News & Events

The University of North Texas is celebrating the fourth consecutive record-breaking fall census day with 19% growth in new freshmen, 19% growth in graduate students, and nearly 4% growth in newly minted degree holders that will change the lives of students, families, and communities throughout the North Texas region and Texas.

While schools around the country have lost enrollment, UNT has seen unprecedented growth, increasing 13.5% since 2019. UNT’s growth through and after the pandemic means 44,532 students — an increase of 5.6% or 2,364 new students — enrolled at Texas’ most comprehensive Tier One research university serving the North Texas region, according to UNT’s latest 12th class day enrollment report.

This makes UNT one of the fastest growing universities in Texas and the nation, UNT President Neal Smatresk said.

“We are committed to helping our students succeed and to thrive beyond graduation in our complex and ever-changing world,” Smatresk said. “UNT continues to be the university of choice for more students than ever before, and UNT remains one of the top producers in awarding degrees in the North Texas region, which speaks to our desire to help our students be successful and to help Texas meet the workforce demands of the future. No other university system in the region does more than UNT to drive Texas’ progress.”

This year’s record-breaking class of new freshmen includes 6,708 students (up 19% from 2021) who come from all over Texas, the nation and the globe. This freshmen class is far bigger than any other group of new freshmen in the region. In addition, UNT has record growth (19%) in graduate students, with 11,567 students seeking advanced degrees to improve their futures.

“UNT is the preferred destination in North Texas for high school seniors,” Smatresk said. “It’s incredible to have 19% — or 1,064 — more new freshmen on campus this year. To also have 19% growth in graduate students, after several years of fast-paced growth at that level, is incredible, and I am proud that UNT can serve students, families and Texas.”

UNT students benefit from a challenging education as well as a diverse and supportive community committed to their success. UNT is proud to be designated a Minority-Serving Institution and one of only 21 Carnegie Tier One research universities designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, joining in with the others to form the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities. More importantly, UNT is proud to have the highest four-year graduation rate in the North Texas region for Hispanic students.

UNT continues to offer and grow in much needed degree programs such as data analytics, biomedical engineering, and a complete suite of business options at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level.

UNT is also teaching 2,579 students at its locations in Frisco. In January 2023, the new branch campus will open its first building on the 100-acres donated by the City of Frisco to establish convenient access to the opportunities that a UNT education provides for those in Collin County and beyond.

There are more than 10,000 UNT alumni leading businesses as executives in North Texas, and more than 324,000 alumni work in the region, which is home to 24 of the state’s 53 Fortune 500 companies. State demographers predict that the Dallas-Fort Worth area will surpass Chicago as the United States’ third-largest metropolitan area in the next 10 years. UNT is committed to continue meeting the unprecedented workforce demands of this growth to ensure Texas meets its higher education graduation goals and remains attractive to business.

Note: Until the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board verifies enrollment numbers and makes them official later in the fall, all enrollment statistics are unofficial, 12th class day numbers.

DALLAS – The UNT System Board of Regents unanimously approved the FY23 annual UNT System consolidated budget during the August meeting, which included no raises in tuition. 

“We are thrilled to announce that for the seventh consecutive year, the UNT System will not raise tuition,” said Dr. Michael R. Williams, UNT System Chancellor. “During a time when inflation is at an all-time high, the entire UNT System remains committed to providing an education of great value that is accessible and affordable for all students.” 

Chancellor Williams reiterated his commitment to judicious fiscal management, saying, “the UNT System will continue to demonstrate fiscal stewardship by identifying cost-savings to ensure no unnecessary financial burden is being passed on to our students and their families.” 

The last time any UNT campus raised tuition was in 2016. Between May 2016 and May of this year, the price of milk has increased 33 percent and the cost of eggs has increased 70 percent, while the price of UNT’s tuition has stayed flat. 

Chancellor Williams continued, “The UNT System is dedicated to transforming the value proposition of higher education and is laser-focused on our students and their families, their experience, learning, and lifetime success.”

UNT Dallas is proud to be among the most successful colleges in the country to advance social mobility by enrolling and graduating a high number of students who face economic challenges and by elevating its low-income graduates to a higher standard of living. Among Regional Universities West, UNT Dallas is ranked #11 in Texas and #52 overall.

The U.S. News and World Report ranking specifically looks at the proportional number of students awarded Pell grants. During the 2020-21 academic year, 56% of students enrolled at UNT Dallas were awarded Pell grants as compared to the national average of around 30% of all students enrolled in undergraduate programs. 

Social and economic mobility rankings reflect a new approach to assessing institutions of higher education that examines their proportion of enrollment for students from low- and moderate-backgrounds and how well they provide them with a strong return on their educational investment. 

In the recently published article, Out With the Old, In With the New: Rating Higher Ed by Economic Mobility, UNT Dallas ranked number 3 in Texas and 15 in the nation on the Economic Mobility Index.

“UNT Dallas is committed to enhancing the economic mobility of its current and future students,” said UNT Dallas President Bob Mong.  “We believe that parents’ income should not dictate whether students get a college degree! Our vision is to offer a pathway to a meaningful and prosperous future.”

Making higher education available to all dedicated, hardworking students, regardless of background and circumstance is just one of the ways that UNT Dallas lives its mission to empower students, transform lives, and strengthen communities. The university boasts a student body that is around 85% minority and 70% first-generation college students and has focused on serving local underserved populations, concentrating recruiting efforts in southern Dallas communities. The university is committed to keeping tuition rates low and offers the most affordable tuition among four-year universities in the DFW metroplex.

Dr. Michael R. Williams, Chancellor of the University of North Texas System, today announced a new organizational structure based on goals to better meet the distinct needs of each of the system’s campuses in Denton, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Frisco.

"As a system we can better support the work of our staff, faculty, and students on each campus, and this new structure will allow us to meet that objective," says Dr. Williams. "We will gain greater clarity in responsibilities, with greater accountability and efficiency in decision making at the system level. Each campus will see more supportive resources being allocated where they are most needed, and in return create greater value for everyone."
 
Dr. Williams noted that the Board of Regents has reviewed and enthusiastically approved the goals and rationale supporting the organizational changes.
 
The new structure, which eliminates a limited number of UNT System leadership positions, is expected to streamline lines of communication, and create greater opportunities for innovation, while reallocating resources to deliver greater value as well as cost savings.
 
Dr. Williams became chancellor on Jan. 1, 2022 and continues to serve as President of the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC). He has served as the HSC’s president since 2012, and previously served on the UNT System Board of Regents. Under his leadership, the HSC saw record enrollment without raising tuition since 2013, created more than 650 new medical residency slots for the DFW region, opened a new Pharmacy School and established a Lena Pope Early Learning Center on campus, all while growing research awards by more than $115 million. Under Dr. Williams’ leadership, HSC also ranked first among U.S. medical schools for innovation and research impact by the George W. Bush Institute.

The University of North Texas System Board of Regents today appointed Dr. Michael R. Williams – current President of the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC) – as UNT System Chancellor, effective Jan. 1, 2022. At the request of the Board of Regents, Dr. Williams will continue to serve as President of HSC to lead the search for the next President of the graduate academic medical center and support its leadership transition.

The appointment of Dr. Williams as Chancellor was made official during a special board meeting held late Monday afternoon following the mandatory, 21-day waiting period from the time Dr. Williams was announced as sole finalist to become the system’s fourth chancellor on Nov. 8. The Board of Regents unanimously selected Dr. Williams, a Health Science Center alumnus, to become Chancellor after a months-long search process following the announcement of current Chancellor Lesa Roe’s retirement plans. 

Dr. Williams has served as HSC’s President since 2012, and previously served on the UNT System Board of Regents. Under his leadership, HSC saw record enrollment without raising tuition since 2013, created more than 650 new medical residency slots for the DFW region, opened a new Pharmacy School, established a Lena Pope Early Learning Center on campus, all while growing

research awards by more than $115 million. HSC also ranked first among U.S. medical schools for innovation and research impact by the George W. Bush Institute under Dr. Williams’ leadership.

Dr. Williams practiced anesthesiology and critical care medicine in Texas for more than 20 years and is an experienced business executive and entrepreneur. Dr. Williams served as Chief Executive Officer of Hill Country Memorial Hospital, during which time the hospital received numerous state and national awards, becoming a Truven Top 100 U.S. hospital in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and earned the 2014 Malcolm Baldrige National Presidential Quality Award.

The Chancellor is the chief executive officer of the UNT System and is responsible for all aspects of the System’s operations, including management of 13,000+ employees and oversight of the three UNT System campuses.