Baylor named to TIME’s ‘Best Colleges for Future Leaders’ for third straight year

Baylor’s mission has long been to “educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service” — and for the third straight year, a survey by TIME magazine confirms Baylor’s doing exactly that.

Baylor once again ranks among TIME‘s list of the 100 Best Colleges for Future Leaders, coming in at No. 70 nationally for 2026 (No. 4 in Texas, No. 5 in the Big 12). This year, the publication studied the resumes of almost 5,000 U.S. leaders — pulling from business, government, academia and more — to find where today’s leaders got their start, with Baylor continuing to stand out among the nation’s best.

It’s no surprise, when you think about notable Baylor alumni. Looking back through history, scores of names jump out: former Texas governors such as Pat Neff (AB 1894, AM 1898) and Ann Richards (BA ’54); prominent business leaders such as Joe Allbritton (LLB ’49; Allbritton Communications) and Mark Hurd (BBA ’79; HP, Oracle); and notable pastors, such as George W. Truett (AB 1897; First Baptist Dallas).

More recently, we’ve seen Bears leading out as the U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe (Pamela Tremont, BA ’90, MA ’92), the CEO of investment giant TIAA (Thasunda Brown Duckett, MBA ’01), the CFO of Walmart (John Rainey, BBA ’93, MBA ’95), and as presidents and chancellors at 40+ colleges and universities worldwide.

“Baylor University is committed to developing leaders who dedicate their lives to service within their professions, and we are honored to be one of TIME’s Best Colleges for Future Leaders,” says Baylor President Linda Livingstone. “This achievement reflects how deeply leadership and service are woven into Baylor’s Christian mission. We are proud of our Baylor Alumni, whose experiences at the University shaped habits and virtues that inspire them to lead with purpose, live for human flourishing and pursue a vision that transforms the world.”

Sic ’em, Baylor leaders!