East Texas A&M University (ETAMU) has announced a historic milestone with an enrollment of 14,589 students for the Fall 2026 semester, surpassing the previous record of 13,464 set in Fall 2016. This represents an increase of more than 8% compared to the last academic year.
The university experienced notable growth in both graduate and undergraduate programs. Graduate enrollment rose by over 6%, while undergraduate enrollment increased by more than 10%. Additionally, there was a significant uptick in students transferring from other institutions, with this group also growing by more than 10%.
President Mark Rudin attributed the record numbers to the university's commitment to aligning education with the workforce needs of Northeast Texas.
He emphasized the importance of preparing students with the necessary skills and experiences to succeed in their careers and contribute to their communities. “It's truly a special occasion in our university's storied history to have a record number of students joining the Lion Family,” Rudin stated.
This year's incoming freshman class is reportedly better prepared than previous cohorts, showing improvements in average high school GPA, class rankings, and SAT scores. Furthermore, enrollment in ETAMU's competency-based degree programs rose nearly 14%, highlighting the university's role in supporting adult learners seeking to complete their degrees.
