Sul Ross State University began the Fall 2026 semester with 25 percent enrollment growth, according to preliminary Texas State University System data.

SRSU reported 2,904 students enrolled across its Alpine and International campuses, an increase of 573 over the previous fall, the highest total since 2017. Institutions across the Texas State University System collectively experienced a strong fall semester, with preliminary data showing total TSUS enrollment up approximately five percent.

The most dramatic growth at Sul Ross occurred at its International campus in Eagle Pass, where enrollment increased 135 percent, from 569 students last fall to 1,338 this fall. Undergraduate enrollment increased 154 percent, from 482 to 1,222 students, while graduate enrollment increased 33 percent, from 87 to 116.

That growth is led by more than 600 dual credit students, the Founding Freshmen class of 83 students and 84 sophomores following legislative authorization to begin teaching lower-level courses at the International campus this fall.

“These students are doing something no class before them has done,” said President Carlos Hernandez. “They are not simply enrolling at Sul Ross, they are helping write the next chapter in the history of our International campus. Their decision to begin their college careers with us is a powerful statement about the opportunities available to students in the region.”

Alpine’s enrollment of 1,566 is an 11 percent decrease from last fall’s total of 1,762, a decline almost entirely attributable to the transfer of Middle Rio Grande area dual credit students from the Alpine campus to the International campus. The total decline in non-dual credit students is a difference of just 15.

Alpine’s freshmen class increased 6.8 percent over last fall from 281 students to 300, providing another positive indicator for the university’s residential campus.

Fall 2026 also marks the beginning of another historic chapter for Sul Ross. The university’s first doctoral program has welcomed its inaugural cohort of 12 students in Educational Leadership, representing a significant expansion of graduate education at Sul Ross and creating a new pathway for educational leaders throughout the region, with additional doctorate level programs expected in the next year.

“This fall’s enrollment numbers reflect the continued momentum we’re seeing across the university,” Hernandez said. “We’re encouraged by the increasing number of students choosing Sul Ross as they pursue their educational goals. These results demonstrate the strength of the university and the opportunities we are creating for students throughout the region.”

For more information, email president@sulross.edu.