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Baylor University

EIN 74-1159753 · Waco, TX

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF BAYLOR UNIVERSITY IS TO EDUCATE MEN AND WOMEN FOR WORLDWIDE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE BY INTEGRATING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT WITHIN A CARING COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.6 billion
Spending
$1.5 billion
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
11,592
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$6.8 million, head men's basketball coac

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 32 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $676.7 million spent. INSTRUCTION:BAYLOR UNIVERSITY STANDS AS ONE OF THE PREMIER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE WORLD.CHARTERED IN 1845 BY THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS AND AFFILIATED WITH THE BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OFTEXAS, THE UNIVERSITY IS THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AS PART OF FULFILLING BAYLOR'S MISSION OF INSTRUCTING AND EDUCATING MEN AND WOMEN FOR WORLDWIDE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE, BAYLOR PURSUES INITIATIVES SUCH AS LOWER STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO (15:1), SMALLER CLASS SIZE (AVERAGE CLASS SIZE IS 27), RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, AND GREAT FACILITIES FOR LEARNING AND LIVING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)BAYLOR'S APPROXIMATELY 20,000 STUDENTS TYPICALLY COME FROM ALL 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND 90 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS 133 BACCALAUREATE, 82 MASTER'S, 50 DOCTORAL, NUMEROUS ONLINE GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS, THE EDUCATION SPECIALIST AND THE JURIS DOCTOR DEGREE PROGRAMS THROUGH 12 ACADEMIC UNITS. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO EQUIPS STUDENTS WITH BOTH KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO PURSUE GOD'S CALL TO MINISTRY BY OFFERING 7 MASTER DEGREES AND 2 DOCTORATE DEGREES THROUGH TRUETT SEMINARY. ADDITIONALLY, THE UNIVERSITY CONDUCTS GRADUATE PROGRAMS WITH THE U.S. ARMY AT SEVERAL U.S. ARMY LOCATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. STUDENTS FIND THE BEST OF A LARGE UNIVERSITY THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL BREADTH AND DEPTH OF PROGRAMS ALONG WITH EXTRAORDINARY PERSONAL ATTENTION FOR THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT. BAYLOR STUDENTS GARNER COMPETITIVE SCHOLARSHIPS SUCH AS FULBRIGHT, TRUMAN, GOLDWATER, ROTARY, CRITICAL LANGUAGE, AND NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS. MORE THAN 90% OF BAYLOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. NAMED EVERY YEAR SINCE 2011 BY THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS A "GREAT COLLEGE TO WORK FOR", BAYLOR CONSISTENTLY RANKS IN THE TOP 100 NATIONAL DOCTORAL GRANTING UNIVERSITIES BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, AS A "BEST BUY" BY THE FISKE GUIDE TO COLLEGES, AND A "BEST VALUE" BY KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE.
  2. $247.7 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES:BAYLOR UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES CONTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS' SPIRITUAL, SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. STUDENT SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE AREAS SUCH AS CAREER GUIDANCE, JOB PLACEMENT UPON GRADUATION, ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT, STUDENT FINANCIAL AID, STUDENT ACTIVITIES, STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, INTRAMURALS, HEALTH CENTER, BEAUCHAMP ADDICTION RECOVERY CENTER, AND INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS.
  3. $90.3 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT:BAYLOR UNIVERSITY PROVIDES ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE PRIMARY MISSIONS OF INSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS RESEARCH AND PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES. ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE AREAS SUCH AS LIBRARIES, TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT, MUSEUMS AND SERVICES THAT DIRECTLY ASSIST INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES.
  4. $216.8 million spent. RESEARCH, PUBLIC SERVICE AND AUXILIARIES:OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE AREAS INCLUDE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES, PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES AND AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES OPERATED BY THE UNIVERSITY. RESEARCH ACTIVITY INCLUDES GRANTS AND CONTRACTS TO CONDUCT SPONSORED RESEARCH, PRIMARILY IN FIVE KEY INITIATIVES: HEALTH; DATA SCIENCES; MATERIALS SCIENCE; HUMAN FLOURISHING, LEADERSHIP, AND ETHICS; AND LATIN AMERICA. PUBLIC SERVICE INCLUDES ACTIVITIES WHICH PRIMARILY BENEFIT INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS EXTERNAL TO THE UNIVERSITY. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES ARE COMPRISED GENERALLY OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: RESIDENCE HALLS, DINING SERVICES, BOOKSTORE, RENTAL PROPERTIES AND VENDING SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1991.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Taylor University (Upland, IN), EIN 35-0868181. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.