WT Posts Major Enrollment Gains for Fall 2025

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Enrollment at West Texas A&M University saw a significant increase for the fall 2025 semester, newly released figures showed.

Overall enrollment is up more than 2 percent for the new semester, including a 3.29 percent increase in undergraduates.

The 12th class day, which fell on Sept. 10, is when Texas’ public universities traditionally report enrollment in the fall and spring semesters.

WT’s overall enrollment is 9,257, up from 9,055 in fall 2024.

“This welcome increase in our enrollment is the result of the dedicated work of everyone on campus, not just in our enrollment management offices but among every faculty and staff member,” said WT President Walter V. Wendler. “We are constantly striving for excellence in everything we do, and this significant increase in students shows that our efforts are paying off. We continue to be dedicated to making sure students—both now and in the future—have the resources necessary to get the education they want.”

WT officials attributed the increase to several impactful programs.

In June, the University introduced the WT Educators Excellence Initiative, offering half-off tuition and mandatory fees for area educators in Region 16 Educational Service Center, including any full-time teacher, administrator, librarian, nurse, counselor or paraprofessional at Region 16’s 60 school districts and three charter schools, as well as the ESC’s employees.

Indeed, WT’s Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences saw the greatest year-over-year increase among WT’s six Colleges, growing more than 6 percent over 2024.

Of the students benefitting from the waiver this fall, 82 percent have majors within the Department of Education, which overall grew more than 7.5 percent.

“We are delighted to be a major contributor this year’s enrollment growth,” said Dr. Gary Bigham, dean of the Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences. “We have made great strides in our programs, and we are pleased that these efforts are paying off, not only for WT but also for the region as a whole.”

In the past 20 months, WT also has launched a no-charge-to-student plan for textbooks and other educational resources in all core classes.

“We are encouraged by this growth in enrollment, and it emboldens us to redouble our efforts to continue this positive trajectory,” said Dr. Rick Haasl, vice provost for enrollment management. “We will continue to highlight what sets WT apart—namely, our faculty and staff’s focus on our students—and further commit to recruiting and retaining more high-quality new Buffs.”

Eleven departments across WT’s six Colleges also saw overall increases in enrollment.

The Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences rose again over historic high numbers in both 2023 and 2024; it is now WT’s largest department, with 1,194 students.

The Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice in the Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences saw a significant increase of 13.45 percent over 2024. The Amarillo National Bank School of Accounting, Economics and Finance in the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business and the Office of General Majors in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities also saw double-digit percentage increases — 12.14 and 10.58, respectively.

Also seeing upticks: the Department of Engineering and Computer Sciences in the College of Engineering; the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages, the School of Music in the Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities; and the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, the Health Sciences degree program, and the Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Additionally, WT saw a nearly 21 percent increase in high-school students enrolled in the Pre-University Program and dual-credit hours, showing a commitment to outstanding younger students eager to begin earning college credits. Transfers from senior colleges grew 34 percent, and transfers from junior colleges grew more than 6 percent.

WT remains committed to being regionally responsive to the needs of the people of the Texas Panhandle, as laid out in the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign has raised more than $175 million and will continue through 2025.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WT—