East Texas Baptist University hits record-high enrollment

MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) is celebrating the largest enrollment in school history with 1,944 students enrolled.

University enrollment for the Fall 2025 semester includes several milestones.

The 387 first-time, full-time freshmen are a 10.6 percent increase from the previous fall, while the 131 transfer students are 5.6 percent more than Fall 2024.

The ETBU Adult Education program has an enrollment of 100 students, matching the highest enrollment on record. Dual enrollment also reached an all-time high with 313 students enrolled, besting the previous record of 295.

The 1,663 undergraduate students and 281 graduate students enrolled are both records.

University President J. Blair Blackburn said, “With gratitude to God for His provision and to our faculty and staff for their steadfast service, I am honored to announce a new enrollment record for East Texas Baptist University. This historic milestone demonstrates God’s faithfulness and affirms our shared commitment to advancing the University’s Christ-centered mission of educating and equipping servant leaders for His Kingdom.”

The ETBU Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Administrative Affairs, Scott McCurdy, credits the staff, saying, “The Admissions Staff did a fantastic job serving and connecting with our newest ETBU Tigers throughout the enrollment process, providing assistance, encouragement, and support every step of the way. God continues to demonstrate His faithfulness to ETBU, and we praise Him for calling such remarkable students to further their education and prepare for their future careers as members of the ETBU Family. We look forward to seeing how God will use these emerging Christian scholars and servant leaders to uplift our campus community, serve our city, and grow His Kingdom in the months and years ahead.”

Originally known as Marshall College, ETBU is a Baptist school with over 100 years of history. The university’s original building, Marshall Hall, was completed in 1916, and classes began in 1917.