A private Baptist Bible college in Arlington, Texas, preparing worldchangers through Christ-centered education.
Arlington Baptist University offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs organized under four undergraduate schools and three graduate schools. The university is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education and approved by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification. Graduate programs are limited to the master's level; the university does not offer doctoral degrees. Academic policies and course schedules are published annually through the Office of Academic Affairs.
The 220-student campus is located in Arlington, Texas, on the grounds of the former Top O' Hill Terrace casino. Historic features from the casino remain on campus, including a sandstone guardhouse, iron gate, open-air tea garden, and escape tunnels available for public tours by appointment. The university maintains separate residence halls for men and women. Student life includes a variety of activities designed to engage students both inside and outside the classroom, with a strong emphasis on spiritual development and Christian community.
Arlington Baptist University offers rolling admissions with recommended application deadlines of July 1 for Fall enrollment and December 1 for Spring enrollment. The university accepts first-year, transfer, international, returning, and graduate students. All prospective students must submit a completed questionnaire and essay regarding their desire to attend ABU. A non-refundable application fee is required. The university does not require applicants to be Baptist but emphasizes its distinctly Christian identity with a Baptist heritage.
The university participates as a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), Southwest Region, Division II, and is also a member of the Association of Christian College Athletics. The Patriots field intercollegiate teams in baseball (men's), basketball (men's and women's), volleyball (women's), soccer (men's and women's), golf (men's and women's), and softball (women's).
Founded in 1939 by J. Frank Norris with 16 students, the institution was originally called Fundamental Baptist Bible Institute and held classes at the First Baptist Church of Fort Worth. It was renamed Bible Baptist Seminary in 1945 and Arlington Baptist College in 1955 when it moved to its current location. The name changed to Arlington Baptist University in 2017. The university's mission is to engage, equip, and empower authentic Biblical Christ-followers, with the motto 'Preparing Worldchangers.'