Solid undergraduate growth lifts Davis College to record enrollment, up 8.2%
By: Norman Martin
Texas Tech's Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources continued its decade-long enrollment growth path with 3,189 signing up for classes, as of the 20th day of class on Monday (Sept. 26), according to university officials. That includes 2,687 undergraduates and 502 graduate students; a total increase of 242 students or 8.2% over last year's numbers.
"Davis College growth this year is exemplary, and among the highest in the university," said Robert Cox, Davis College Interim Associate Dean for Academic & Student Programs. “While growing, we always aim to put the individual first, whether they are students, faculty, or staff.”
This year's upward trajectory represents a longtime trend in enrollment – up from 1,850 in 2012 to 3,189 this semester: a jump of 1,339 students. Davis College's positive tally is the direct result of the momentum of faculty, staff and members of the Dr. Bill Bennett Student Success Center, who are creating new opportunities for students, added Interim Dean Cindy Akers.
Other positive student-related indicators are Davis College's graduation and consistently high retention rates. According to the latest Texas Tech Fact Book report, the college's one-year retention rate was 89.3% and a six-year or less graduation rate was 71.2%.
The 2022 Fall enrollment numbers for individual Davis College departments are:
- Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics: 564 /Change +31 (Grad: 62 / Undergrad: 502)
- Department of Agricultural Education & Communications: 417 /Change +20 (Grad: 106 / Undergrad: 311)
- Department of Animal & Food Sciences: 1,351 /Change +166 (Grad: 113 / Undergrad: 1,238)
- Department of Landscape Architecture: 82 (Grad: 5 / Undergrad 77)
- Department of Natural Resources Management: 454 /Change +30 (Grad: 73 / Undergrad: 381)
- Department of Plant & Soil Science: 317 /Change +8 (Grad: 139 / Undergrad: 178)
Meanwhile, after passing 40,000 students in 2020, Tech as a whole now has an enrollment of 40,528 as of the 20th day of class. That includes a record setting 7,204 in the graduate school (4.1% increase) and 32,729 undergraduates (1.5% decrease).
But what makes this year's enrollment number special is a new record for first-year enrollment of 6,850 students - 2.6% increase from fall 2021. According to the Office of Institutional Research, from fall 2012 to fall 2022, Hispanic enrollment doubled while Black and African American enrollment saw more than a 50% increase.
“The attraction of Texas Tech, both domestically and internationally, is clearly related to our continuing emergence as a nationally prominent research university,” said Graduate School Dean Mark Sheridan.
In addition to diversifying the class, the quality of Tech students has improved. This fall, 23% of first-year students graduated in the top 10% of their high school class. More than 4,400 new Presidential Merit Scholars have enrolled, and the number of National Merit Finalists went from seven in 2016 to 97 in 2022.
“We're enjoying unprecedented success on many fronts, but we recognize there is more to do, and we look forward to furthering our impact in the next century,” said Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec.
CONTACT: Cindy Akers, Interim Dean, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or cindy.akers@ttu.edu
0929NM22
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