water slide. all wrapped within a 64-foot lazy river. but this isn't turks and caicos. it's lubbock, texas. and the two-acre water park is just one section of the student recreation center of texas tech university. >> i just heard of a couple of friends that go to universities that have lap pool kind of deals. it's just cool to tell them about our luxurious river. >> reporter: with competition for tuition money ramping up, schools now justify the high cost of construction as important for recruiting and keeping students. and at texas tech, the $8.4 million water complex is doing its job. >> i was like, sweet. a pool. >> reporter: enrollment this year at an all-time high. >> i wanted to come here for my major specifically but when i saw they had a lazy river, that definitely moved it up on my top priority list. >> reporter: even with the