Thursday, September 17, 2020
  Announcements

By News and Internal Communications

 2020 Enrollment & Student Success Infographic (1MB PDF)

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – Thanks to a steadfast commitment to safety and success, UTRGV is yielding record-breaking outcomes in enrollment and student success.

UTRGV announced Thursday that its fall enrollment is 32,618, an increase of 3,505 students – or 11.5 percent – from the previous fall semester. 

UTRGV is now one of only nine public universities in Texas to surpass the 30,0000-enrollment mark, joining Texas A&M, UT Austin, Houston, UT Arlington, Texas State, North Texas, Texas Tech and UT San Antonio.

In addition, UTRGV’s 2020 first-year retention rate is 81 percent, an increase of 4.2 percent, and its four-year graduation rate is 29 percent, an increase of 4.3 percent. Both are record highs for the university.

“These extraordinary outcomes amid the COVID-19 pandemic are a testament to the hard work and resilience of our students, faculty and staff,” said UTRGV President Guy Bailey. “We came together during these difficult times to ensure everyone’s safety and success, and I am extremely proud of everyone’s incredible effort.”

MORE ENROLLMENT RECORDS

For the first time in the school’s history, UTRGV enrolled more than 5,000 incoming freshmen and graduate students this fall, further demonstrating the balanced growth occurring at the university.

This fall, UTRGV welcomed 5,350 entering freshmen, an 11.5 percent increase from the 4,796 freshmen a year ago.

Also this fall, UTRGV enrolled 5,122 graduate students, a 38.3 percent increase over the 3,705 graduate students a year ago.

This summer, UTRGV yielded its largest enrollment increase, as it welcomed a school record of 17,582 students. That enrollment figure is a 27.8 percent increase over the 13,755 summer students a year ago.

PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST

UTRGV implemented several strategies this summer and fall to encourage students to continue their education and not let the pandemic derail their plans.

The university launched Summer and Fall Relief Packages that provided additional financial assistance and other incentives for those who enrolled.

In addition, course modalities were altered to provide students safe alternatives in which to continue their education.

“From our faculty to our enrollment staff to our student support staff, the entire campus community came together this summer and fall to put our students first,” said Deputy President and Interim Provost Janna Arney. “This was truly a team effort, and everyone should be proud of the outcomes.” 



ABOUT UTRGV

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions.

UTRGV has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley including in Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, and South Padre Island. UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its first class in the fall of 2015, and the School of Medicine welcomed its first class in the summer of 2016.