Texas Tech University

About TTU

Committed to teaching and the advancement of knowledge, Texas Tech University, a comprehensive public research university, provides the highest standards of excellence in higher education, fosters intellectual and personal development, and stimulates meaningful research and service to humankind.

University Rankings

Research Classification

Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education's “Very High Research Activity” category.

Texas Tech University is among 131 universities and colleges in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education's “Very High Research Activity” category. The University also is only one of 94 public institutions listed. The list is updated every three years and universities must maintain specific criteria to achieve designation. Texas Tech first made the list in 2015 and was reaffirmed in 2018.

Hispanic Serving Institution

In 2019, Texas Tech achieved full status as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). In the Fall of 2019, the institution recorded an undergraduate Hispanic student population of 29.2%. While HSI status is determined based on an undergraduate student body that is above 25% Hispanic, Texas Tech offers a comprehensive series of programs, services, initiatives, and organizations to underrepresented students, students of color, and first-generation students, many of whom are Hispanic.

Founded

Texas Tech University was created by legislative action in 1923 and has the distinction of being the largest comprehensive higher education institution in the western two-thirds of the state of Texas. The university is the major institution of higher education in a region larger than 46 of the nation's 50 states and is the only campus in Texas that is home to a major university, law school and medical school. Originally named Texas Technological College, the college opened in 1925 with six buildings and an enrollment of 914. Graduate instruction did not begin until 1927 within the school of Liberal Arts. A “Division of Graduate Studies” was established in 1935 and eventually became known as the Graduate School in 1954. By action of the Texas State Legislature, Texas Technological College formally became Texas Tech University on September 1, 1969.

Location

Texas Tech University is located on the South Plains of West Texas in Lubbock (pop. 255,885). As the University was being established, several potential locations, including Floydada, Plainview, Big Spring, and Sweetwater were considered, before Lubbock was selected.

Facilities

The campus, which boasts Spanish Renaissance architecture, was described by American author James A. Michener as the “most beautiful west of the Mississippi until you get to Stanford” and by Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated as “easily one of the ten most beautiful campuses” he had seen. Many of the newly constructed buildings qualify for LEED certification, yet maintain the consistent Spanish theme throughout campus.

Student Profile

Student Profile: In fall 2021, 40,666 students were enrolled in the university. Of those, 33,256 were undergraduate and 7,410 graduate and law students.

National Merit Finalists

In fall 2020, a record number of National Merit Finalists were on campus, including 20 in the incoming freshman class, to bring the total to 72. Texas Tech's total is among the top 50 nationally, per the Center for Measuring University Performance.

Prestigious Scholarships

Over the span of Texas Tech University's history, 41 students have received the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship and 34 students have been named Fulbright Finalists in the last 10 years, including a record four in 2017.

Faculty and Staff Profile

Texas Tech University has 1,600 full-time and 188 part-time faculty.

Student Organizations

There are more than 450 organizations at Texas Tech University in which students can get involved.

Study Abroad

More than 1,300 (1,384 to be exact) participated in Study Abroad by traveling to other countries and engaging in scholarship during the 2018-19 academic year.

Athletics

Texas Tech University's Red Raiders are members of the Big 12 Conference and compete in 17 varsity sports, including nine women's and eight men's programs.

Campus Libraries

Texas Tech University's libraries includes the University Library, Architecture Library, Law Library, Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Vietnam Archive, and Health Sciences Center Library.

Tuition

Tuition for the 2019-20 academic year is $10,835 for undergraduate in-state or bordering states students and $8,768 for graduate students.

Visitors Center

The Texas Tech University Visitor's Center is located in West Hall off the main entrance from University Ave. For more information or to schedule a tour, contact a representative at (806) 742-1480 or admissions@ttu.edu.

Alumni Association

Created in 1927, the Texas Tech Alumni Association represents nearly 225,000 alumni across the world, including 199,494 in the United States. There are 159,449 alumni in the state of Texas, and alumni in 119 countries and each of the 50 states.

Parents Association

The Texas Tech Parents Association was founded in 1956 and provides a network for parents, student scholarships and achievement awards, faculty awards, and a variety of programs and services to help make the family experience at Texas Tech memorable.

Endowment

Texas Tech University's endowment in 2020 was $764 million (as of August 31, 2020). In the latest Center for Measuring University Performance rankings (2019), the University's endowment ranked 133 overall and 48 among all public institutions