University of the Incarnate Word

Admission to the University of the Incarnate Word is practically open to all applicants, but the school struggles to attract admitted candidates while facing a decline in national standings. In the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, the university was ranked 308, falling from 272 in 2020. Getting in presents almost no academic hurdle for prospective applicants: the undergraduate acceptance rate reached 98.1% in 2025, which is higher than all peer schools among 30 similarly ranked private national universities. However, the university experiences significant difficulty converting those offers into actual enrollments. Its yield rate stood at just 9.1% in 2025, a figure that is higher than only 3% of peer schools. This low yield indicates that an overwhelming majority of admitted students decide to enroll elsewhere. For families considering this university, admission is almost certain, but the low yield rate and slipping rank suggest the institution is frequently treated as an enrollment alternative rather than an educational destination.

University of the Incarnate Word maintains an admission test policy where standardized test scores are not considered, meaning the institution is test-blind and scores are not reviewed even if submitted. Standardized exam results play no part in admission decisions, though in 2024, 26% of enrolled students submitted SAT scores and 6% submitted ACT scores. High school academic performance offers prospective students the clearest indication of academic fit. In the 2021-2022 academic year, 25.0% of entering first-year students recorded a high school grade point average between 3.5 and 3.74, which formed the single largest group among freshmen. Additional students entered with averages distributed above and below that range. For applicants planning their college options, admission does not require standardized exam preparation, and candidates should instead assess how their high school transcript and classroom grades compare with typical incoming students.

Academic offerings at the University of the Incarnate Word center heavily on healthcare and business disciplines. Undergraduate completions show moderate concentration, with the top three bachelor programs accounting for 32% of all bachelor's degrees conferred in 2025. Registered Nursing is the single largest undergraduate major, producing 149 graduates, followed by general psychology and general business administration. However, the largest undergraduate programs are not the institution's highest ranked. The university's genuine national strengths emerge primarily in graduate healthcare education, where U.S. News ranked its healthcare management program at 52 and pharmacy at 87 in 2026. According to 2023 earnings data, nursing graduates demonstrated the highest economic return, earning median salaries of $77,195 one year after graduation, while business administration graduates earned substantially less. International students comprise only a small fraction of bachelor recipients, though their presence expands in select master's cohorts. For applicants, the university functions primarily as a regional training ground for clinical healthcare and professional administration.

The student body at the University of the Incarnate Word is characterized by a strong Hispanic majority and a predominantly female enrollment. Undergraduates are primarily local and regional students, with Hispanic students constituting over two-thirds of the freshman class. Asian and international students make up relatively small segments of the undergraduate community. In 2025, international students accounted for 21 entering freshmen, representing 2.1% of that cohort, with similarly limited presence among continuing undergraduates. In contrast, the graduate student population displays greater demographic diversity, particularly in health-related disciplines. Asian students accounted for 339 graduate students in 2025, making up 14.1% of the graduate cohort. Female students constitute a clear majority across both undergraduate and graduate divisions. For prospective applicants, the campus community provides an environment deeply rooted in South Texas demographics, offering localized undergraduate cohorts alongside more broadly representative professional graduate programs.

Undergraduates at the University of the Incarnate Word are predominantly of traditional college age, shaping an active daytime campus culture. In 2025, students in the 18-to-19 age bracket accounted for 37.1% of all undergraduates, forming the core of the residential and social community. In contrast, graduate programs cater to older students pursuing advanced credentials. The largest graduate cohort was the 25-to-29 age group, representing 34.4% of graduate enrollment. This clear demographic division means undergraduate life revolves around daytime coursework and collegiate routines, while graduate students focus on professional development, licensing, and career advancement.

International student enrollment at the University of the Incarnate Word represents a small and contracting portion of the student body. At the undergraduate level, the international share has steadily trended downward over the past decade, settling at 3.9% in 2025. Graduate international enrollment has also experienced a mild downward drift, with international scholars accounting for 6.1% of graduate students in 2025. Among graduating students, international representation varies substantially across academic fields and degree levels. At the undergraduate level, international graduates concentrate primarily in commercial fields rather than clinical healthcare, with international students making up 12.2% of graduates in General Business Administration. At the master's level, international representation is much more pronounced in select academic programs, led by General Education, where international students comprised 86.4% of degree recipients, alongside notable cohorts in business management and sports administration. Doctoral programs, however, remain almost entirely domestic. For prospective international applicants, the university offers targeted graduate academic communities in business and education, while undergraduate study remains overwhelmingly centered on domestic students.

Applicants exploring higher education options around San Antonio and Central Texas have several nearby institutions to consider alongside the University of the Incarnate Word. Right in the immediate vicinity is Trinity University, a private liberal arts college located just 1.0 kilometer away and ranked 38 among national liberal arts colleges in 2027. For students considering large public alternatives in the metropolitan area, The University of Texas at San Antonio is situated 12.3 kilometers away and held a rank of 227 among national universities. Further north along the interstate corridor, Texas State University in San Marcos is located 42.8 kilometers away with a 2027 national university ranking of 288. In addition, The University of Texas at Austin offers a major research university option 71.2 kilometers from campus, ranked 34 nationally.

Campus safety reports at the University of the Incarnate Word show that student misconduct is predominantly related to substance policy enforcement. In 2025, the school recorded a crime rate of 9.8 per 1,000 students, reflecting a moderate increase over the previous decade. Over the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, campus security records were heavily dominated by university disciplinary actions rather than violent offenses. Disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations represented the largest category by far, totaling 128 incidents across those years. Disciplinary referrals for drug law violations constituted the second most frequent issue, with 56 incidents recorded over the same timeframe. Drug and alcohol arrests also occurred, along with occasional reports of dating violence and stalking, while serious violent crimes were rare. For prospective students and their families, these records indicate that safety concerns on campus primarily involve internal substance policy enforcement rather than threats from severe criminal activity.