COOKEVILLE — 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. •

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