WBAA was licensed April 4, 1922 and is owned and operated by Purdue University. A frequent broadcaster of educational radio programming, WBAA was a member of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters and put particular emphasis on producing programs for both a general audience and public school students. Some of WBAA's produced programs as part of the NAEB covered subjects ranging from atomic energy to racism in the United States.
From the combined records of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters (NAEB), held by the University of Maryland and the Wisconsin Historical Society, and compiled as part of the Unlocking the Airwaves project (unlockingtheairwaves.org).