.

The nonprofit said Baylor offered several “rigorous” interdisciplinary programs for students to complete their degrees.

“Students who participate in one of ACTA’s Hidden Gems receive a deep liberal arts education,” ACTA’s Program Manager for Academic Affairs, Jeffrey Schulman, said in the release. “Baylor’s Honors College is a shining example of one of these programs, thanks to offerings like its Great Texts core classes and residential community as well as high academic standards and accomplished faculty.”

Not without controversy 

Baylor’s recent rating does not mean it has escaped broader censorship and academic freedom debates.

In July last year, the university faced significant backlash after announcing it had received a grant to study the complexities of inclusion in church culture, then rejecting the funding a few days later due to a perceived conflict with its Christian morals. 

More recently, Baylor faced a different kind of controversy after two gay speakers were invited to campus in opposition to a Turning Point USA event, reigniting debate over speech, identity and the university’s role in hosting competing views. 

In April, the university told Chron Baylor has long allowed “a wide range of student-invited speakers,” but “does not institutionally endorse the views of speakers at these events or other individuals invited to speak by student organizations.”

This piece was originally published by Chron. on May 21, 2026.