What Arlington Baptist University is like

What it's like

Arlington Baptist University is a small, faith-centered Bible college in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with a close-knit campus atmosphere rooted in Christian community and spiritual formation. The institution emphasizes Christ-centered education alongside academic rigor, with separate residence halls for men and women and regular chapel services and discipleship programs as central to student life. Located on the former site of a historic casino, the campus occupies high ground in Arlington with panoramic views and access to the metroplex.

Academic feel

ABU offers undergraduate and master's-level programs (no doctoral degrees) accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education since 1981. The Office of Academic Affairs focuses on preparing students with "a robust academic foundation" that glorifies God, serving undergraduate and graduate students across multiple academic disciplines. The university is approved by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification and recognized by the Texas Veterans Commission for veteran educational benefits.

Social life

Student life is structured around spiritual growth, community accountability, and faith integration. The Student Handbook guides campus policies and expectations in a Christ-centered learning environment. Dorm life features gender-separated residence halls at the highest point in Arlington. Beyond academics, ABU hosts campus-wide events, chapel services, and spiritual formation courses, with a Student Union and vibrant calendar of activities. The university has a distinctive Baptist heritage and expects students to respect and participate in the Christian community, though conversion is not required for admission.

What you should consider

Students seeking a Bible college education with deep spiritual formation integrated into academics will find ABU aligned with their goals. The institution appeals to those pursuing ministry, education, or other fields within a Christ-centered framework, and to student-athletes competing in NCCAA Division II sports. First-generation and transfer students are actively recruited, with separate application pathways. Veterans are also supported through institutional approval for educational benefits. The handbook defines sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage as "sexual misconduct" subject to dismissal, and the university applied for a Title IX exception in 2015 to discriminate against LGBT students on religious grounds. Students seeking a secular or religiously neutral college experience, or those whose values or identity conflict with the institution's strict sexual conduct policies, would not be a fit.

Strengths

• Accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education since 1981, with approval from the Texas State Board for Educator Certification and recognized by the Texas Veterans Commission for veteran educational benefits.[1]
• Fields a robust intercollegiate athletics program with eight sports (baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, and golf across men's and women's teams, plus softball) competing in the NCCAA Southwest Region Division II.[1]
• Campus features historic architectural elements and recreational spaces from the former Top O' Hill Terrace casino, including a sandstone guardhouse, iron gate, open-air tea garden, and escape tunnels available for public tours by appointment.[1]

Traditions

• Founded in 1939 by J. Frank Norris as the Fundamental Baptist Bible Institute with 16 students meeting at the First Baptist Church of Fort Worth; an 8-foot bronze sculpture of Norris by sculptor Pompeo Coppini is displayed on campus as a symbol of the institution's founding legacy.[1]
• Serves as the educational institution for the World Baptist Fellowship, which maintains its international headquarters on the ABU campus.[1]

Recent news

Recent leadership announcements reflect ABU's growth in athletics. The university named Larry Tidwell as Athletic Director in 2026—a decorated coach and administrator with 50 years of experience across high school, NAIA, and NCAA Division I programs, and a seven-time Hall of Fame honoree. Eric White was appointed Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics, bringing 30 years of athletic leadership from public education in Texas. The university also hired new head coaches for men's and women's soccer: Derek Vierling (25 years at Aledo High School) and Jason Venable (23 years at Waxahachie High School, inducted into the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches Hall of Honor in 2018).