THECB data: Texas public higher education enrollment up 3.3% in fall 2024; graduation rates hold steady

At a Jan. 22 meeting of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Committee on Innovation, Data and Educational Analytics, assistant commissioner Melissa Humphries presented certified fall 2024 enrollment and degree‑award data showing statewide enrollments rose 3.3% from fall 2023 to fall 2024 and that public institutions awarded more than 319,000 degrees and certificates in 2024.

Humphries, the assistant commissioner for data management and research, told committee members that certified numbers largely matched the preliminary figures discussed at the committee’s previous meeting. “Statewide enrollments increased by 3.3% from fall ’23 to fall ’24, which is about 50,500 students,” she said. She said the largest increases were at public two‑year institutions, which saw about a 5% rise.

The committee heard that first‑time freshman enrollment at public institutions has risen steadily over five years and that roughly 220,000 undergraduates enrolled as first‑time freshmen at public institutions in 2024; about 56% of those freshmen were at public two‑year colleges. Humphries also reported a notable jump in dual‑credit participation: about 249,000 dual‑credit students were enrolled at public colleges and universities in fall 2024, and community colleges accounted for about 90% of dual‑credit enrollments.

Humphries flagged that programs intended to broaden access — including FAST funding and community college outcome funding — are being monitored for their effect on dual‑credit participation but that more time is needed to draw conclusions. “It’s a little too soon to tell. We need probably two years of information to see if this is affecting the rate of change,” she said. She noted that in fall 2023 about half of the dual‑credit students were FAST funded and that fall 2024 showed a 14% increase in dual‑credit enrollment versus 2023.

On degree awards and graduation rates, Humphries said public institutions reported roughly 319,000 degrees and certificates in 2024, and almost all certificates (about 47,000) and the majority of associate degrees were awarded by community, state and technical colleges. Most bachelor’s degrees were awarded by universities. Four‑ and six‑year graduation rates at Texas public universities have held near recent levels: Humphries reported a six‑year rate that has “hovered around 66%” and a four‑year rate at universities of 45.2% for the latest cohort.

Committee members asked about more granular tracking of student pathways. One member asked whether the graduation rates shown capture students who start in Texas and later graduate out of state; Humphries said that the THECB is working on expanded data through a contract with the National Student Clearinghouse to track students who leave the Texas system. “That’s something we hope to be able to add,” she said.

The meeting also included an informational report from the Financial Aid Advisory Committee (FAAC). Cecilia Jones, director of financial aid at Jarvis Christian University and FAAC chair, summarized the committee’s 2023‑24 activities, noting four virtual meetings, an estimated 412 volunteer hours, and work on FAFSA/TASFA timing and the state’s new student aid index. Jones said FAAC recommended that the coordinating board continue the committee (the board is scheduled to review whether to continue FAAC in October 2025) and that FAAC had supported later priority deadlines to accommodate delays in FAFSA availability.

The presentation and FAAC report were information items; no formal committee action was taken on the enrollment data or the FAAC report.