The University of Texas at El Paso

Gaining admission to the University of Texas--El Paso is essentially open to all applicants, with an acceptance rate of 99.9% in 2025 that was higher than all peer schools in its comparison group of public comprehensive universities with similar rankings. In the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges ranking, the university stood at 262, showing steady improvement after dropping into the three hundreds several years earlier. Although admission is virtually guaranteed, admitted applicants show a notable commitment to enrolling. The school recorded an undergraduate yield rate of 33.5% in 2025, a mark that is higher than 90% of peer schools. This means about one out of every three admitted students chooses to attend, indicating a solid local pull compared to similar regional universities. For prospective applicants, the university presents virtually no barrier to entry, functioning primarily as an accessible institution for broad undergraduate enrollment.

The University of Texas at El Paso maintains an admission policy where test scores are optional, though they are considered if submitted. For enrolled undergraduates in 2025, the middle 50% composite ACT score ranged from 17 to 22. In the same year, the school's median SAT score stood at 960, which was lower than all peer schools in a comparison group of 30 similarly ranked public national universities. Standardized tests remain common among incoming students, with 54% of the entering class submitting SAT scores in 2025, alongside a very small fraction sending ACT results. For prospective applicants, these benchmarks demonstrate that the testing profile of admitted students is broadly accessible, meaning students with modest standardized testing outcomes fall comfortably within the institution's enrolled range.

Degrees at the University of Texas--El Paso are somewhat concentrated in healthcare, social sciences, and life sciences. The top three undergraduate programs—Registered Nursing, General Psychology, and General Biology—accounted for 24.9% of all bachelor's degrees awarded in 2025. However, the university's largest undergraduate majors do not align with its highest-ranked academic programs, which are concentrated in specialized graduate health fields. In the 2026 U.S. News graduate rankings, Rehabilitation Counseling achieved the university's strongest placement at rank 33, while Physical Therapy, Earth Sciences, and Environmental Engineering all placed within the top ninety nationally. Post-graduation compensation is led by healthcare and technical disciplines. According to 2023 earnings data, Registered Nursing graduates earned a median first-year salary of $75,043, followed closely by Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering graduates at $72,199. International students represent only a small minority among undergraduate degree recipients in these core areas.

The student body at the University of Texas--El Paso is heavily defined by its regional Hispanic enrollment, with Hispanic students making up about nine out of ten undergraduates in 2025. In contrast, international and Asian students comprise small segments of the undergraduate population. Among incoming freshmen, international students numbered 118, representing 2.9% of the entering class. Asian representation is even smaller, totaling 23 freshmen, which corresponds to 0.6% of the cohort. While these groups remain modest among undergraduates, international representation rises at the graduate level, where foreign students account for approximately fifteen percent of enrollment. Women comprise over half of both the undergraduate and graduate student bodies. This profile highlights an institution that primarily serves its local community, with foreign and Asian students forming small, specialized communities across campus.

The age structure at the University of Texas--El Paso is centered on traditional college-aged students, creating a standard collegiate daytime campus atmosphere. In 2025, undergraduates aged 18 to 19 made up 32% of the undergraduate student body, while those aged 20 to 21 accounted for 27.4%. Students in their early twenties also make up a substantial portion of upper-division classes, though nontraditional older undergraduates remain present. In contrast, the graduate student population is older and more dispersed across life stages. Students aged 25 to 29 represent the largest graduate segment at 30.4%, followed by students in their early twenties and thirties. This demographic separation suggests that while undergraduate life revolves around young adults progressing directly from high school, graduate programs cater largely to working professionals balancing advanced degrees with career responsibilities.

International student enrollment at the University of Texas--El Paso demonstrates clear divergence between degree levels. Undergraduate international representation has trended downward over the past decade, declining to 3.7% in 2025. Despite this drop, the university's undergraduate international share remains higher than 77% of peer schools in its comparison group of public comprehensive universities. In contrast, international participation at the graduate level has held steady over the same period, standing at 15.1% of the graduate student body in 2025. Among 2025 graduates, international students earned only a small fraction of bachelor's degrees, but accounted for 13.1% of master's degrees awarded. International undergraduates are thinly dispersed, comprising around two percent or less of graduates in popular majors such as Registered Nursing and General Psychology. At the master's level, international students concentrate more heavily in business and technical fields, such as Accounting and Business Administration and Management.

Applicants considering the University of Texas--El Paso have several public university options across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The closest regional option is New Mexico State University-Main Campus, located 38.2 kilometers away and ranked 250 among National Universities. Further north in New Mexico, University of New Mexico-Main Campus is situated 229 kilometers away with a National University rank of 236. To the west, University of Arizona sits 262.5 kilometers from campus and holds a rank of 121. Within Texas, Texas Tech University is located 296.9 kilometers to the east and ranks 186 among National Universities.

Campus safety at the University of Texas--El Paso has shown a positive trajectory over the past decade. The crime rate per 1,000 students fell to 1.3 in 2025, reflecting a significant decline from levels seen nearly a decade earlier. Across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, behavioral and substance offenses formed the largest share of reported incidents. Stalking was the most frequently logged issue, totaling 36 incidents over those years, alongside 29 drug arrests. Property offenses were also documented during this timeframe, consisting primarily of vehicle thefts and larceny, while violent incidents such as dating violence and assault occurred less frequently. The low overall crime rate per thousand students suggests a relatively controlled campus setting, though prospective students should still observe standard urban safety precautions, particularly regarding vehicle security and interpersonal safety around campus grounds.