Tennessee Tech records highest enrollment in nearly a decade, buoyed by fourth-largest freshman class in university history
Tech students enjoy the annual “Mix & Mingle” gathering held on Aug. 21 outside the
university’s Lab Science Commons building.
Tennessee Tech University reached its highest total headcount in nearly a decade and
enrolled the fourth-largest freshman class in its 109-year history, according to fall
2024 census numbers released this week.
The university’s final numbers show that Tech enrolled 10,511 students this semester
– the largest student population since 2015 – and welcomed more than 3,000 new students
to campus, including 2,006 freshmen, 586 transfer students and 417 graduate students.
Tech’s population of returning students was boosted by another increase in the university’s
year-to-year retention rate.
Census data also show that Tech continues to attract high-performing students. The
new freshman class holds an average high school GPA of 3.67 and a median ACT score
of just over 24. More than a third of the new student class maintained a perfect 4.0
GPA throughout their high school career.
The university saw additional growth from the increase in dual enrollment students
taking Tech courses while in high school. Tech offers a variety of dual enrollment
options including English, French, engineering, cybersecurity, history, and social
sciences, as well as a much-anticipated new dual enrollment course in American Sign
Language, which began this fall. Roughly one-third of Tech’s increase in undergraduate
students came from added participation in the university’s dual enrollment programs.
“Students and parents see the growth and success happening on Tech’s campus, and they
want to be a part of it,” said Karen Lykins, vice president for enrollment and communication
at Tech. “From our beautiful new Ashraf Islam Engineering Building and pedestrian
walkway and plaza, to added degree programs, continued recognition at the top of state
and national college rankings and our vibrant community feel, the word is out that
Tech is the place to be. We look forward to seeing all that the class of 2028 will
accomplish during their time here in Tennessee’s College Town.”
According to Tech’s fall 2024 census, the student population is increasingly diverse.
Roughly twenty-one percent of Tech students are students of color, a figure driven
in part by a marked increase in Hispanic students among the new freshman class.
Tech’s top five undergraduate degree programs by enrollment are mechanical engineering,
computer science, nursing, biology and business management – highlighting the university’s
diverse course offerings.
The College of Engineering remains Tech’s top college by enrollment and swelled to
its largest size in university history at 3,121 students. It is followed by the College
of Education with 1,815 students, the College of Business at 1,402 students and the
College of Arts and Sciences at 1,232 students. The university’s Whitson-Hester School
of Nursing rounds out the top five with 822 students.
Tech is ranked as a “Best National University” by U.S. News & World Report. The university
offers more than 225 programs of study and Tech grads leave with the least debt of
all public universities in the state. In fact, based on total cost and alumni earnings,
Tech provides students with the highest return on investment for any public university
in Tennessee, according to PayScale. Learn more at www.tntech.edu.
