Howard Payne University is a Christian liberal arts institution founded in 1889 by members of the Baptist Christian Church in Brownwood, Texas. The university was named after one of the original donors and classes started in 1890. The original faculty consisted of just 12 and Howard Payne College awarded its first degrees in 1895.During the Great Depression Howard Payne avoided the closure (the fate of many other small private colleges at the time) when its faculty agreed to work for free and house students in their homes without charge until the university once gain became profitable. In 1953 Daniel Baker College was integrated into Howard Payne College, growing the student body and campus. In 1974 the college became Howard Payne University after winning approval from the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Today Howard Payne University is home to students who study a range of undergraduate programs. The university offers over 100 majors and most students study for bachelor’s degrees or pre-professional programs. Academics are split into six schools: Business, Christian Studies, Education, Humanities, Music and Fine Arts, and Science and Mathematics. Howard Payne seeks to maintain high academic standards and teach students within the values of the Christian faith.
The main university campus stretches over 80 green, tree-lined acres in Brownwood. As well as the academic, administrative and residential buildings the campus also houses parks, plazas and sports fields as well as an athletics centre, auditorium and theatre.
