The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
#6 Most Affordable Colleges in Texas- Graduation Rate
- 50% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,620 B-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $4,831 A
- 72% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 94% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 81.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $81.0 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Most Affordable Colleges in Texas.
Every $1 spent returns $81.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,546,192.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Earnings 22% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $81.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Matters
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public research university in Edinburg, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base. 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
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 28,666
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 94% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 880–1090. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $4,831 a year after grants and scholarships — 72% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,620 ten years after enrolling — 22% above the typical college, against $12,950 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.98 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 94%, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is an accessible choice for students seeking a diverse and supportive learning environment. Those interested in fields like Business, Health Professions, Biology, Psychology, and Criminal Justice will find a curriculum designed to prepare them for the workforce. The university’s large enrollment of nearly 29,000 students fosters a vibrant campus culture, where collaboration and community engagement are key.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $49,620 after ten years in the workforce. This earning potential is noteworthy, especially considering the affordability of the university. With a net price of just $4,831, many students find that they can graduate without overwhelming financial burdens. It's a place where upward mobility is possible, especially for those who come from underrepresented backgrounds, as evidenced by a significant 65% Pell Grant rate.
When it comes to the practicalities of financing an education, the median debt sits at $12,950, which is manageable given the earnings potential. Students who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds and are eager to engage with their communities, both on and off-campus. This environment encourages not only academic success but also personal growth, making it a solid option for those ready to embrace their educational journey.
Rankings
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Texas
- #9 Most Affordable Colleges for Criminal Justice
- #13 Colleges With the Highest ROI
- #13 Cheapest Online Bachelor's Programs
- #13 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's Programs
- #13 Best Colleges for Low-Income Students
- #14 Most Affordable Colleges
- #15 Most Affordable Colleges for Biology
Can I Get In?
How selective The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Edinburg, Texas, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 94%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 985. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Retention Rate
- 81%
- SAT Average
- 985
- SAT Range
- 880–1090
- ACT Range
- 15–21
- Full-Time Faculty
- 84%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,041
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.13
- First-Gen Students
- 53%
- Applicants
- 13,744
- Admitted
- 12,053
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 Rio Grande Valley? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $19,827, 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 $4,831. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,785 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,950 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $9,987
- Out-of-State
- $19,827
- Avg Net Price
- $4,831
- Median Debt
- $12,950
- Pell Grant Rate
- 65%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 26%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,785
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $3,877
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,665
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,782
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 Rio Grande Valley — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley earn a median of $49,620, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,812
- 8 Years
- $44,456
- 10 Years
- $49,620
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (768)
- 24%
- 100% (768)
- 24%
- 100% (768)
- 24%
- 100% (768)
- 24%
How The Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 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 Rio Grande Valley delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,831/year ($19,324 total). Graduates earn $49,620 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,565,516 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,546,192 (81.0× your investment). The median debt is $12,950, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 50% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $19,324
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,565,516
- Net Return
- $1,546,192
- ROI Multiple
- 81.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $4,831
- Median Debt
- $12,950
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 50%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-25,582,237
Top Programs
The fields The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 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.
- Biology & Biomedical 16% $32,492 early-career
- Business & Marketing 12% $40,953 early-career
- Health Professions 12% $72,877 early-career
- Psychology 10% $32,054 early-career
- Criminal Justice 9% $33,640 early-career
- Engineering 7% $66,174 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $50,714 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $58,321 early-career
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Edinburg, Texas, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 94%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 985. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $19,827, 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 $4,831. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,785 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,950 in federal student loans.
Is The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley earn a median of $49,620, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Its economic connectedness score is 0.98, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), 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.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
- The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TX · Close peer48% grad $50,923 earn 100% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge, CA · Close peer57% grad $59,115 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV · Close peer50% grad $55,037 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · Close peer53% grad $59,211 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX · Close peer52% grad $57,131 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- California State University-San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA · Close peer55% grad $59,977 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Its economic connectedness score is 0.98, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), 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.
Research Note