Texas Tech University

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Staff
Updated August 6, 2020

Texas Tech University was created as Texas Technological College in 1923 by a bill signed by Senator William H. Bledsoe. During World War II, TTU provided Reserve Officers' Training Corps training to 4,747 men. After nearly $150 million in renovations, Texas Tech grew rapidly in the 1970s with the creation of a Health Sciences Center. Today, TTU stands as the state's sixth largest publicly funded, co-educational research institution. More than 28,600 undergrad and 7,900 post-grad students enroll annually. Texas Tech University is located on a vast 1,839-acre urban campus in Lubbock on the cotton-growing Llano Estacado. TTU's 12 academic divisions boast an average retention rate of 82 percent.

According to the U.S. News, Texas Tech is the 168th best national university, 91st top public school, and 134th top college for military veterans. Named for the former AT&T chairman and alumnus, the Edward Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering is America's 92nd best engineering school with the 16th top online graduate engineering programs. Forbes ranked TTU as the 160th best research-intensive university nationally. Texas Tech's campus won the Grand Award for Grounds Keeping Excellence. The Princeton Review named TTU among its "Best Western" colleges. Texas Tech University was crowned the 202nd best university for social mobility nationwide by Washington Monthly. It's also the South's 25th best bang for the buck.

Accreditation Details

At Level VI, Texas Tech University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) through 2025. This agency is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for TTU's over 300 programs. The Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering is approved by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Computer-related engineering programs meet the standards of the ABET's Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) too. Engineering management coursework aligns with the Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Application Requirements

With an acceptance rate of 66 percent, Texas Tech University has a selective admissions process, especially for the top-ranked online engineering programs. Graduate students must hold at least a bachelor's from a regionally accredited, four-year institution. Preference is given to B.S. programs with ABET accreditation. Non-engineering majors must complete added prerequisites. Master's in Engineering programs mandate a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of coursework. Satisfactory GRE scores around 1100 are required. The Ph.D. program has higher standards for earning a M.S.E. degree with a 3.5 GPA or higher and two years of experience. International learners must score at least 79 on the TOEFL iBT or 6.5 on the IELTS.

At least six weeks before program start dates, prospective students must apply to Texas Tech University by submitting the following via ApplyTexas:

  • Completed online application form
  • $60 initial graduate application fee
  • Official post-secondary transcripts
  • Graduate Record Exam score reports
  • Three letters of reference on letterhead
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time graduate students from Texas, New Mexico, or Oklahoma pay in-state tuition at $8,486 each year. Non-resident graduates enrolling full-time are charged $16,646 annually. Living on-campus costs another $9,759 for room and board, unless studying online. Texas Tech suggests budgeting at least $1,200 for textbooks and $2,800 for personal supplies. Total annual cost of attendance for TTU graduates is $24,545 (in-state) or $32,702 (out-of-state). For online programs, engineering students always pay the in-state price regardless of residence. Keep in mind there's a $35 online learning and distance education fee per credit hour though.

The NCES reports that 75 percent of beginning, full-time TTU students earn assistance. On average, financial aid packages are worth $7,157 each year. Graduates enrolled in online master's or PhD engineering programs could borrow Federal Direct Unsubsidized, Grad PLUS, or Texas College Access Loan. Private educational loans are granted for at least $500 to $1,000. In-state residents enrolled at least half-time could qualify for the Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) for $4,000. The Red Raider Guarantee covers full tuition for Texas residents with a family adjusted income under $40,000. Graduate students may benefit from Federal Work-Study (FWS), teaching assistantships, or research assistantships. Institutional awards are abundant, including the Presidential Graduate Fellowship, Recruitment Fellowship, and Doctoral Dissertation Completion Scholarship.

Online Degree(s) Available

The TTU Worldwide eLearning division currently delivers over 60 degrees fully online with Blackboard. With the Edward Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, graduates can select from five 100 percent online programs. There's also a Cyber Security for Critical Infrastructure Certificate for post-baccalaureate computer engineers. Texas Tech has a student-faculty ratio of 22:1, so class sizes are around 25. Virtual classrooms utilize the latest multimedia technologies for high-quality, ABET-accredited education. Engineers can pursue the online:

Master of Engineering

Consisting of 36 credits, the Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) program is an asynchronous online, interdisciplinary program delivered by Texas Tech to busy, working engineers. Along with the Standard Option, there's a Healthcare Engineering Option to apply engineering principles into biomedical sciences. The non-thesis curriculum delves into courses on chemical, civil, environmental, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering for a comprehensive exam. New students may enroll at the beginning of any of the four semesters.

Master of Science in Software Engineering

Texas Tech's Master of Science in Software Engineering program is granted wholly online for graduate students interested in applying engineering methods to the invention, development, and maintenance of cutting-edge computer software. The ABET-accredited curriculum follows a non-thesis track of 36 credits, including a final exam. Coursework will explore key topics in software modeling, computer architecture, parallel processors, systems theory, fault-tolerant computer systems, software validation, and project management. M.S.S.E. students also take five free electives in computer science.

Ph.D. in Systems and Engineering Management

Available full-time over three to four years, the Ph.D. in Systems and Engineering Management prepares TTU students for engineering leadership and academic roles. Completed online, the 72-credit curriculum contains courses ranging from operations research and risk modeling to systems theory and industrial cost analysis. Online students must spend a one-month summer session in residence at the Lubbock campus. Ph.D. candidates work with a faculty advisor to create original doctoral dissertation research.

Related Resource: 30 Most Affordable Top Online Master's Degree Programs in Engineering

Other campus-based engineering programs at Texas Tech University include the B.S. in Civil Engineering, B.S. in Petroleum Engineering, M.S. in Bioengineering, and M.S. in Chemical Engineering.

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