Fall 2026 was off to a bustling start as Austin Community College District (ACC) welcomed thousands more students than predicted. First-day enrollment for fall was 46,384 students — a nearly 6% increase over the previous year and significantly more than the 44,000 students predicted.
While this semester’s student body continues to be composed primarily of in-district students (more than 37,000), the number of out-of-district and out-of-state students also grew.
Continuing students continue to drive the College’s enrollment base. Registration among continuing students increased by more than 2,500 students, reaching 33,922, up from 31,399 last year. This student population now makes up 74% of fall enrollment, up from 72% last year. New student registration, by comparison, was relatively flat, up by about 90 students year over year.
Traditional student enrollment increased by nearly 20% two years ago to 35,651, up from 29,506. Dual Credit enrollment remained roughly flat, while Early College High School enrollments continue to climb, up nearly 8% since fall 2024.
Free Tuition Students Show Strong Persistence
Our Free Tuition Cohorts now entering their second and third years are showing strong persistence rates. There are 14,686 Free Tuition students this fall. The incoming 2026 Free Tuition cohort leads momentum with 5,580 registered students, followed by the 2025 cohort at 5,190 students, and the 2024 cohort at 3,916 students.
As the 2024 cohort enters its third and final year of program eligibility, supporting these students through graduation is a key priority for the College. The Institutional Effectiveness Report Card goal is to have 1,920 completions among Free Tuition students by the end of academic year 2027. To date, Free Tuition students have earned over 1,250 completions.
Supporting Students Through Welcome Riverbats
Students starting the fall semester were greeted by employees manning information tables as part of the College’s Welcome Riverbats tradition. More than 800 employees signed up to cover over 900 volunteer shifts across 11 campuses, ensuring every student got the help they needed.
To allow faculty and staff the time to prioritize supporting students, the College continued its Calendar Blackout Days initiative, pausing non-essential internal meetings and events on the first two days of classes — Monday, August 24, and Tuesday, August 25.
View a slideshow of photos from the first week of the fall 2026 semester below.
