DBU began as Decatur Baptist College in Decatur, Texas, in 1898.
Originally a two-year college, it served as a feeder to the larger baptist institution, Baylor University in Waco, Texas. In 1965, DBU
moved from Decatur to its present location in southwest Dallas as a result of the local Dallas Baptist Association's desire for a
local baptist college.Plagued by financial problems, the school struggled for a number of years. Campus folklore says that many believed the
official name of the school to be "Financially Troubled Dallas Baptist University", since it always preceded the name of the
university. However, in the late 1980s, Dr. Gary Cook became president of the university, a turning point in its history. From
that point, enrollment has continually increased and the school has emerged from its financial difficulties. At present time DBU
has approximately 4,700 students.