Texas State University received a record-breaking number of applications for the 2026-27 school year, with a total of 83,479. Heading into the fall semester, the university set 11 additional attendance records as it continues to grow year over year.
The gist
Texas State’s preliminary census day count determined the university has 47,513 total students this fall, a 7% increase from the 2025-26 school year, according to a Texas State University news release. The school welcomed 12,715 new undergraduates, including 9,145 freshmen.
Although Texas State set a new total enrollment record, the freshman class is the smallest since the 2022-23 school year, according to Texas State University Data, Analytics and Institutional Research.
The increased enrollment indicates the university’s ability to provide more students with access to higher education and the opportunities Texas State offers, said Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse.
“Texas State is proving what public higher education can achieve when access, academic excellence, research, workforce development and student success are not competing priorities, but shared commitments,” Damphousse said in the release.
Texas State is one of the fastest-growing universities in the state, increasing access through expanded graduate programs, strengthened partnerships with community colleges and additional opportunities through online degrees and the Round Rock campus, Damphousse said in the release.
Diving deeper
The university has 3,571 new transfer students for the fall semester, a 3% increase from the 2025-26 school year, according to the release. Texas State’s co-enrollment partnerships with community colleges statewide heavily influenced the increase.
The Round Rock campus will serve 4,003 students through a combination of in-person and online programs, a 37% increase. Students served fully online by the university increased by 54%, to 6,121 students.
“Together, these efforts reduce barriers of cost, time and geography while allowing us to manage growth thoughtfully on our San Marcos Campus,” Damphousse said.
Additional enrollment records set by the university for the fall 2026-27 school year include:
- 6,228 graduate students, a 20% increase
- 270 new research doctoral students, a 67% increase
- 2,222 international students, a 9% increase
- 600,969 total semester credit hours, a 6% increase
The McCoy College of Business, College of Science and Engineering and Health Professions also saw record numbers of enrollment.
Quote of note
“And we aren’t done yet,” Damphousse said in the release. “While we haven’t raised tuition since 2021, and have committed to keeping tuition flat through 2027, we continue to seek ways to reduce the cost of a Texas State degree, including our expanded Bobcat Promise program and the creation of future three-year degrees.”
The Bobcat Promise program provides grants for tuition and mandatory fees up to 15 hours per semester to qualifying students, according to the university's website.
