Texas Tech University was created by legislative action in 1923 and has the distinction of being the largest comprehensive higher education institution in the western two-thirds of the state of Texas. The university is the major institution of higher education in a region larger than 46 of the nation's 50 states and is the only campus in Texas that is home to a major university, law school and medical school. Originally named Texas Technological College, the college opened in 1925 with six buildings and an enrollment of 914. Graduate instruction did not begin until 1927 within the school of Liberal Arts. A Division of Graduate Studies was established in 1935 and eventually became known as the Graduate School in 1954. By action of the Texas State Legislature, Texas Technological College formally became Texas Tech University on September 1, 1969. Thirteen colleges and schools makeup the academic areas at Texas Tech University and offer more than 150 undergraduate degrees, 100 graduate degrees, and 50 doctoral degrees. Texas Tech University has 1,600 full-time and 188 part-time faculty.

The University is located on the South Plains of West Texas in Lubbock (pop. 255,885). As the University was being established, several potential locations, including Floydada, Plainview, Big Spring, and Sweetwater were considered, before Lubbock was selected. The campus, which boasts Spanish Renaissance architecture, was described by American author James A. Michener as the most beautiful west of the Mississippi until you get to Stanford and by Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated as easily one of the ten most beautiful campuses he had seen. Many of the newly constructed buildings qualify for LEED certification, yet maintain the consistent Spanish theme throughout campus.