Home

10%

State of the University

Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec reflected on record-setting progress and the people, investments and priorities shaping the university's future

By Texas Tech University

September 23^rd, 2026

Texas Tech University President Lawrence Schovanec highlighted record enrollment, continued gains in student success, growing research activity and historic philanthropic support Wednesday (Sept. 23) during his annual State of the University address, while outlining how the university is preparing for a rapidly changing higher education landscape.

Schovanec framed Texas Tech’s progress around the people behind it and the intentional investments the university has made over the last decade.

“Throughout our history, generations of Red Raiders have made choices that created opportunities for those who followed,” Schovanec said. “We are the beneficiaries of those choices today. And now, it is our responsibility to make the choices that will shape what comes next.”

State of the University

Record Enrollment, Student Success

This fall, Texas Tech welcomed a record 46,296 students, surpassing 45,000 for the first time. The incoming class included approximately 9,500 first-time-in-college students. Overall enrollment has increased by more than 12% over the past two years and by more than 3,800 students since last fall, marking the university’s fifth consecutive year of enrollment growth.

That growth has been accompanied by continued progress in student success. Texas Tech’s four-year graduation rate has reached 51%, while its six-year graduation rate is nearly 70%.

State of the University

State of the University

The university also is giving prospective students and families more information to make informed decisions about a college education. This summer, Texas Tech centralized and redesigned more than 100 undergraduate academic program webpages and introduced a new program finder. The pages provide information about potential career paths, employment opportunities and salaries associated with individual academic programs.

Since launching in July, the new academic program pages have become one of the five most-viewed sections across the Texas Tech website.

Texas Tech also continues to expand access through the Red Raider Guarantee, which provides financial support to more than 7,000 students, including more than 2,000 incoming students.

President Lawrence Schovanec addresses the audience at a spring 2026 commencement ceremony.

Philanthropic Support

Alumni and friends continue to play an important role in expanding opportunities for Texas Tech students and strengthening the university.

Donors contributed more than $229 million during the past year. In the spring, Texas Tech’s ON&ON Campaign surpassed $1 billion in philanthropic support and has now reached nearly $1.2 billion. Since the campaign began, donors have established 757 new endowments supporting students, faculty, programs and other university priorities.

Barry and SuDe Street are both first-generation Red Raiders who are paying forward the impact of a Texas Tech education.

Research Serving Texas

Texas Tech also continues to expand the reach and impact of its research enterprise, with annual research expenditures surpassing $310 million.

That expertise is being applied to some of the most consequential challenges facing Texas, including agriculture, severe weather, water, energy and national security.

Faculty from Texas Tech’s School of Veterinary Medicine are helping agricultural producers and state leaders prepare for the threat of New World screwworm, which poses risks to livestock, wildlife and the state’s agricultural economy.

Researchers at the National Wind Institute also are leading a major expansion of Texas Tech’s weather observation and forecasting capabilities following the devastating July 2025 floods in Central Texas.

Supported by a $24 million investment from the State of Texas, the initiative will expand the West Texas Mesonet and advanced radar coverage into the Texas Hill Country while developing new capabilities to better understand and predict high-impact weather.

Drs. Chad Cross and Jennifer Koziol discuss the threat of New World screwworm in a School of Veterinary Medicine lab.

State of the University

State of the University

The effort is part of a broader vision to create an integrated weather intelligence system combining real-time observations, advanced radar, high-performance computing and Texas-focused forecasting. The goal is to provide forecasters and communities with better information to prepare for severe and rapidly developing weather.

Texas Tech’s research growth also is creating new opportunities in areas including artificial intelligence, national security, agriculture, energy and water. Research expenditures have increased by more than $60 million in two years, supported in part by investments made possible through the Texas University Fund.

State of the University

Building for the Future

Schovanec also pointed to investments that will shape the university for decades to come.

Construction of the Design Village will create new opportunities for collaboration among students and faculty in architecture, art, design and related disciplines. Texas Tech also has begun work toward a new building for theDavis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, ensuring one of the university’s founding academic strengths remains positioned to serve Texas agriculture for generations.

Those investments are part of what Schovanec described as Texas Tech’s responsibility to adapt to changes affecting higher education while remaining committed to its fundamental mission.

“We cannot determine every circumstance,” Schovanec said. “But we can determine the kind of institution we will be within those circumstances.”

Throughout the address, Schovanec returned to the people whose work underpins the university’s progress and expressed confidence in Texas Tech’s future.

“Every day, across this university, I see faculty, staff, students and alumni working together to help students grow personally and professionally, advance knowledge, improve lives and serve Texas, the nation and the world,” Schovanec said.

A preview of the Design Village interior.

“And now, it is our responsibility to make the choices that will shape what comes next.”

State of the University

State of the University

State of the University

State of the University

State of the University

State of the University

Footnotes

Words by George Watson. Photos by Ashley Rodgers and Justin Rex.

FootNotes

Words by George Watson. Photos by Ashley Rodgers and Justin Rex.

© 2026 Texas Tech University

Texas Tech Computer Engineering alumnus leaned on his university in both good and challenging times. Now it's his turn to pay it forward.

The Life of a Play

“...to hold, as ‘twere, the mirror up to nature.” — Hamlet: Act III, Scene ii

These Alumni Retired as Hosts of Bed and Breakfast Across From Texas Tech After 31 Years of Business

Step in the Right Direction

Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine Associate Dean Leads by Example

Toughest Land on Earth

May 6^th, 2026

Rise & Research

Shane Walker on engineering, desalination and collaboration

Loading, please hold on.