On campus

Tech sees increase in enrollment and learning options for fall 2020

The enrollment for first-time freshmen and overall undergraduate enrollment is slightly up this fall compared to fall of 2019 according to Karen Lykins, chief communication officer. Graduate numbers are up significantly this fall compared to last fall.

“Fall 2020 undergraduate enrollment is up over fall 2019 by 45 students, at 10,185. First-time freshmen increased slightly by 15 students over last fall,” Lykins said. “Graduate enrollment went up about 20 percent with an increase in more than 200 students since fall 2019.”

The increase in enrollment may be due to Tech’s flexible learning options.  Tech is providing three options for learning this semester due to COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing.  

Students on Centennial Plaza walking at the beginning of the semester.

“The mix of undergraduate sections at the beginning of the semester is approximately 1/3 taught fully online, 1/3 in a highly flexible mixture of in-person and online, 1/3 in-person with a portion of online,” Lykins said. “About 49 percent of total graduate students have exclusively online classes.” 

These were the numbers at the beginning of the semester.  They could change if the needs of the campus community changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic or the academic needs of faculty and students change.  

 “As the semester progresses and new needs are discovered, this number could vary ever so slightly,” Lykins said.