Acceptance Rate
73%
Avg. SAT
1280
75th percentile
“Windy West Texas campus fusing ranching heritage with roaring Big 12 football crowds.”
Lubbock, TX
Location
Texas Tech University opened its doors in 1923 amid Lubbock's cotton boom, evolving from a technical college into a sprawling public research institution on nearly 1,850 acres. Students who thrive here embrace the practical grit of the Plains—independent types drawn to hands-on fields like agriculture and engineering, with a spirited loyalty to Red Raider traditions. The campus pulses with Texas pride, from cowboy hats at tailgates to research on the adjacent farm, but its remote location means you'll drive hours for big-city escapes.
Lubbock wraps around Tech like a dusty frame, a mid-sized city of 260,000 that's affordable yet isolated on the High Plains, where relentless winds shape daily life and summers scorch past 100 degrees. Out-of-state tuition climbs above $20,000, though in-state keeps costs low, and living expenses stay reasonable compared to Austin or Dallas. Tradeoffs include vast class sizes in intro courses and a spread-out campus that demands a car or bike for convenience.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Available Online
Degree Levels Offered
Classrooms buzz with Texas-sized lectures for gen eds, but upper-level seminars in Rawls College of Business or the College of Engineering shrink to 20-30 students, where professors push real-world projects like wind turbine design. You'll encounter research early if you seek it, especially in agriculture—Texas Tech manages a 325-acre experimental farm right on campus—or energy sciences, fueled by Lubbock's gusts. The honors college carves out small cohorts for ambitious undergrads, though popular majors like nursing fill quickly, leaving some transfers waiting.
Faculty hail from industry as much as academia, blending lectures with lab time that mirrors future jobs in oil fields or biotech labs. Intellectual debates spark in raw, straightforward discussions rather than lofty seminars, suiting students who value applicability over theory. Still, the sheer scale means core courses feel impersonal until you hit majors.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
32,580 undergrad • 8,177 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
51%
Black / African American
6%
Hispanic / Latino
27%
Asian
3%
Other / Multi-racial
13%
Campus Life
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week kicks off with Monday classes, midweek club meetings—maybe rodeo practice or engineering society barbecues—and ramps up Friday for Greek mixers or downtown Lubbock live music. Football Saturdays at Jones AT&T Stadium draw 60,000 fans, with the Masked Rider horse charging the field amid cannon booms and fireworks. Residential life centers on 40 dorms and suites, where freshmen bond in high-rises overlooking the plains, though upperclassmen often snag off-campus houses amid rising nearby rents.
The vibe skews friendly and rowdy, with strong Greek life pulling a third of students into parties that spill into weekends, balanced by outdoor pursuits like disc golf on campus fields. Winters chill with wind chills below freezing, and the flat expanse lacks scenic hikes, pushing social energy indoors or to car trips. Lubbock's small-city pulse offers taquerias and the Science Spectrum museum, but expect a campus-dominated feel over urban buzz.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Big 12 Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
85%
4 Years Graduation Rate
47%
6 Years Graduation Rate
67%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$62,454
85% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Texas Tech University and return in the fall. 47% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 67% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
47%
4-5 years
20%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
32%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$8,935
Acceptance
73%
Undergrads
32,580
4-Year Grad Rate
47%
Endowment
$978M
Lubbock, TX 79409-5005
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