Monday, October 5, 2020
 

By Amanda Alaniz

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TX – UTRGV has been ranked one of the top four Texas schools in the Top 100 National Universities list, for the university’s influence on the public good in social mobility, research and providing opportunities for public service.

The rankings are released annually by Washington Monthly in its College Guide and Rankings.   

The recognition is given to four-year institutions that award a significant number of doctoral degrees, with UTRGV ranked along with Texas A&M University-College Station, Rice University and The University of Texas-Austin

Under the National University rankings, Washington Monthly notes the number of Pell graduates. UTRGV graduated 904 students with Pell grants, a total higher than the combined number of graduates from the four highest-ranked universities in the nation.

UTRGV also ranked third in the South for Best Bang for the Buck, behind Berea College in Kentucky and Texas A&M University-College Station. Best Bang for the Buck ranks universities according to how they help students affordably attain marketable degrees.

In addition, Washington Monthly also ranked UTRGV in the following categories:

  • Net price of attendance (after financial aid): First in Texas, sixth nationally.
  • Performance of Pell-eligible students: First in Texas, fifth nationally.
  • Performance of first-generation students: First in Texas, 11th nationally.
  • Social mobility: Second in Texas, 29th nationally.

The magazine measures items such as 8-year graduation rate, number of Pell graduates and first-generation students. UTRGV continues to hold the highest percentage of first-generation students in the South, at 54 percent.

The seven states in the South category are Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee. There are more than 200 universities on the list for the South.

UTRGV continues to add new degrees and accessible programs, such as the School of Medicine’s Vaqueros MD and the Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity.

The new rankings hold significant meaning for the university, especially in light of COVID-19 and the challenges the UTRGV community is facing. The university has prioritized campus safety guidelines, and nearly 95 percent of all courses are taught online or in a hybrid format.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey said these rankings show that UTRGV remains committed to students’ success and their futures.

“Our top priorities at UTRGV are creating a safe environment for our university community and helping our students succeed,” he said. “These recognitions by Washington Monthly are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty and staff.”

For the entire list of rankings, visit Washington Monthly online at https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020college-guide.

(UTRGV Design by Karla Castillo)
(UTRGV Design by Karla Castillo)



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.