Texas Tech enrollment sets records for largest first-year class, graduation rates

Texas Tech is celebrating historic milestones this fall with enrollment topping 42,000 for the first time in its history, along with its largest first-year class and record-setting graduation rates.

The university announced on Thursday a 12th-class-day enrollment of 42,272 students, an increase of more than 1,200 from a year ago, according to a news release. A nearly 3% increase from last fall, it's also the fourth consecutive year Texas Tech has seen a fall enrollment increase.

More: Texas Tech University welcomes largest class of first-time students in school history

"As our enrollment grows, so do the opportunities and benefits to students who become Red Raiders," said Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec. "Our record first-year class, along with rising graduation rates, reflects the growing recognition of a Texas Tech education and the commitment of our faculty and staff to the success of our students. We are proud of the progress being made and encouraged by the opportunities ahead."

A driving force behind the rise is the record number of students enrolling in college for the first time, the release states. To start the fall semester, Tech welcomed more than 7,600 first-time-in-college students, an 11.7% increase from 2024. This represents the largest class of first-time students in school history, breaking the previous record set in 2023.

This surge pushes Tech's total number of undergraduates to 33,996 with another 8,276 graduate students.

In addition to record enrollment, preliminary graduation rates also show improvement. For the academic year just completed, the university's four-year graduation rate rose to nearly 54% and the six-year rate increased to almost 70%. Tech also graduated the first class from its  School of Veterinary Medicine  in the spring.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech enrollment increases by 3%; graduation rates set record