Texas State's 2017 freshman class largest in university history
Posted by Jayme Blaschke
Office of Media Relations
September 19, 2017
Texas State University has announced a record-setting freshman class of 5,875 for the 2017 fall semester, a 2.5 percent increase over the previous record set in 2016.
Approximately 51 percent of incoming Texas State freshmen ranked in the top quartile of their high school graduating class, a quality metric important to the university’s goal of achieving its status as a research university.
Overall, Texas State reported total enrollment of 38,694 students for fall 2017, which was relatively flat from a year earlier. Ethnic minorities account for more than half of the overall student population at the university.
“Texas State continues to attract quality students and expand its academic programs to support the economic well-being of Texas,” Texas State President Denise M. Trauth said. “As the university evolves, we expect that graduate education and research will have a growing presence at Texas State.”
The College of Science and Engineering showed continued growth as Texas State’s largest college, reporting an all-time-high enrollment of 6,542 students ― a gain of 289 students, or 4.6 percent, from last fall. The growth of the College of Science and Engineering, driven in part by added and expanded degree programs in recent years, contributed to the need for Bruce and Gloria Ingram Hall, currently under construction. Ingram Hall, scheduled for completion in summer 2018, will be the university's largest academic building.
The College of Health Professions experienced the largest percentage gain in enrollment, 4.7 percent, over last year. That represented an increase of 141 students.
The College of Health Professions will relocate Communication Disorders, Physical Therapy and Respiratory Care programs from its San Marcos Campus to the Round Rock Campus following completion of Willow Hall in the spring of 2018, further expanding student enrollment there.
Texas State’s growth in science and engineering and in health professions reflects an escalating need in Texas’ work force for more skilled workers in those disciplines.
“Texas State will continue to expand its academic programs, particularly at the graduate level, to produce more specially trained workers to meet our state’s greatest workforce needs,” said Texas State Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Gene Bourgeois. This fall, the university launched a Ph.D. program in computer science and a master’s program in respiratory care.
About Texas State University
Founded in 1899, Texas State University is among the largest universities in Texas with an enrollment of 38,694 students on campuses in San Marcos and Round Rock. Texas State’s 181,000-plus alumni are a powerful force in serving the economic workforce needs of Texas and throughout the world. Designated an Emerging Research University by the State of Texas, Texas State is classified under “Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity,” the second-highest designation for research institutions under the Carnegie classification system.