University of Texas--El Paso

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Franklin Mountains in the Chihuahuan Desert, The University of Texas at El Paso is at the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border.UTEP is a Carnegie high-research-activity, urban university that offers 73 bachelor's degrees, 75 master's degrees, and 22 doctoral degrees. The nearly 24,000 students include many who are first-generation college students. With more than $90 million in annual research spending, UTEP is the first national research university serving a 21st century student demographic. Department of Education data show that UTEP's out-of-pocket cost is among the lowest of any national research university in the country. With an 80% Hispanic student population, UTEP proudly reflects the demographic composition of the bi-national region from which it draws the vast majority of its students. Eighty-four percent of students are from El Paso County and 5 percent are Mexican nationals. UTEP celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2014 with a series of construction projects that boosted its research and academic infrastructure, all in keeping with the University's distinct Bhutanese architecture. Centennial Plaza, a pedestrian green space in the heart of campus, opened in 2015 and has been recognized internationally for its sustainable design.UTEP has received national acclaim for innovative programs in business, fine and performing arts, education, behavioral sciences, and the humanities. UTEP's research achievements draw on such traditional areas of strength as science and engineering, including vaccine development, advanced 3-D printing techniques, the neurochemistry of drug addiction and water desalination. The University also has a broad range of programs and interdisciplinary research centers in areas including biomedical research, border studies, space exploration, national security and health disparities. Research opportunities at UTEP start at the undergraduate level with the Campus Office of Undergraduate Research Initiatives (COURI). Students can participate in more than 200 registered student organizations, while the Office of Student Life provides extracurricular and service opportunities that engage students and promote an active campus life. UTEP led the establishment 25 years ago of the El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence, a pre-K-16 partnership that has earned national recognition for its work to transform and vertically integrate the education of young people in the surrounding region. The collaborative, which includes UTEP, El Paso Community College, local school districts and business leaders, has become one of the most successful community partnerships for student success in the U.S. and the model for pre-K-16 initiatives across the state and nation.Thirty-six percent of UTEP's faculty is Hispanic, boasting one of the highest proportions of minority faculty among research universities in the United States.UTEP Miner athletics are an important part of campus culture and community pride. UTEP competes in NCAA Division I-A as a member of Conference USA. UTEP has won numerous national championships in track and field and remains the only university in Texas to win an NCAA men's basketball championship. In that historic 1966 championship game, an all African-American Miner starting lineup faced the renowned Kentucky Wildcats, and their victory forever changed the face of intercollegiate athletics. The story of this major milestone in NCAA history was captured in a popular Hollywood film, "Glory Road."UTEP President Diana Natalicio is the longest-serving president of a research university in the country. In 2016, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME magazine. In 2017, she was named one of Fortune Magazine's Top 50 World Leaders.

Academic Grad Slug

School Details

school_type year_founded religious_affiliation academic_calendar year_2016_endowment address telephone
Public, Coed 1914 N/A Semester $218.9 million 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968 (915) 747-5000
overall score total score state city online paying global
Texas El Paso 821