Several Texas universities rank among the nation’s top “conservative” schools, but critics question whether they truly live up to that label.
Niche’s 2026 Best College Rankings listed Baylor University as the top conservative school in Texas and 19th nationwide. Texas A&M ranked 28th, the University of Dallas ranked 31st, Dallas Baptist University ranked 36th, and Texas Christian University (TCU) ranked 49th, according to CHRON.
Though ranked as conservative, many continue to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and LGBTQ-focused programs — policies critics say conflict with traditional values.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, TCU rebranded its “DEI” office as “Finding Ourselves in Community” but continues to promote LGBTQ resources, including Spectrum, the Rainbow Alliance, and an Indigenous Peoples Initiative. Its Race & Reconciliation Initiative researches the school’s racial history from 1998 to 2020. TCU also allows students to fulfill religion requirements with non-Christian courses, according to Parry College Counseling.
“Our research focus for the academic year 2024-2025 is a deeper dive into recent but related histories (1998-2020). Building on previous research conducted by the RRI and others, we are conducting a more comprehensive examination of the experiences of Native American and Indigenous, Latinx, African American, Asian American and other ethnic identities at TCU,” the TCU website states.
Baylor University returned $643,000 from an LGBTQ grant last year, calling it “the appropriate course of action and in the best interests” of the school. However, the university continues to operate employee resource groups that promote DEI-style workplace culture.
“An Employee Resource Group serves as a resource for members and the University by fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the institutional mission, vision, goals, business practices, and objectives,” Baylor’s website states.
Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin began rolling back “DEI” policies in 2024 after investigations flagged some job postings as potentially unlawful, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French, a TCU alumnus, said many Texas schools may not reflect their “conservative” reputation.
“The mood in the country has changed. More people than ever are awake to the racism of DEI and the dangers of the LGBTQ agenda. It is unfortunate that not everyone recognizes this. My hope for TCU is they will create a culture that honors its historical place in higher education and embrace traditional American values, because those will endure and make them more successful,” French told The Dallas Express.
The Dallas Express contacted TCU and Baylor University for comment, but did not receive a response.