Admissions stand at just under 7,600 as work continues on the Tennessee Tech fall semester.
Tennessee Tech Vice President Karen Lykins said the university is currently tracking about 100 fewer domestic freshman applications than this year. .
“We might be reaching that point where we will certainly try to get more applications, but what we need to do is yield it,” Lykins said.
Tennessee Tech is shifting its recruitment focus toward increasing student yield rates, trying to increase the number of qualified applicants who apply, and the number of students accepted who say yes.
“We are on track for another freshman class in the fall of over 2,000, but I can tell you everyone in enrollment communication has loftier goals than that,” Lykins said. “There’s just a lot of work to be done.”
Lykins presented the latest enrollment data to the board following a recent 10-year high in spring enrollment. Lykins said it was fueled by an 80 percent fall-to-fall retention rate.
The university hosted 2,700 guests over two weekends for the Spring Showcase, an event designed for admitted students to experience the academic environment. Lykins said the university sees a 79 percent yield rate from students who attend this specific showcase.
Lykins said registration for summer orientation sessions also opened recently, with 501 students signing up on the first day.
“So if we get them to attend SOAR, 95 percent yield rate,” Lykins said. “So that once SOAR opens, that’s when we start to understand what this class number begins to look like.”
To further boost enrollment, the university partnered with the nursing department and the provost’s office to increase the number of direct admissions for prospective nursing students. Presidential Scholars with a 3.4 grade point average and a 23 ACT score can now bypass delayed decisions and enter the program immediately.
“And that is a game changer for us and we really appreciate all the conversation and just getting it done to make an impact here,” Lykins said.
10 year high in spring enrollment. Karen Lykins Vice President Tennessee Tech Applications for fall 2026 down about 100 applications. lykins said worried about quality of applications. Admissions are just under7600 for the fall. down slightly. focus on YIELD. on track for enrollment for over 2000. lot of work to be done. continue to refine the personal approach.