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Baylor University: Baylor University June 2016 02 (Kokernot Residence Hall)
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

Baylor University

  • LocationWaco, TX
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 20,824 students

Affiliation: Baptist

Official website
Campus Ministry Honor Roll badge

Baylor University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

St. Peter Catholic Student Center, at 1415 South 9th Street in Waco, is the Catholic center for Baylor University students. Its pages list Mass Monday through Friday at 5:30 pm, a Saturday 5:30 pm Mass, and Sunday Masses at 9:30 am, 11:30 am and 5:30 pm, with weekday confession and adoration at 4:30 pm. Listed student groups include the Baylor-recognized Catholic Student Association and FOCUS, and programs include Bear Awakening retreats and OCIA classes.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 5

  • Monday–Friday5:30 PMSt. Peter Catholic Student Center
  • Saturday5:30 PMSt. Peter Catholic Student Center · Extraordinary Form.
  • Sunday9:30 AMSt. Peter Catholic Student Center · Form listed differently on the home page (Ordinary) and sacraments page (Extraordinary).
  • Sunday11:30 AMSt. Peter Catholic Student Center · High Mass.
  • Sunday5:30 PMSt. Peter Catholic Student Center

Confession 1

  • Monday–Friday4:30 PMSt. Peter Catholic Student Center · Spanish confessions offered every day except Tuesday.

Adoration 1

  • Monday–Friday4:30 PMSt. Peter Catholic Student Center

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. Sacraments | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “5:30 PM Daily Mass”
    Daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 5:30 pm at the center.
    “5:30 PM Extraordinary Form Mass”
    A Saturday 5:30 pm Mass is offered at the center.
    “9:30 AM Extraordinary Form Mass”
    A Sunday 9:30 am Mass is listed, in the Extraordinary Form on this page.
    “11:30 AM High Mass”
    Sunday Mass is offered at 11:30 am, as well as at 5:30 pm, at the center.
    “11:30 AM High Mass”
    Sunday Mass is offered at 11:30 am, as well as at 5:30 pm, at the center.
    “4:30 PM Adoration & Confession”
    Adoration and confession are offered at 4:30 pm on weekdays.
    “4:30 PM Adoration & Confession”
    Adoration and confession are offered at 4:30 pm on weekdays.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Baylor University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Peter Catholic Student Center: 0.3 mi1Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church: 1.2 mi2Saint Francis on the Brazos Catholic Church: 1.2 mi3Sacred Heart Catholic Church: 1.7 mi4Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church: 2.0 mi5Saint Louis Catholic Church: 2.8 mi6St. Peter Catholic Student Center: 0.3 miBaylor University (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Peter Catholic Student Center — 0.3 mi · 1415 South 9th Street, Waco
  2. Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church — 1.2 mi · 1401 Washington Avenue, Waco
  3. Saint Francis on the Brazos Catholic Church — 1.2 mi · 301 Jefferson Avenue, Waco
  4. Sacred Heart Catholic Church — 1.7 mi · 2621 Bagby Avenue, Waco
  5. Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church — 2.0 mi · 1312 Dallas Street, Waco
  6. Saint Louis Catholic Church — 2.8 mi · 2001 North 25th Street, Waco

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

ACatholic life on campus: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Catholic life on campus

96 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes (The center's history page says the diocese built the center for Baylor students and that it is home to the Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Our History | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/our-history · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “now Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association”
      The center is home to the Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusYes (St. Peter Catholic Student Center at 1415 S. 9th St. is about 0.3 mile from the university's address.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Hours & Contact Information | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/contact-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “1415 South 9th Street Waco, TX 76706”
      The center's physical address is 1415 South 9th Street, Waco, TX 76706.
    2. Our History | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/our-history · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “now Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association”
      The center is home to the Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryFull-time priest chaplain (A named priest, the Rev. Henry Carter Finch, S.T.L., is listed as Rector of the student center.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Staff | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Rev. Henry Carter Finch, S.T.L. Rector”
      A priest, the Rev. Henry Carter Finch, is listed as Rector of the center.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryEvery weekday (5 or more weekdays) (Daily Mass is listed Monday through Friday at 5:30 pm at the center.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Sacraments | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “5:30 PM Daily Mass”
      Daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 5:30 pm at the center.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelTwo or more weekend Masses (Saturday 5:30 pm Mass plus Sunday Masses at 9:30 am (the sacraments page labels it Extraordinary Form), 11:30 am and 5:30 pm.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Sacraments | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “5:30 PM Extraordinary Form Mass”
      A Saturday 5:30 pm Mass is offered at the center.
      “11:30 AM High Mass”
      Sunday Mass is offered at 11:30 am, as well as at 5:30 pm, at the center.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryWeekly or more often (Confession and adoration are listed at 4:30 pm on weekdays; the home page says Spanish-language confessions are offered every day except Tuesday. The pages list different weekday patterns (see gaps).)
    Sources (2)
    1. Sacraments | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “4:30 PM Adoration & Confession”
      Adoration and confession are offered at 4:30 pm on weekdays.
    2. St. Peter Catholic Student Center | Waco, TXbaylorcatholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Confessions can be heard in Spanish every day except Tuesday”
      Confession is offered in Spanish on weekdays other than Tuesday.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Two or more (Catholic Student Association and FOCUS (Bible studies and student outreach) are both listed.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Our History | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/our-history · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “now Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association”
      The center is home to the Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association.
    2. Baylor University - FOCUSfocus.org/campus/baylor-university · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Baylor University Waco”
      FOCUS lists Baylor University in Waco as a campus it serves.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Two or more kinds (Retreat (Bear Awakening), OCIA (Basic Teachings) and service (Homeless Ministry) are all listed.)
    Sources (3)
    1. Bear Awakening | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/bear-awakening · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Bear Awakening is a three-day, faith-filled, jam-packed retreat, designed for and led by students.”
      Bear Awakening is a student-led retreat run by the center.
    2. Basic Teachings | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/catholicism-1 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, or OCIA, is the process through which interested adults are gradually introduced”
      The center offers OCIA classes, called Basic Teachings.
    3. Service | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Homeless Ministry”
      A homeless ministry is listed among the center's service opportunities.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration12 to 19 times a week (19 weekly times documented: 9 Mass, 5 confession, 5 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • Daily Mass is listed Monday through Friday at the center.
    Sources (1)
    1. Sacraments | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “5:30 PM Daily Mass”
      Daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 5:30 pm at the center.
  • Three Sunday Masses and a Saturday Mass are listed at the center.
    Sources (1)
    1. Sacraments | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “11:30 AM High Mass”
      Sunday Mass is offered at 11:30 am, as well as at 5:30 pm, at the center.
      “5:30 PM Extraordinary Form Mass”
      A Saturday 5:30 pm Mass is offered at the center.
  • A priest is listed as rector of the center, and the center lists student groups, a retreat and OCIA classes.
    Sources (4)
    1. Staff | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Rev. Henry Carter Finch, S.T.L. Rector”
      A priest, the Rev. Henry Carter Finch, is listed as Rector of the center.
    2. Our History | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/our-history · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “now Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association”
      The center is home to the Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association.
    3. Bear Awakening | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/bear-awakening · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Bear Awakening is a three-day, faith-filled, jam-packed retreat, designed for and led by students.”
      Bear Awakening is a student-led retreat run by the center.
    4. Basic Teachings | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/catholicism-1 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, or OCIA, is the process through which interested adults are gradually introduced”
      The center offers OCIA classes, called Basic Teachings.

Concerns

  • The sacraments page labels the Sunday 9:30 am Mass as Extraordinary Form, while the home page labels it Ordinary Form.
    Sources (1)
    1. Sacraments | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “9:30 AM Extraordinary Form Mass”
      A Sunday 9:30 am Mass is listed, in the Extraordinary Form on this page.
      “11:30 AM High Mass”
      Sunday Mass is offered at 11:30 am, as well as at 5:30 pm, at the center.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

St. Peter Catholic Student Center

  • Address: 1415 South 9th Street, Waco, TX 76706
  • Distance from campus: 0.3 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)

View on map ↗

Source: baylorcatholic.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, baylorcatholic.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

7 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 7 location not published

Faith formation 1

Clubs and groups 2

  • Catholic Student Association
    Baylor University-recognized Catholic student association based at the center.
    baylorcatholic.org
  • FOCUS (Bible studies and outreach)
    FOCUS missionaries serve Baylor students through the center. Bible studies are listed.
    focus.org, baylorcatholic.org

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • St. Gregory Society
    Lay group supporting the Extraordinary Form Mass at the center.
    baylorcatholic.org

Retreats 1

Service 1

Social life 1

  • St. Peter Supper
    Wednesdays at 6:00 pm (after the 5:30 pm Mass)
    Homemade supper and fellowship after the daily Mass.
    baylorcatholic.org

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (2)
  1. Hours & Contact Information | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/contact-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “1415 South 9th Street Waco, TX 76706”
    The center's physical address is 1415 South 9th Street, Waco, TX 76706.
    “1415 South 9th Street Waco, TX 76706”
    The center's physical address is 1415 South 9th Street, Waco, TX 76706.
  2. Our History | St. Peter Catholic Student Centerbaylorcatholic.org/our-history · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “now Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association”
    The center is home to the Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association.
    “now Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association”
    The center is home to the Baylor University-recognized Catholic Student Association.

Reach out

Contact details for St. Peter Catholic Student Center office (Rector: The Rev. Henry Carter Finch, S.T.L.) (Office; Rector) and 3 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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Academic Excellence

AAcademic Excellence: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
85 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.80%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.91%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,329 · ACT 29.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.15 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$15,852

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
15,155
Total students20,824
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$41,104
Cost of attendance (per year)$74,226
Median federal debt at graduation$23,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
80%
First-year retention91%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$65,793
Admission rate51%
Students receiving Pell grants12%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1329
SAT reading & writing610–700
SAT math590–700
ACT composite27–32
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 56 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Austin

The Most Reverend Daniel E. Garcia, Bishop of Austin

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 223232
  • Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
  • Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Baptist
  • Report an error or a newer source

Questions families ask

Is Baylor University a Catholic college?
No. Baylor University is not a Catholic college. Its listed religious affiliation is Baptist. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by St. Peter Catholic Student Center.
What is Baylor University’s Catholic Life Score?
93 out of 100 (grade A). It measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes, together with academics.
Where is Mass celebrated at Baylor University?
Mass is listed at St. Peter Catholic Student Center. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.
Is Baylor University Compass Recommended?
Yes. Baylor University meets the Compass Recommended standard for Catholic life on campus.

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