Warren and Myrta Bacon House · Photo: Robert Lawton · CC BY-SA 2.5Lubbock is home to three colleges, with about 40,000 students on campus
Texas Tech University (35,901 students on campus) and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (3,091) are inside the city. About 14% of Lubbock’s residents are enrolled in college, above Texas (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Lubbock. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Lubbock
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Lubbock
One private college within 2.8 miles, and two public colleges within 1.9 miles.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Lubbock’s median household income ($60,895) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Lubbock: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
What students study in Lubbock
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Lubbock’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Lubbock
Is Lubbock a college town?
No. About 14 of every 100 Lubbock residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Texas (6). The largest campus in the city, Texas Tech University, has 35,901 students on campus.
What colleges are in Lubbock?
Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Lubbock Christian University are inside the city. South Plains College is 27.4 miles away in Levelland.
What is the closest community college to Lubbock, and what does it cost?
South Plains College in Levelland, 27.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,731 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $6,791, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Texas Tech University cost if we live in Texas?
Tuition and fees are $11,852 a year in-state and $24,451 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,457 (under $30,000 income) to $24,622 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Lubbock. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →