The University of Texas at Austin has been breaking records again, achieving an unprecedented number of freshman applications and reaching a new high in its four-year graduation rate. According to news released by the University of Texas at Austin, the number of applications rose by a substantial 10% over last year, totaling 72,885 for the Fall 2024 term.
Enrollment numbers have also ticked up by 1.5% to 53,864 students, making it another record-setting year. The university has continued to not just attract students in droves but to sustain and guide them through to completion—the four-year graduation rate has surged to 74.8%, a significant jump from 52.0% back in 2013. This increment is even more pronounced among Pell-eligible and minority students, who have outstripped the university-wide gains over the past decade. UT President Jay Hartzell emphasized that the university's approach is to actively "to make a first-class education more affordable," leading to superior student performance and reduced debt.
Financial aid initiatives like UT for Me, powered by Dell Scholars and the Texas Advance Commitment, are contributing factors to these successes. They are helping lower the net tuition cost, which, as reported by the university, has dropped by almost a third of its list price down to $4,152. Plus, scholarships focused on housing affordability are easing the burden on UT students who struggle the most financially, offering up to $2,300 per year to help with the expenses of university housing.
Boosts in diversity complement the university's academic triumphs; Hispanic and Black student populations now represent 25.5% and 5.4%, respectively, within UT's undergrad and graduate enrollment. The continuation of these trends underlines UT’s standing as a university that not only draws students from varied backgrounds, but also one that is finding ways to more effectively propel them towards graduation. "Once students arrive, they are performing better than ever," President Hartzell noted in his statement, showcasing the institutional commitment to turn applications into successful academic careers.
All this data is preliminary, as measured on the 12th class day of the term, with final figures to be disclosed in the university's annual report, Trends in Student Data. The university's progress seems in step with its long-standing goal to remain an epicenter of opportunity and academic excellence in the heart of Texas.
