While enrollment at many colleges nationwide remains depressed over COVID-19 uncertainties, Tarleton State University begins fall 2021 up 6.2 percent from its prepandemic count of 13,176.
Based on 12th class day numbers, graduate enrollment is up 19.5 percent over 2019, and undergraduate 4.1 percent.
That’s significant, considering enrollment growth at Texas public universities fell to 1.4 percent in fall 2020 while Tarleton saw a record-breaking 6.4 percent increase as the fifth fastest growing state institution. Heading into pandemic year two, Tarleton leaders knew a repeat was daunting and that even holding steady would be reason to cheer.
With a total fall 2021 enrollment of 13,996 — just 26 students shy of fall 2020 and 846 more than fall 2019 — they’re celebrating.