Texas Tech University

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

U.S. News rank Category Name #165 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 26,063, its setting is city, and the campus size is 1,839 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Texas Tech University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 165. Its in-state tuition and fees are $8,765 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $18,155 (2011-12).

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. In 2009, 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 were required to meet specific criteria to receive research funding from NRUF. Texas Tech met the criteria during each qualifying year and recognition as a NRUF institution is pending final statutory review. 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 faculty members excel at 'integrative scholarship', combining strengths in teaching, research and service. This excellence is demonstrated by nationally recognized awards and membership in professional academies. Texas Tech students reflect this excellence in their accomplishments. From prestigious nationally competitive scholarships, 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 in the nation 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 which serves as 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, city parks and swimming pools, recreational lakes, and the Palo Duro Canyon in the region. The city is home to a symphony orchestra, the Lubbock Ballet and thriving community art and theatre groups. Several airlines, including Southwest, American and United/Continental, serve the city.

General Information

School type	public, coed college
Year founded	1923
Religious affiliation	N/A
Academic calendar	semester
Setting	city
2011 Endowment	$474,854,744

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 $60. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 66.3 percent.

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

Selectivity	selective
Fall 2011 acceptance rate	66.3%
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 24:1, and the school has 24.2 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 81.2 percent.

Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio	24:1
4-year graduation rate	35
Five most popular majors for 2011 graduates
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services 23% Engineering 10% Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences 8% Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs 6% Social Sciences 6%

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Student Life

Texas Tech University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 26,063, with a gender distribution of 55.3 percent male students and 44.7 percent female students. At this school, 24.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 76.0 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	32,327
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, 42 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at Texas Tech University.

Students who have cars on campus	42%
Health insurance offered	Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer	No

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Paying for School

At Texas Tech University, 50.3 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $6,436.

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	$8,765 (2011-12)
Out-of-state tuition and fees	$18,155 (2011-12)
Room and board	$8,095 (2011-12)
Financial aid statistics

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* Overview details based on 2011 data