Truett Seminary Reports Record-Breaking Enrollment
WACO, Texas (February 23, 2026) Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary has set a new enrollment record, reaching 495 students for the spring 2026 semester. This total surpasses the previous record of 476 students set in the fall of 2025.
“If someone had said to me in the fall of 2024, when we enrolled a near-record 404 students, that we would enroll nearly 500 students in the spring of 2026 (a 22.77 percent increase in 18 months while graduating over 100 students), I might have responded, ‘Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief,’” said Todd D. Still, PhD, dean of Truett Seminary. “Yet, due to the sacrificial, intentional work and gifts of many, we have been able to enroll far more students this spring than at any other time in Truett’s 32-year history. This increase, in turn and in due course, will enable our school to fulfill more fully our mission of equipping God-called men and women for gospel ministry in and alongside Christ’s Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. I am hopeful and prayerful that the upward trend we have experienced in enrollment in recent years will continue as we seek steward well the generous resources entrusted to us.”
This record enrollment reflects growth in the Master of Divinity program, the most expansive of Truett’s various master’s programs, which enrolled 226 students this semester, including 163 in Waco, 49 in Houston, and 14 in San Antonio. Enrollment in Truett’s Master of Divinity program has increased by 17 percent over the past two years. This increase reflects a broader rebound for the degree both nationally and at Truett, according to The Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
Enrollment in the Seminary’s six additional master’s-level degrees make up 25 percent of its student body. Through Truett’s extension campuses, 69 students are enrolled in Houston, up from 44 last spring, and 23 in San Antonio, up from 17. The online Master of Arts in Theology and Sports Studies program held steady with 30 students.
At the doctoral level, enrollment also remains strong at 140 students, with 120 enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry program in cohorts spread across Texas and in Virginia, and 20 enrolled in the PhD in Preaching program.
“This is an extraordinary year,” said Toby Osburn, EdD, assistant dean of student services. “Enrollment growth over five consecutive spring terms is no small accomplishment given the recent state of graduate theological education in North America; achieving a spring enrollment higher than all previous fall enrollments is quite another.”
Beyond enrollment growth, Truett continues to reflect a broad ecclesial community. The Seminary’s denominational representation remains steady with 27 different denominations represented in the student body. 53 percent of students identify as Baptists, and 21 percent reflect ties to Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal, and other historic Wesleyan traditions. Most remaining students come from independent and non-denominational backgrounds.
Women comprise 38 percent of the Seminary’s enrollment, reflecting Truett’s long-standing commitment to affirming women called to serve in ministry. Additionally, Truett’s student body is comprised by students from 34 states and 24 countries.
This enrollment growth is matched by strong placement outcomes. During the 2024–2025 academic year, 95 percent of Truett Seminary’s graduates secured placement in vocational ministry or in roles aligned with their training, according to the annual report submitted to ATS. As a result, Truett alumni now serve in 46 states and 22 countries. The majority serve in congregational ministry, followed by public or nonprofit work.
“We are grateful to see our enrollment growth matched by consistently strong placement outcomes. In this season of expansion, it remains a privilege to walk alongside students as they discern God’s call throughout their seminary journey and to witness 95 percent of our graduates stepping into meaningful places of service.” said Jack Bodenhamer, DMin, assistant dean of external affairs.
The record-setting semester underscores Truett Seminary’s ongoing commitment not only to growth, but to form leaders equipped to serve faithfully in churches, nonprofits, and public spaces worldwide. Like the University into which it is embedded, Truett Seminary remains Pro Ecclesia. Pro Texana. Pro Mundo.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
ABOUT GEORGE W. TRUETT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
George W. Truett Theological Seminary is an orthodox, evangelical, multi-denominational school in the historic Baptist tradition embedded into Baylor, a Christian R1 University. Truett’s mission is to equip God-called people for gospel ministry in and alongside Christ’s Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Baptist World Alliance, Truett Seminary provides theological education leading to the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Contextual Witness and Innovation, Master of Arts in Theology, Ecology and Food Justice, Master of Arts in Theology and Sports Studies (online), Master of Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry, and PhD in Preaching. In addition to a number of distinctive programs, institutes, and centers, Truett Seminary also offers joint degrees through Baylor University school/college partnerships in social work, business, law, music, and education. Besides its flagship Baugh-Reynolds Campus in Waco, the Seminary also has locations in Houston and San Antonio. Visit the Truett Seminary website.