Fall Semester Enrollment at TAMIU Sets Record; Increase in Semester Credit Hours Impressive
This Fall 2024 semester at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) heralds impressive gains with a historic Fall enrollment of 8,945 students, a 5.24% increase over last Fall and a 5.26% increase in semester credit hours.
TAMIU Interim President Juan J. Castillo shared some factors driving the enrollment growth.
“TAMIU has the lowest tuition of any South Texas university and that’s important as parents and students consider higher ed options. In addition, at TAMIU the published tuition rate is the price students pay regardless of their field of study. Students aren’t forced into a field of study based on what they can afford to pay—they’re free to pursue their passion for the same published tuition rate, which has been the same since 2021,” he observed.
Castillo noted those reduced costs have also translated to TAMIU having the second lowest student debt among all South Texas graduates, $6,000 below the State average.
On the academic side, he said TAMIU’s recruitment of students in the Top 10% of their high school classes rivals flagship universities by percentage of the freshman class they represent.
In addition, TAMIU’s first-year persistence rate is 85%, the highest of all State regionals and 5% above the State average for comprehensive regionals (CRUs). Average time to degree is 4.7 years and TAMIU’s six-year graduation rate is 5% above the average for the State’s CRU’s.
Castillo indicated the University’s enrollment gains have been equally impressive and position the University strongly as the Legislature convenes in January.
“Our legislators like to see that we are delivering on our mission, and increased enrollment and growth in semester credit hours are the strongest indicators of that,” he said.
Semester credit hours (SCH), upon which the University’s funding is calculated, reached a milestone of 100,120, a 5.26% increase.
Additionally, the University welcomed a large Freshman class of 1,363 students. Of the freshman class, some 80% are from local high schools, but 20% are from out-of-town high schools with over 100 high schools represented in the freshman class.
Some 52% of TAMIU freshmen have earned college credit before enrollment at TAMIU and 99% are full-time students. About 21% of the class graduated in the Top 10% of their high school class while 30% graduated in the Top 11 - 25% of their class. Most TAMIU freshmen also have a targeted major in mind, with only 4% of freshmen citing an undeclared major.
TAMIU also saw a 5% increase in new transfers to the University, with the largest percentage coming from local higher education partner Laredo College.
Additional student demographics show that 62% of all enrolled Fall 2024 students are women while 38% are men and 96% identify as a minority. Over 97% are from Texas with 79% from Webb County. The student body includes 32 U.S. States and Territories while 42 countries are represented, equaling a 40% increase in international student enrollment.
Of undergraduates, 77% attend full-time. The average undergraduate age is 21. Some $85 million in financial aid was awarded to students in 2024 and 79% of all students received financial aid.
Castillo observed that graduate student growth is also up an impressive 16% with 78% of graduate students attending full-time with an average age of 34. Average age for doctoral students is 39.
The College with the highest enrollment is the College of Arts and Sciences with a combined undergraduate and graduate enrollment of 3,752 students. The A. R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business follows with 1,794 students. The College of Nursing and Health Sciences has 1,586 and the College of Education 1,033students. University College (undergraduate enrollment only) is 780.
The top five undergraduate majors are Business Administration, Nursing, Criminal Justice, Biology, and Psychology. Of undergraduate students, 58% are taking an online course.
The top five graduate majors are Business Administration, Curriculum and Instructions, Criminal Justice, School Counseling, and Family Nurse Practitioner.
The University celebrated the milestone semester with a student engagement initiative dubbed “U are Dear to Us” that affirmed daily efforts by University offices, departments, Colleges and Schools focused on student support and success. Social media scavenger hunts, a dedicated website, engaging videos, and the awarding of collectible TAMIU-branded miniature deer highlighted the effort.
Registration for TAMIU’s Wintermester and Spring 2025 courses is underway online via Uconnect.
TAMIU Spring 2025 classes begin Jan. 21, 2025. Late registration begins Jan. 21 at 8 a.m. and continues through Monday, Jan. 27 at 11:59 p.m.
For more, contact the Office of the University Registrar at 326.2250, email registrar@tamiu.edu, or visit offices in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, suite 121, or visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.
University information is also found on its website, tamiu.edu, and University social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
