In a positive trend for higher education, enrollment figures have risen at numerous colleges and universities across Tarrant County compared to the previous year, 2023. However, at the largest institutions—Tarrant County College (TCC) and the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)—undergraduate enrollment in the fall of 2024 has yet to fully recover to pre-COVID levels from the fall of 2019.
Tarrant County College has seen its enrollment decrease by nearly 3,750 students, marking a significant 7% decline since fall 2019. Similarly, the total undergraduate enrollment at UTA has diminished by around 1,380 students, constituting a 4.5% decrease during the same timeframe.
Nathan Grawe, a noted author and professor of economics at Carleton College in Minnesota, highlighted the ongoing challenges for two-year colleges in his book “Demographics and the Demand for Higher Education.” He indicated that the enrollment at two-year colleges has substantially declined since the Great Recession in 2007, exacerbated by the pandemic’s disruptions.
“Low unemployment rates and a vibrant job market are enticing potential students away from two-year colleges,” pointed out Grawe. “Moreover, since 2015, we’ve been witnessing substantial wage compression, with salaries for low-income positions increasing at a faster rate than inflation.”
While Tarrant County colleges report only modest increases from fall 2023 to fall 2024, the National Student Clearinghouse recently published findings indicating a nationwide 3% increase in undergraduate enrollment. Notably, Tarrant County College experienced a remarkable 5% growth compared to last year.
Fall 2024 Enrollment Numbers
Tarrant County College
47,351 students
University of Texas at Arlington
41,613 students
Texas Christian University
12,938 students
Texas Wesleyan University
2,532 students
Tarleton State University Fort Worth
2,524 students
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
2,332 students
Texas A&M University School of Law
447 law students
1,083 master’s students
As experts in higher education brace for a looming “demographic cliff” projected to commence in 2026, they anticipate a significant drop in high school graduates due to declining birth rates that were notable during the Great Recession between 2007 and 2009. Nevertheless, Texas is expected to weather this storm better than many other states, thanks to an influx of new residents and a higher number of immigrants.
Consequently, discussions surrounding campus expansions and new constructions have taken center stage in Tarrant County’s higher education landscape. August marked a busy month as preparations ramped up for the return of students to campuses. UTA has announced an ambitious plan for a new campus, UTA West near Aledo, that aims to ultimately accommodate more than 10,000 students. Additionally, the Texas A&M Fort Worth campus has received approval from the Board of Regents to proceed with the design phase for its second building in a planned three-building downtown project.
In southwest Fort Worth, Tarleton Fort Worth has recently opened the second building on its campus and welcomed its first incoming freshman class. Meanwhile, Texas Christian University (TCU) has unveiled its comprehensive campus master plan, which includes plans for 25 new buildings. Texas Wesleyan is also making strides with construction underway on a new football stadium, projected to be completed in 2026.
“It’s truly an exciting time to be part of this city, with higher education at its core,” expressed Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker during the grand opening ceremony of Tarleton Fort Worth’s Interprofessional Education Building. “I wish everyone had the chance to see firsthand the myriad remarkable developments happening throughout our city.”
In light of the rapid population growth within the Fort Worth area, Tarrant County has witnessed modest growth in student enrollment at its various colleges and universities over the past decade. While total enrollment in fall 2014 was approximately 102,650, figures have escalated to almost 110,000 in fall 2024, marking a noteworthy 7% increase.
Tarrant County College Enrollment Decreases Over Time, Without a Full Pandemic Recovery
Despite Tarrant County College officials emphasizing the college’s “great enrollment recovery” since the pandemic, headcount figures are still falling short of the pre-pandemic levels seen in fall 2019. Yet, the college is reporting promising signs of growth. From fall 2023 to the present, there has been a 5% increase in enrollment, albeit amid challenges with glitches and delays affecting the FAFSA form, which is crucial for determining students’ eligibility for federal financial aid.
The college has made concerted efforts to enhance enrollment, retention, and completion figures, having previously set a goal to attract 50,000 students while also aiming to boost completion rates, stated college officials.
“Our faculty actively engage with students from the very first day,” explained Tara Firmin, director of strategic support for Tarrant County College. “This proactive approach allows our staff to identify early signs of changes in attendance or behavior that necessitate swift intervention and support.” Students are assigned a dedicated career advisor to accompany them throughout their academic journey, whether for transition to a four-year institution or for direct entry into the workforce, fostering a supportive relationship to ensure their success.
Currently, of the over 47,000 students enrolled at TCC, approximately 12,500 are dual-enrolled high school students taking college-level courses. Over the last decade, TCC’s student headcount has seen a decline from 50,773 in fall 2014 to 47,351 this fall, reflecting a nearly 7% decrease.
Source: TCC Data at a Glance
UTA Grows Enrollment by Nearly 20% in 10 Years, With Major Gains in Graduate Enrollment
Over the last decade, UTA has experienced a total enrollment increase of 19%, fueled in part by an impressive near 26% rise in graduate enrollment. In the past year, from fall 2023 to fall 2024, there was a 7.5% rise in graduate enrollment figures. Nevertheless, total enrollment at UTA still falls short of the pre-COVID figures recorded in fall 2019, as enrollment has decreased by nearly 3% over the past five years. The undergraduate segment, which includes post-baccalaureate students, suffered a more significant decrease of 4.5%.
As of fall 2024, UTA’s undergraduate enrollment stands at 29,271, down from 30,652 in fall 2019, translating to approximately 1,380 fewer undergraduates.
According to UTA reports, specific growth was observed in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation and the College of Science, both of which recorded enrollment increases higher than 5.5% from fall 2023 to fall 2024.
Source: UT System Dashboard
TCU Enrollment Makes Massive Gains in the Past 10 Years, Including After Pandemic
TCU has seen a remarkable enrollment trajectory, surging from about 10,000 total students in fall 2014 to nearly 13,000 students in fall 2024, demonstrating a substantial increase of 29%. Graduate and undergraduate enrollment figures have both witnessed significant growth, with increases of 35% and 26%, respectively. TCU has not only sustained but also continued to advance in enrollment even after the pandemic.
The university reported an impressive 17% growth in total enrollment from fall 2019 to fall 2024, while graduate enrollment escalated by 22% during the same period. The institution welcomed its inaugural class of 60 first-year students to its Burnett School of Medicine in fall 2019. By 2023, with students spanning all four years of the program, the medical school’s enrollment had expanded to 240.
Growth has primarily been fueled by thriving programs in the Neeley School of Business, which saw a 6.3% increase in enrollment, and the College of Science and Engineering, which experienced a 2.4% increase between 2023 and 2024.
Source: TCU Common Data Set
Texas Wesleyan University Enrollment Decreases by 3% Over Past 10 Years
Texas Wesleyan has maintained a steady enrollment trend, hovering around 2,600 students. For the fall of 2024, enrollment stood at 2,529, reflecting a nearly 140-student decrease compared to fall 2023, as well as an approximate drop of 80 students from fall 2014. However, the university has reported a notable increase in the number of degree-seeking undergraduates, with a 4.5% rise from fall 2023 to fall 2024, as well as a significant 25% growth since fall 2020.
Despite an overall decline, total enrollment has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels seen in fall 2019, registering a 3% decrease overall. Graduate enrollment has suffered a more pronounced drop, showing a 14% decline over the past five years.
Source: Texas Wesleyan Enrollment Trend
As Presence in Fort Worth Expands, Tarleton Fort Worth’s Enrollment Grows Significantly
Tarleton State University has been a part of Fort Worth for more than 45 years. Since the unveiling of its Fort Worth campus off Chisholm Trail Parkway in the fall of 2019, total enrollment has surged from 1,912 to 2,524, indicating a remarkable 32% rise despite the typical enrollment reductions seen nationwide during the pandemic. “Our mission was to elevate the profile of Tarleton State by promoting its unique story,” noted Tarleton State University President James Hurley, who also leads the main campus in Stephenville, which has experienced more than 35% enrollment growth since fall 2019.
Additionally, graduate enrollment saw a staggering 72% increase, while overall growth from 2014 to 2024 reached an impressive 75%.
Source: Data courtesy of Tarleton State University
Enrollment Holds Steady at the Health Science Center, With a 5% Growth Since the Pandemic
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth has exhibited minor fluctuations in enrollment over recent years, showing a level change of around 100 students. However, from fall 2019 to fall 2024, the enrollment has seen an increase of 113 students, representing a 5% growth. “Since summer 2020, we’ve established 14 new programs tailored to address urgent health workforce needs in our region and meet the increasing demands of the industry,” asserted Charles Taylor, Health Science Center provost. “Our aim is to create solutions that foster a healthier community, and these new programs help us draw students dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for others.”
Among the new initiatives launched since summer 2020 are a bachelor’s in biomedical sciences, a College of Nursing, and a hybrid doctoral degree in pharmacy.
Source: Data courtesy of UNT Health Science Center
Master’s Programs at Texas A&M School of Law Grow Dramatically, While Law Degree Enrollment Decreases This Year
The Texas A&M University School of Law has enjoyed a notable rise in rankings, climbing from 46th to 29th in the nation between 2023 and 2024. This success may be attributed to a more selective enrollment process. However, enrollment in the JD program saw a decrease of nearly 30 students, equating to a nearly 6% decline from fall 2023 to fall 2024. Overall, a significant 36% drop in enrollment has been recorded from fall 2014 to fall 2024, coinciding with the second year of Texas A&M acquiring the law school from Texas Wesleyan University.
Despite these declines in law degree enrollment, the law school is experiencing exceptional growth in its master’s degree offerings, which have expanded from no programs in fall 2014 to hosting 1,083 students in fall 2024. This segment has seen a robust 30% growth from fall 2023 to fall 2024, reinforcing the school’s status as the largest provider of graduate-level legal education to nonlawyer professionals nationally.
Source: Data courtesy of Texas A&M University School of Law
Shomial Ahmad is a higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report, in partnership with Open Campus. Contact her at [email protected].
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The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
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