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Dear UTRGV Community,
Since opening our doors nearly a decade ago, UTRGV has been on an extraordinary mission to transform higher education in South Texas. Today, as we start this new academic year, I am beyond proud to share some record-breaking milestones that highlight just how far we've come — and the incredible future that lies ahead.
No. 1 University in Texas — Again!
After making headlines last year by surpassing Texas A&M to claim the top spot in Washington Monthly’s rankings, UTRGV has defended its title, holding strong as the best university in Texas in the 2024 rankings. Texas A&M is second, with Rice, UT Arlington, and Sam Houston State rounding out the top five.
Nationally, UTRGV made significant strides, climbing two spots to rank 58th among all private and public universities, and advancing one spot to 30th among public institutions.
These impressive gains place UTRGV in the company of some of the most prestigious universities in the nation. The top five in the national rankings include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at No. 1, followed by Stanford, Penn, Harvard, and Princeton. These results underscore the growing recognition of UTRGV's excellence on a national scale.
Record-Breaking Enrollment
On this first day of the Fall 2024 semester, we are thrilled to once again be reaching several enrollment milestones:
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Today, we welcome 34,343 students, the highest first-day enrollment ever, marking the fifth-straight year that UTRGV’s first-day enrollment exceeds 32,000 students.
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We also welcome 6,962 freshmen, our largest first-day freshman class ever.
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Additionally, we welcome 604 doctoral students, our largest doctoral class ever, continuing the trend of UTRGV’s first-day graduate student enrollment surpassing 4,000 for the fifth-straight year.
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Finally, among our record enrollment are the trailblazing student-athletes of our women’s swimming and diving team, set to make its debut this fall, and our football team, kicking off its inaugural season in Fall 2025.
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This record-breaking growth is a testament to UTRGV’s emergence as a top-choice university. More and more students are choosing UTRGV because they recognize the exceptional education, opportunities, and affordability we offer.
We attracted a larger pool of qualified applicants than ever before, with applications surging to 20,304 this fall, a 28% increase.
None of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of our outstanding faculty and staff. Your commitment to excellence is the driving force behind our success. Thank you for everything you do to make UTRGV a leader in higher education.
To our students, new and returning: Thank you for choosing UTRGV. We are honored to have you and look forward to serving you throughout your academic journey.
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Outstanding Student Success
These remarkable enrollment numbers are a testament to UTRGV’s growing reputation as one of the nation’s leading institutions of higher learning. If you know anything about UTRGV, you know that everything we do focuses on student success — and our latest first-year retention rates reflect that.
Our first-year retention rate has soared to an all-time high of 83% — a new university record based on first-day figures. Our second-year and third-year retention figures, based on first-class day data, are also at historic highs.
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While retention rates might not always grab headlines, they are crucial indicators of our institution’s health and success. This milestone is a powerful testament to the talent and resilience of our students, as well as the dedication and excellence of our faculty and staff. Their commitment to providing a nurturing and challenging environment ensures that every student has the support they need to excel.
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Day of Giving
Each Fall, we celebrate the start of the new academic year with a philanthropic campaign culminating in our UTRGV Day of Giving. Every UTRGV community member is invited to join and participate by contributing whatever you can. Your donations go a long way in bolstering the university and our ability to support projects beyond the state funding we receive. We achieved the milestones outlined here because our students, faculty, staff, and supporters put in the time, effort, and funds needed to realize those goals. On this UTRGV Day of Giving, let’s keep building on our success and ensure everyone knows that The Future of Texas is stronger than ever.
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Here’s to making the 2024-2025 academic year our best yet.
V’s Up!
Guy Bailey
President
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
