Enrollment challenges are being met head on and prospects for the future are bright.

Texas Tech University has announced a 12th-class-day enrollment number of 41,045, the first time in the university’s history it has eclipsed 41,000 students. 

As Texas Tech continues to grow, the university also has enhanced student support resources that provide the connected and personalized support that is part of the Texas Tech experience. For the academic year just completed, this is reflected in several benchmarks that signify the university prioritizing student success.   

Texas Tech awarded a record 9,994 degrees for the 2024 academic year and achieved record four and six-year graduation rates of 50% and 66%, respectively. Particularly noteworthy is a 20% increase in the four-year graduation rate over the past five years. 

“At Texas Tech, we continue to place students first and provide an educational experience that ensures they have the skills to succeed in the workplace and in their chosen careers,” said President Lawrence Schovanec. “We are also responding to the changing student demographics by strategically reaching a broader range of students including non-traditional and transfer students, and those who left college without completing a degree.”

Because of several initiatives already underway, Texas Tech is well positioned to address the challenges universities are facing nationwide, including declining numbers of traditional college-age students and the cost of a college education. It is significant that the university has demonstrated its commitment to keeping higher education accessible by holding tuition steady for the last three academic years.

Texas Tech is expanding educational access by offering alternative pathways to help non-traditional students reach their academic and career goals. This past spring Texas Tech launched the 10K Degree-Completion Program. This initiative offers students with at least 80 hours of college credit a pathway to complete their degree for as little as $10K by giving students credit for the work they’ve done and the knowledge they’re bringing back to school. 

Through Strategic Enrollment Planning, Texas Tech is launching new undergraduate academic programs that align with workforce demands. Texas Tech now offers an opportunity for all undergraduates to receive Industry Career Certificates at no cost. These certificates are enhancements to the Texas Tech degree, providing job-ready skills that distinguish Texas Tech students in the job market.             

Texas Tech takes pride in the quality of students it attracts, and 2024 is no exception. For the first time in its 25-year history the Honors College enrollment has exceeded 2,000 students, with the incoming cohort up nearly 14% from last year’s group. 

“Despite accepting fewer applicants, the Honors College opens its 25th anniversary celebration by welcoming our largest and most academically accomplished class,” said Honors College Dean Jill Hernandez. “We shifted our recruiting strategy to communicate the premier academic and career opportunities students can only receive at the Texas Tech Honors College. 

“That message is landing. Our enrollment goals remain to serve this amazing institution by recruiting, retaining, mentoring and shaping the thought and ethics leaders of the next quarter century.”

And Texas Tech isn’t just reaching more students. The university has committed ample resources to supporting them, helping them overcome the barriers that may be in front of them and preparing them to be part of the workforce. 

The investment in Texas Tech’s award-winning Raider Success Hub, which offers a connected and personalized student experience, is an example of how the university is committed to student success. Students’ access to their success team and the vast resources of the Raider Success Hub has proven to be a game changer for many. 

While the enrollment numbers are impressive, the goals of Texas Tech remain the same. New students on campus join a student body that represents all 50 states, 250 of Texas’ 254 counties, one federal district, three U.S. territories and 108 countries around the world with the expectation that Texas Tech can help guide them to a brighter future. 

The university remains whole-heartedly committed to their success, and to the belief that From Here, It’s Possible™.