Texas Christian University welcomed a record undergraduate enrollment of more than 11,000 students to its Fort Worth campus today, including more than 2,800 first-year students — the largest incoming class in the university’s 153-year history — as the 2026-2027 academic year began.
“There’s nothing quite like the energy of the first day of a new academic year,” Chancellor Daniel W. Pullin said. “Our students bring unique backgrounds, perspectives, goals and ambitions to TCU, and together, they make this community stronger. We’re excited to welcome them home and see how they bring their all to the year ahead.”
Students kicked off the academic year with TCU’s annual “Welcome Home” celebration, where Horned Frogs gathered for food, photos, giveaways and other first-day activities.
The record enrollment comes as TCU continues to invest in the student experience and prepare for future growth. Recently, the university announced a new $300 million scholarship initiative designed to help keep a TCU education within reach for outstanding students and expand access for future Horned Frogs. New residential communities are under construction and will add approximately 2,500 beds to campus, along with a new parking facility that will house TCU Police and the university’s emergency operations center.
The new academic year also follows a year of significant academic, research and student-focused initiatives. TCU announced its AI² initiative, launched the Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering and joined UT Southwestern Medical Center in a research partnership focused on addressing maternal health outcomes.
TCU will begin its 2026 football season on the international stage, taking on North Carolina at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, further extending the university’s visibility and connections around the world.
