COOKEVILLE – Tech’s Fall 2020 enrollment on Census Day (14th day of classes) was 10,177, a modest increase in a year when nearly half of Tennessee public universities saw enrollment decreases.
According to data provided by the university’s Office of Institutional Assessment, Research and Effectiveness, overall enrollment held steady from last year, with a 0.4% increase over Fall 2019 (37 students). This includes 8,778 undergraduate and 1,399 graduate students.
Tech undergraduate enrollment dropped 2%, while graduate student enrollment saw an 18.3% increase over last year. The university’s first-year retention rate rose slightly to 77.5%.
The largest college at Tech continues to be the College of Engineering, with 27% of total enrollment. Engineering is also the largest undergraduate college, and has the third-largest number of graduate students.
The College of Education has the largest number of graduate students, at more than 38% of the graduate student enrollment, and is the second-largest college in both total enrollment and undergraduate students.
The College of Business has the second largest number of graduate students.
A total of 2,847 new students enrolled at Tech, with 1,720 new freshmen, 681 transfer students and 446 new graduate students.
Incoming freshman continue to be an academically strong group, with an average high school GPA of 3.66 and an average ACT score of 24.2.
The top two undergraduate degree programs by enrollment are mechanical engineering and computer science, both in the College of Engineering. The top two graduate degree programs are curriculum and instruction in the College of Education and the College of Business’ MBA program.
