Wednesday, November 9, 2022
 

By Amanda Alaniz

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – Hispanic Outlook on Higher Education Magazine has ranked UTRGV second in the country for awarding bachelor’s degrees to Hispanic/Latino students, in its annual “Hispanic Outlook Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics” edition. 

The magazine also noted that while UTRGV ranked second, it still had the largest percentage of bachelor’s degrees specifically awarded to Hispanic/Latino students, with 93 percent. 

UTRGV placed fourth for total master’s degrees awarded to Hispanic/Latino students, and fifth for total enrollment of Hispanic/Latino students.

The magazine annually compiles data on higher education national institutions that serve Hispanic/Latino students, prepping them in diverse fields of study and awarding degrees across different levels. 

The buzzworthy rankings were released after UTRGV marked record enrollment for Fall 2022, with more than 32,000 students. Among the enrolled students, more than 5,800 were incoming freshmen, the most in school history. 

Hispanic Outlook flyer
(UTRGV Photo)

UTRGV President Guy Bailey said the national Hispanic Outlook rankings showcase the growth and continuous success of the university. 

“Since we opened our doors to students in 2015, we have stayed true to our commitment to provide a quality, affordable education for students from the Rio Grande Valley community and well beyond,” Bailey said. “We continue to focus on creating diverse pathways to success for our students – including financial and academic opportunities – and honor the cultural diversity that makes us unique.”

UTRGV also ranked significantly high in the lists awarding degrees in several other categories, including: 

  • First in English Language and Literature/Letters degrees. 
  • First in Parks Recreation/Leisure/Fitness and Kinesiology degrees.
  • Second in Homeland Security/Law Enforcement/Firefighting and Related Protective Services degrees.
  • Fifth in Education degrees. 
  • Seventh in Visual and Performing Arts degrees.
  • Eighth in Engineering degrees.

Data for the rankings is from The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Systems (IPEDS), from the 2020-2021 academic year. The data also showcased the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on higher education overall. 

The institutions on the list were recognized for their efforts to serve the population and for redefining their modes of educational delivery.

For more information about the Top 100 Colleges and Universities, visit https://www.hispanicoutlook.com/articles/6992-top-100-colleges-and-universities-hispanics.

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.