Skip to content
CollegeRanker
The University of Texas at El Paso logo

The University of Texas at El Paso

#3 Colleges With the Highest Acceptance Rates
Public El Paso, TX · Urban · Southwest · 100% data
A+ Social Mobility A- Value B Affordability
Graduation Rate
48% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$50,923 B-
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$9,403 B
45% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
100% F
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +25% vs avg
Graduation -16% vs avg
Net Price +-45% vs avg
Mobility Top 1%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 40.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $40.4 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Colleges With the Highest Acceptance Rates.

40.4× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $40.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,480,558.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Earnings 25% above the national college median.

  3. Social mobility rate of 6.82% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $40.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

World Rank
#601-800
Times Higher Education
Research Score
19/100
Times Higher Education

Why The University of Texas at El Paso Matters

The University of Texas at El Paso is a public research university in El Paso, TX ranked #601-800 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise, an above-average alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Research University
Carnegie Class
R1 · Very High Research
Enrollment
21,005
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Engineering, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose The University of Texas at El Paso

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Top-tier research university
R1 status: undergraduates work alongside leading researchers
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 37% overall
B-
Earnings
$50,923 median
A-
Value
5.4× net price
B
Affordability
$9,403/yr net
C-
Graduation
48% graduate
A+
Social Mobility
6.8% climb Q1→Q5
F
Selectivity
100% admit rate
F
Diversity
0.22 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of over 21,000 students, the University of Texas at El Paso is a welcoming choice for those looking for an accessible public education. It has a 100% acceptance rate, which means that nearly everyone who applies has the chance to enroll. Students here often pursue popular fields like Business and Marketing, Health Professions, Engineering, and Criminal Justice. This variety speaks to the diverse interests of our student body and the potential for collaboration across disciplines.

After graduation, students see an average earning of $50,923 within ten years, which offers a solid starting point for many. The affordability factor is appealing too; with a net price of $9,403 after aid, it’s a manageable investment in education. About 62% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating that many come from low-income backgrounds but still find pathways to improve their circumstances through education.

When we look at the financial side, graduates face a median debt of $18,000, which is relatively low compared to some institutions. This manageable debt level helps students start their careers without the burden of overwhelming loans. Those who tend to thrive here are often driven and resourceful, making the most of the opportunities available, whether in the classroom or through community engagement.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective The University of Texas at El Paso is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into The University of Texas at El Paso? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in El Paso, Texas, The University of Texas at El Paso admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 962. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.

Acceptance Rate
100%
Retention Rate
79%
SAT Average
962
SAT Range
860–1080
ACT Range
17–22
Full-Time Faculty
68%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$10,239
Student–Faculty Ratio
19:1
Diversity Index
0.22
First-Gen Students
41%
Applicants
10,493
Admitted
10,485

Inside the Admissions Office

School-reported Common Data Set ·

The acceptance rate tells you how hard The University of Texas at El Paso is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 34% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.

Yield Rate
34%
of admits enroll
Submitted SAT
54%
of enrolled freshmen
Submitted ACT
2%
of enrolled freshmen

Test-optional, in practice. Only about 56% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.

Source: The University of Texas at El Paso's Common Data Set, View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend The University of Texas at El Paso? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at The University of Texas at El Paso is $25,502, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,403. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,863 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$9,744
Out-of-State
$25,502
Avg Net Price
$9,403
Median Debt
$18,000
Pell Grant Rate
62%
Federal Loan Rate
27%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$7,863
Family Income $30K–$48K
$8,136
Family Income $48K–$75K
$10,120
Family Income $110K+
$18,282

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at The University of Texas at El Paso — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is The University of Texas at El Paso Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of The University of Texas at El Paso earn a median of $50,923, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$37,978
8 Years
$44,575
10 Years
$50,923
Debt-to-Earnings
0.35x
Earning > $25K
58%

Earnings Trajectory

$37,978 6yr $44,575 8yr $50,923 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (529)
18%
100% (529)
18%
100% (529)
18%
100% (529)
18%

How The Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation48%Earnings 10yr$51KNet Price$9KRetention79%Median Debt$18KPell Grant Rate62%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$8K$0-30K$8K$30-48K$10K$48-75K$18K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%28.0%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%24.4%MOBILITY6.82%

College ROI Calculator

Is The University of Texas at El Paso Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, The University of Texas at El Paso delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,403/year ($37,612 total). Graduates earn $50,923 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,518,170 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,480,558 (40.4× your investment). The median debt is $18,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$37,612
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,518,170
Net Return
$1,480,558
ROI Multiple
40.4×
Cost Per Year
$9,403
Median Debt
$18,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
48%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does The University of Texas at El Paso Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

The University of Texas at El Paso is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 6.82%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 28% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 24.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $42,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
6.82%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
24.4%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
28.0%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$57,607
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is The University of Texas at El Paso? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at The University of Texas at El Paso. Its economic connectedness score is 1.09, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.09
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.00
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
3.1%
Support Ratio
0.97
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Research Score
19/100
Times Higher Ed
Academic Influence
18/100
Citation impact (THE)

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-32,837,146

Top Programs

The fields The University of Texas at El Paso awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into The University of Texas at El Paso? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in El Paso, Texas, The University of Texas at El Paso admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 962. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend The University of Texas at El Paso? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at The University of Texas at El Paso is $25,502, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,403. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,863 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,000 in federal student loans.

Is The University of Texas at El Paso Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of The University of Texas at El Paso earn a median of $50,923, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does The University of Texas at El Paso Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

The University of Texas at El Paso is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 6.82%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 28% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 24.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $42,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is The University of Texas at El Paso? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at The University of Texas at El Paso. Its economic connectedness score is 1.09, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

How Research-Intensive Is The University of Texas at El Paso? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

Times Higher Education places The University of Texas at El Paso at #601-800 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 19/100, teaching at 19/100, and citation impact of 18/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

Does The University of Texas at El Paso offer Early Decision?

No. The University of Texas at El Paso does not report a binding Early Decision plan.

Is The University of Texas at El Paso really test-optional?

In practice, yes. Only about 56% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at The University of Texas at El Paso.

What percentage of admitted students enroll at The University of Texas at El Paso?

About 34% of admitted students choose to enroll at The University of Texas at El Paso — its yield rate. Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to The University of Texas at El Paso.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys