Lamar University sees 12% increase in freshman enrollment for fall 2026

Lamar University (LU) welcomed its largest freshman class in university history for summer and fall 2026, with freshman enrollment increasing 12% as the university saw record interest driven by a number of factors, including the Early Bird admissions program, financial aid clarity, expanded student recruitment efforts, Common App and Texas' Free College Application Week.

Lamar University also experienced enrollment growth beyond Southeast Texas.

Enrollment from the Houston area increased 52%, while enrollment from other Texas recruitment territories, including Dallas-Fort Worth and Central Texas, grew 76%.

"While Southeast Texas will always remain our highest enrollment by number, seeing the growth in Houston is proof of how LU is becoming more recognized throughout the state of Texas, Hanna Deland Terro, director of admissions, said.

The university's first cohort of Early Bird admits also contributed to the incoming freshman class. A total of 329 Early Bird students enrolled at Lamar University, representing 18% of the freshman on-campus incoming class.

Fifty-three percent of Early Bird admits ultimately enrolled at LU, compared with 14% of all admitted students.

Deland Terro said Lamar University's admissions staff has also focused on building relationships with prospective students and making the enrollment process easier to navigate.

"We have a hardworking team of admissions staff who care about building genuine connections with our prospective students," she said. "We believe in helping students find their best fit, and we sell LU because we believe in the education and opportunities that our students receive."

Admissions staff also hosted a series of events at high schools and other central locations to help students complete the steps necessary to enroll at Lamar University. The effort brought together Admissions, Financial Aid, the Undergraduate Advising Center, Housing, New Student Orientation and other campus offices.

"The enrollment process can get overwhelming, so this year we hosted a series of events where we could come to the students and help them take care of all of their next steps toward enrollment after they decided they wanted to be a Cardinal," Deland Terro said.

Affordability remains a key consideration for students. Simplifications to the FAFSA process and earlier access to financial aid and scholarship information help students better understand the cost of attending Lamar University. Lamar also ranks No. 1 among Texas public four-year universities for lowest average student debt, underscoring its commitment to affordable, accessible education.

The increase in freshman enrollment and applications is also prompting the university to evaluate its internal processes as it manages a larger prospective student population.

"Internally, growth means reviewing efficiencies to ensure our offices can handle the volume of increased applications," Deland Terro said. "We couldn't have predicted this amount of growth, but we have a team of hardworking individuals that handled the volume without significant delays."

Applications submitted through the Common App accounted for 44% of Lamar University's freshman on-campus applicant pool. ApplyTexas remains another option for students applying for freshman admission to LU.

Students who applied through the Common App were admitted at a 20% higher rate. Deland Terro said the difference was not tied to a stronger academic profile among Common App applicants but to the platform's ability to help students complete their applications more efficiently.

Common App allows high schools to upload student transcripts directly, helping applicants complete admission requirements and receive decisions more quickly.

Texas' Free College Application Week also produced a surge in prospective students. Lamar University's application volume increased 324% compared with the same week in 2025, generating an additional 2,588 applications. Those applications accounted for 14% of LU's total application volume.

"Lamar University offers many opportunities for a waived application fee, such as taking a campus tour or attending Cardinal View, but it's clear that students want to take advantage of a statewide offer. We're excited about the size of this incoming class and what it means for the future of Lamar University," Deland Terro said.

To learn more about Lamar University, visit http://www.lamar.edu.