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As our region continues to grow and evolve, so does our university. Never has that notion been more evident than it is today. We have accomplished so much this year, and all of that has helped make UTRGV the #1 University in Texas.

Within this report, you will discover stories and data revealing how UTRGV is shaping the future of Texas. From our Vaqueros Milestones to accomplishments in Academic Expansion, Research, and Rankings to our Construction and Economic Impact, Athletics, Health, Community Engagement, and Fundraising, you will see why the 2022-2023 academic year was one of the most important in UTRGV history.

2022 - 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

IN HIGHER EDUCATION 
AND HEALTH CARE

2022 - 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

CREATING VALUE

Message from President Dr. Guy Bailey

Vaqueros Milestones

The core of our mission. Whether it is personalized support, transformative experiences, or academic excellence, UTRGV students have access to it all in a community where they thrive.

  31,931  

Fall 2023 enrollment, making UTRGV the ninth-largest university in Texas

    825    

Doctoral-level students in Fall 2023 compared to 243 in Fall 2015, UTRGV’s inaugural semester. That is an increase of 582 students or 240% over eight years

   7,146   

Degrees awarded in 2022-23, the most in school history

Ranking among all Texas public universities for lowest student debt upon graduation 
(U.S. News and World Report)

      #1      

      #3      

Ranking among national public universities for lowest student debt upon graduation 
(U.S. News and World Report)

      #3      

Fastest-growing doctoral public institution in the nation during the 2011-2021 decade, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education

   86.2%  

Percentage of full-time resident undergraduates who received need-based aid and who did not pay tuition or mandatory fees

First-year retention rate of full-time students who started Fall 2022

     79%    

Financial aid disbursed to students in 2022-23

   $306 Million  

Texas Grant allocation, the highest among all state universities

   $52 Million  

UTRGV’s most prestigious merit-based scholarship offers full funding for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees emphasizing academic excellence and community commitment in the Rio Grande Valley.

LUMINARY SCHOLARSHIP

• 20 students from the Rio Grande Valley 
• 4 students from other parts of Texas 
• 4 students in Vaqueros MD Program which, upon graduation, provides conditional admission to UTRGV School of Medicine 
• 100% retention rate 

Fall 2022 Cohort (inaugural year)

• 21 students from the Rio Grande Valley 
• 3 students from other parts of Texas 
• 7 students in Vaqueros MD Program which, upon graduation, provides conditional admission to    UTRGV School of Medicine 
• 100% retention rate 

Fall 2023 Cohort

LEGISLATIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

This hands-on experience provides students with a deeper understanding of the legislative process and offers valuable training and skills development working in the capitol offices of Rio Grande Valley State Legislators.

• In 2023, the program assigned 11 student interns to each of the 11 capitol offices of           the Rio Grande Valley legislative delegation. 
• Students who participate in the program can earn 3 upper-level credit hours in political     science for local internships and 6 credit hours for capitol internships.

Academic Expansion

We are growing in so many ways, including our academic offerings. Today, more students seeking undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs across numerous disciplines can start — and complete — them at UTRGV.

• MA Disaster Studies 
• MS Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences 
• MS Agricultural, Environment, and Sustainability Sciences 
• MD Medicine 

• MA Political Science

• BFA Graphic Design 
• BS American Sign Language
• Interpretation 
• MS Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 
• MS Bioethics 
• MS Business Analytics

• BS Cybersecurity 
• MS Applied Statistics and Data Science 
• MS Global Commerce

• BS Integrated Health Sciences 
• MS Dietetics 
• Doctor of Occupational Therapy 
• Ph.D. Mathematics and Statistics with Interdisciplinary Applications 
• Ph.D. Physics

• BA Human Dimensions of Organizations 
• BAIS Public Heritage and Community Engagement 
• MA Higher Education Administration 
• Doctor of Nursing Practice 
• Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (First in Texas) 
• Ph.D. Human Genetics

• BA Medical and Health Humanities 
• BM Music Composition 
• BM Music Technology 
• BS Education 
• BS Special Education 
• MS Biomedical Engineering 
• MS Human Resource Management 
• Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering

Health

The only institution in Texas with schools of medicine and podiatric medicine. We are preparing students while serving the health care needs of South Texas.

     211     

Medical Students

     256     

Medical Residents

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

SCHOOL OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE

      61      

Total students — 25 in inaugural cohort and 36 in second cohort

    18,369    

New patients served

     60,105    

Established patients served

UT HEALTH RIO GRANDE VALLEY

        29        

UT Health RGV-operated sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley (as of Aug. 31, 2023)

     93.4%    

Patient satisfaction

On the Horizon

This 145,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will open in 2025 and offer cutting-edge care and treatments in the Rio Grande Valley. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is obtaining consulting services from MD Anderson Cancer Center, a worldrenowned leader in cancer care, research, education, and prevention.

CANCER AND SURGERY CENTER 

In the span of seven months, the College of Engineering and Computer Science received approval for the first two doctoral programs in college history: a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering and a Ph.D. in Computer Science with Interdisciplinary Applications. Materials Science started Fall 2023, and Computer Science is awaiting approval from SACSCOC and is scheduled to start Fall 2024.

HISTORIC DOCTORAL PROGRAMS

Will play its first season of NCAA Division I FCS competition in 2025. More than 3,200 season-ticket deposits have been made, as of March 2024.

UTRGV FOOTBALL

Will begin competition in NCAA Division I in Fall 2024. 

WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING

MARCHING BAND

Debuted in Fall 2023 with 150 members from throughout South Texas, performing at competitions and parades. The band will make its UTRGV football halftime debut in 2025.

Debuted Fall 2023 with 13 members, performing at competitions and parades. The team will make its UTRGV football debut in 2025.

DRILL TEAM

Athletics

UTRGV Athletics had some big victories in 2023, celebrating its community service connections through stewardship and welcoming record numbers of Vaquero fans cheering on our men’s and women’s student-athletes.

     3.32     

Cumulative GPA, 
a department record

    3,706    

Community service hours supporting 30 organizations

     84%     

Graduation success rate

 $1.8 Million 

Fundraising revenue,
a department record

    $384,407   

Ticket revenue, 
a department record

    100,000    

Fan attendance, 
a department record

   $451,000  

Corporate sponsorship revenue, a department record

Research

From the Gulf of Mexico to the depths of space, UTRGV scholars are challenging conventions and discovering new solutions — all while pushing the boundaries of intellectual advancement.

    $78.8 Million    

Total research expenditures, an increase of more than $18.1 million from the previous year

    $42.4 Million    

Restricted research expenditures, an increase of $15 million from the previous year

        45         

Doctoral degrees awarded in Academic Year 23

Fundraising

Philanthropy fuels innovation, initiatives, and possibilities. But more than anything, it is an investment in The Future of Texas — the people and ideals that form our UTRGV family.

    $218,185,915    

Total private fundraising since 2015 and as of Aug. 31, 2023

    $170,370,458    

Total endowment

  $27,383,678  

Private fundraising for Fiscal Year 23

Community Engagement & Integration

Family. Hard work. Gratitude. These values define our institutional culture and empower all Vaqueros to forge partnerships across the UTRGV community.  The result? A stronger, more connected Rio Grande Valley.

In academic year 2022-2023, UTRGV partnered with over 20 school districts (charter and private schools) throughout the Rio Grande Valley to provide students with opportunities to enroll in dual credit courses.

DUAL CREDIT OFFERINGS

COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING & SERVICE

      767      

Fall 2022 enrollment, including specialty campuses, Mathematics and Science Academy, and other dual credit students

New Collegiate High Schools — specialized dual enrollment schools — are currently being built in collaboration with Edinburg CISD and McAllen ISD. The UTRGV Harlingen CISD Collegiate High opened in 2021

        2        

     3,788     

Students have dedicated their time to volunteering in the Rio Grande Valley community

    30,750    

Completed service hours

  $1 Million  

Economic impact produced by UTRGV’s community engagement efforts

OFFICE OF WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

        4        

Satellite offices throughout the Valley, including Brownsville, Harlingen, Mission, and San Benito

    1,617    

Continuing education certificates awarded

    3,274    

Business and community clients served

    4,468    

Individuals participating in training and workshops

      619      

Jobs created or retained

    $9 Million    

In capital formation

      109      

Businesses created
or expanded

Investing in the Rio Grande Valley

UTRGV fuels the Rio Grande Valley economy by generating jobs, infrastructure expansion, fostering innovation, and producing graduates who contribute to workforce development and economic growth.

   $478 Million   

Total operating revenues for 2015-16, UTRGV’s inaugural year

    $1.2 Billion    

Amount invested in completed ($852.2K) and planned ($358.5K) construction and major renovation throughout the Rio Grande Valley since 2015, as of February 2023

     64     

Facilities built or acquired since UTRGV opened in 2015

This milestone was achieved during Fall 2023 and represents 3% of the Rio Grande Valley population who have obtained degrees from UTRGV since the university opened in 2015

    $705 Million  

Total operating revenues for 2023-24, an increase of 47.5% in eight years

Boca Chica Brownsville Edinburg

San Carlos 
South Padre Island 
Weslaco

Harlingen Matamoros, Mexico McAllen

Mercedes 
Port Isabel 
Rio Grande City 

     13     

New buildings constructed since 2015, as of February 2023

     11     

New buildings currently in progress or planned, as of February 2023

      7th      

Overall rank in community service in the NCAA