Texas Tech University

Quick Stats

Box 45005
Lubbock, TX 79409: [map]

Phone: (806) 742-2011

2010-2011 Tuition

$8,260: in-state

$17,560: out-of-state

Students

25,462: enrolled

55%: male /

45%: female

Admissions

Aug. 1: application deadline

71.7%: accepted

More Information

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

U.S. News rank	Category Name
#160	National Universities

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Summary

Texas Tech University is a public institution that was founded in 1923. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,462, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,839 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Texas Tech University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 160. Its in-state tuition and fees are $8,260 (2010-11); out-of-state tuition and fees are $17,560 (2010-11).

Texas Tech University is a large research institution in the college town of Lubbock. Students are required to live on campus until they have completed 30 hours of coursework. The Texas Tech Red Raiders sports teams compete in the NCAA Big 12 Conference and are particularly competitive in football and basketball. Texas Tech has a large Greek community with about 50 fraternities and sororities, among the more than 450 student organizations to get involved in. The university also runs unique centers and institutes, including the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE), which coordinates chess tournaments, workshops, classes, and more.

The school offers a wide variety of graduate programs, including degrees through the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration, the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, and the School of Law. Notable alumni of Texas Tech University include Ed Whitacre, former chairman and CEO of both AT&T and General Motors and the namesake of the engineering school; Grammy-nominated country singer Pat Green; and actor Brad Leland, who appeared in both the feature film and television series Friday Night Lights.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

There is no better place to be right now than Texas Tech University. Not since the university was founded in 1923 has there been such opportunity or momentum. Graduate and undergraduate enrollments are at record levels. Total research expenditures will top $100 million this year. Our faculty and students are winning international acclaim. We are recruiting and hiring top-flight faculty in a variety of disciplines. Our goal is simple: become one of the nation's great research universities.

Last year, the Texas Legislature established the National Research University Fund (NRUF) to aid seven designated universities, including Texas Tech, in improving their presence as nationally recognized research universities. The universities must meet specific criteria to receive research funding from NRUF. Texas Tech is well on its way to fulfilling those benchmarks to receive additional research funding.

A strong art and music program is balanced with growing research in a number of sustainable energy areas. New areas of research in solar and nuclear energies as well as smart grids and storage are supported by major endowed chairs for which national searches are currently underway. Texas Tech researchers are also known for their work in creative and technical writing, food safety, environmental toxicology and wind science.
Texas Tech is proud to boast of one of the finest and most diverse faculties in the nation. Our faculty members excel in teaching, research and service as demonstrated by the award-winning chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious honor society. From prestigious nationally competitive scholarship, such as the William J. Fulbright, Gates-Cambridge, and Barry M. Goldwater, to national championships in debate, chess, animal science and law, Texas Tech students are known nationwide for their successes. Texas Tech attracts top-quality students. That is evident in our Phi Beta Kappa chapter, which received the highest possible rating from the national Phi Beta Kappa Society.

Community engagement plays an important role at Texas Tech. In 2006, the university was one of the first 62 institutions and the first in Texas to earn the Carnegie Foundation's classification for Community Engagement. Since 2007, the university has been annually recognized by the Corporation for National and Community Service President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

Texas Tech is the leading employer in Lubbock, a university-friendly city. It is the retail and medical center for West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.

The city features major retailers, numerous restaurants and internationally recognized wineries. Recreational opportunities are abundant, with top-flight golf courses, dozens of city parks and swimming pools and three small recreational lakes located within an hour of the city. The city is home to a symphony orchestra, the Lubbock Ballet and thriving community art and theatre groups. Four airlines, Southwest, American, Continental and Delta, serve the city.

General Information

School type	public, coed college
Year founded	1923
Religious affiliation	N/A
Academic calendar	semester
Setting	urban
2010 Endowment	$434,150,719

Applying

When applying to Texas Tech University, it's important to note the application deadline is August 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due August 1. The application fee at Texas Tech University is $50. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 71.7 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity	selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate	72%
Application deadline	August 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by	August 1

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Texas Tech University is 23:1, and the school has 22.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Texas Tech University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering; Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; and Social Sciences. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 81.5 percent.

Class sizes

Student-faculty ratio

23:1

4-year graduation rate

37% - Medium

Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services	27%
Engineering	10%
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences	8%
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs	7%
Social Sciences	5%

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Student Life

Texas Tech University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,462, with a gender distribution of 55.5 percent male students and 44.5 percent female students. 26.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 74.0 percent of students live off campus. Texas Tech University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Texas Tech University.

Total enrollment	31,637
Student gender distribution

Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity

Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority

Collegiate athletic association	NCAA I

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Campus Info & Services

Texas Tech University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Texas Tech University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Texas Tech University, 47 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at Texas Tech University.

Students who have cars on campus	47% - Medium
Health insurance offered	Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer	No

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Paying for School

At Texas Tech University, 45.8 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $6,955.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

In-state tuition and fees	$8,260 (2010-11)
Out-of-state tuition and fees	$17,560 (2010-11)
Room and board	$7,800 (2010-11) - Medium
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews Ratings data provided by Unigo

One of the best things about tech is that its just such a beautiful campus. The buildings are really pretty and its a great place to take pictures if you ever needed any with a old fashion style. The only thing id change is that since it is such a big campus we really need more buses to help get people to class faster. Other than that it is a nice size. Usually people are pretty interested when i tell them i go to texas tech, especially older people because when they were in college tech was known as a huge party school so they want to know what parties are like now and how the teachers are. well truth is, tech likes to party. there is rarely a weekend that there isnt a party going on but for most people its not a problem with school work and staying focuses. most people learn fast they dont want to be in college for 7 years so they dont get too out of control. it is a college town i mean there isnt much else in lubbock but tech, thats what attracts people. you cant beat everyone in town going to a football game on saturday or it being the highlight of every news channel. sometimes you forget its an actual town and there are high schools and elementaries! Techs administration is pretty good though ive never had a problem with getting in contact with someone if i ever had a question about classes or grades. they are really helpful and really do want to know your opinion about the professors they hire. there is definitely a lot of school pride, you dont want to drive through lubbock with a longhorn sign or aggie tshirt on because you will get thrown out of lubbock! even the tech alumni that still live here whether they are 30 or 80 will get onto people wearing anything other than tech. its pretty awesome! so far my experiences at tech have been great. its a lot of fun and people live for football and basketball season around here! there are a lot of good organizations and programs here to fit just about everyones interests, rarely have i ever hearrd anyone complain about anything to do with tech, except the police that think they are the toughest people around, but other than that its a great college!

Brandi Sophomore

Tech is an amazing school. I don't think there's a single one of my friends at Tech that, if possible, would go back to senior year in high school and change their choice of university. We have a beautiful campus, and it's continuously being added on to or upgraded. If I could change one thing, it would be the amount of school pride among Tech students. We always have good attendance at sporting events, but I wish it would be GREAT attendance. Speaking of, I love the size of our school. It's big enough to meet someone new everyday, but it's small enough to where your professors know your name (if you take the time to introduce yourself). It's also one of the biggest consecutive campuses, so you're able to walk to all our classes (hence the "consecutive" part) but large enough to get you a little exercise (hence the "big" part). It's also a ton of fun, because Lubbock is definitely a college town. The town is very happy to have Tech a part of it, and the town gets just as involved with football tailgating and school events as the students. Some people (that obviously don't go to Tech) complain that "Tech is in the middle of nowhere." But more than likely, those people go to SMU or TCU and their student population spends every weekend driving to "the middle of nowhere" to hang out with us. Our student body generally spends most weekends here, because for such a "small town in the middle of nowhere" we have a LOT going on.

Anonymous Senior

When I tell someone I go to Tech the usual reaction is a comment about how flat Lubbock is or that the campus is in the middle of nowhere. Lubbock really is flat and there really isnÕt a whole lot besides the campus around but thatÕs the fun of it. Everyone supports Tech and it is such a college town because most people you see are students themselves. The campus is really big but with all the architecture and sculptures around it makes it a pretty sight to look at. The best thing about Tech is the people and the school spirit. The people are so friendly and down to earth. There is a ton of that "Red Raider pride" amongst students and alums. Before every home game the Saddle Tramps wrap the Will Rodgers statue (right in front of campus) with red streamers and wrap studentÕs cars that are parked around campus. It gets us fired up for the games. Greek life is HUGE. IÕm a Tri-Delta and can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I made by choosing to join a sorority. You interact with so many different groups of people and are always in the know about the events going on around campus. I know guys who say the same thing about joining a fraternity. The major issue I hear people complain about is the weather in Lubbock. One day it can be clear and sunny, next day there could be around 30 mile per hour winds, and the day after that thereÕs snow on the ground. It is very unpredictable. There are no drains in Lubbock so when it rains, it floods. Everyone planning on coming to Tech should invest in some rain boots. Also because Lubbock is so flat there are a lot of dust storms, sometimes it gets so bad that the skies look red. The grossest thing is the smell at times. ThereÕs a slaughter house on the outskirts of campus somewhere and every month or so they have to do what they do with all the cows and the stench is literally unbearable for about two days. On a positive note, the summers are beautiful. Many students stay for summer sessions or just relax in Lubbock to stay near their friends. IÕve been here for three years and have stayed every summer for both sessions just taking a class or two and it is always a blast. I spend most of my time on campus in the SUB (Student Union Building) when IÕm not in the Mass Communications building doing classes. The SUB has the cafeteria (which has a large array of restaurants and food to choose from, a Starbucks, a Barnes and Noble, electronic shops, and other small stores. There are also lounge areas to hang out if you have some extra time in between classes and donÕt want to get off campus.

Jessica Senior

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* Overview details based on 2010 data

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Summary

General Information

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